Nav Canada looking at cutting air traffic controller jobs at 7 towers across Canada
'It would degrade the level of safety,'
says president of Air North airline
NAV Canada, hit hard by the COVID-19
pandemic, is considering cutting air traffic controller jobs at seven towers
across Canada in an effort to save money as the global health crisis continues
to drag down air traffic.
But some aviation experts and airlines warn
that reducing the number of people who control air traffic and ensure aircraft
keep their distance in the sky and on the ground would amount to removing a
layer of protection.
"It would degrade the level of safety at
Whitehorse," said Joe Sparling, president of Whitehorse-based airline Air North.
"We would encourage Nav Canada to look for other cost reduction
measures."
CBC News obtained an internal memo from Nav
Canada president and CEO Neil Wilson informing staff that the not-for-profit
company — which operates Canada's civil air navigation system — is conducting
studies of air traffic control towers in Whitehorse, Regina, Fort McMurray in
Alberta, Prince George in B.C., and Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor in Ontario
which "will result in workforce adjustments."
The company also is looking into closing a
control tower in St. Jean, Quebec. These locations were identified as having
low-air traffic levels, even prior to the pandemic, the memo said.
"We are working closely with our bargaining
agents to safely streamline our operations in an ongoing effort to align with
traffic levels," wrote Wilson on Nov. 14, adding his commitment to safety is
unwavering.
Nav Canada manages millions of kilometres
of airspace over Canada and used to provide air navigation services for more
than 3 million flights a year. It's funded through service fees paid by air
carriers.
COVID-19 has dramatically decreased the
number of flights across the country since March. In September, there was a 63
per cent drop in air traffic compared to the same month in 2019, according to
Nav Canada numbers.
In response, the company announced in
September it was cutting more than 720 jobs, or 14 per cent of its
workforce.
The CEO also warned more layoffs remain
possible.
NAV Canada is dealing with an unprecedented
drop in air traffic due to COVID-19 and is looking at cutting air traffic
controllers at towers across Canada. (Canadian Press)
Transitioning to flight service
stations
Nav Canada is studying the possibility of
closing the St. Jean tower in Quebec. The company is also looking into
transitioning the other six towers to "Flight Service Stations," which would
involve cutting air traffic controller jobs.
Flight service specialists — who cost less
to employ than air traffic controllers — would replace those workers. They do
not have the power to control air traffic and keep planes separated while in
flight or on the ground. Instead, they provide advisory services and information
about weather, runway conditions and air traffic, leaving it up to pilots to
keep a safe distance from other planes.
Sparling said Whitehorse doesn't have
radar, so the tower can't see air traffic on its screens. He said cutting the
number of air traffic controllers from the airport could affect pilots by making
it harder for them to keep track of everything in the air.
"It removes the level of safety afforded to
air operators," he said. "During peak season, during heavy traffic periods, it
is a safer environment if you're in a tower environment ...
"The worst instance would be a collision or
something like that."
Review by Nav Canada puts Windsor
International Airport control tower at risk for shut down
Nav Canada looking to cut costs at its
Whitehorse airport operations
The president of Air North warns against
cutting the level of service at the air traffic control tower in
Whitehorse.
Mid-air collision in 1999
David McNair, a former aviation safety
investigator with the Transportation Safety Board, said airports "with air
traffic controllers tend to have a safer management of traffic."
He pointed to a fatal mid-air collision
over Penticton, B.C. in 1999 that killed five people and involved flight service
specialists. One plane had just taken off from the airport when it collided with
a descending plane. One aircraft smashed into the parking lot of the Okanagan
University College, the other into the yard of a business.
The crash raised concerns about the lack of
air traffic controllers at the airport at the time — positions that were
eliminated years earlier in a cost-cutting move by Transport Canada, according
to a CBC report in 1999.
"Likely, neither pilot was aware of where
the other aircraft was or what exactly it would be doing," said McNair. "A tower
controller would have controlled as required to provide
separation."
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens also raised
concerns last week about the impact on Windsor's airport, arguing that removing
"Nav Canada controllers at YQG will really cut us off at the knees ... it will
have a detrimental impact." City officials plan to fight the move by arguing it
could cause delays and operational challenges.
'Safety is always our number on priority,'
said Nav Canada
In a statement, Nav Canada said that its
studies are "rigorous" and follow a process set by Transport Canada that
includes public consultation.
"Safety is always our number one priority —
and we would never do anything to jeopardize that," said Nav Canada spokesperson
Rebecca Hickey in a statement to CBC News.
"When making decisions, we always take a
long-term view to preserve the sustainability of the company and the integrity
of the air navigation system of behalf of all Canadians."
Transport Minister Marc Garneau's office
said that before Nav Canada moves forward with any staff reductions or
terminations, it must ensure it will maintain "rigorous aviation safety
standards."
"Transport Canada will work closely with
Nav Canada to ensure the safety of air transportation in Canada," said
department spokesperson Amy Butcher in a statement to CBC News.
Under Canadian aviation regulations,
Garneau also has the power to direct Nav Canada to maintain levels of service if
he believes there is an unacceptable risk to aviation safety.
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