SafeSkies Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 8
SAFESKIES NEWSLETTER
Volume 1, No. 8
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November 15, 2009
In this Issue
- Latest News from SafeSkies
- Industry News
LATEST NEWS FROM SAFESKIES
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Welcome to the eighth issue of the SafeSkies Newsletter.
On November 4th, the UCTE announced that it had submitted recommendations for changes to SMS to the Minister of Transport. Included in the announcement was the attachment "Implementation of the Transport Canada Safety Management System: What's not right and why change is necessary". As noted in the last newsletter, this document was also submitted to the FAA in response to their SMS proposals, and a comparison of Transport Canada's SMS implementation with that of the UK, the US, Australia and the ICAO directions is included. Please see http://safeskies.ca/news/UCTE-SMS for more information and a link to the document.
We are given to understand that some witnesses have been called to be heard by the Standing Committee on Transport with respect to Mr. Bevington's Motion for a review of air safety oversight. The unconfirmed date for these hearings to take place is November 30th.
Confidential sources have also advised there is further indication of the veracity of UCTE's announcement, "Transport Canada ready to listen" (See: http://safeskies.ca/news/UCTE_TC_Listen). The word is that there was a meeting of the National Executive last week, and among other decisions, the implementation of SMS into the 703/704 sector will be pushed back to January 2011, at the earliest.
Please also watch the House of Commons this week for another expected development.
Please continue visiting the website frequently and sending your comments, questions and story ideas to Kirsten.stevens@safeskies.ca.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
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FROM CANADA
Sadly, there are two fatal occurrences to report since the last newsletter.
On November 7th, a Lockhart Air Services Cessna 310R was reported missing. Two days later, the wreckage was found near Cat Lake, Ontario. Pilot Michael Pateman and his passengers, Ronald Ombash and Dean Meekis, were fatally injured in the crash. The accident has been given a "Class 3" designation by the Transportation Safety Board. See http://safeskies.ca/content/2009O2471 for more information.
On November 12th, a privately operated Robinson R44 II helicopter went down in the North Shore region of Quebec. The pilot was fatally injured while the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The TSB classification has not yet been assessed. See http://safeskies.ca/content/2009Q2343 for more information.
Condolences go out to those affected by these tragic accidents.
On November 10th, the TSB released its long-awaited report into the November 11th, 2007 Bombardier Global 5000 crash at the Fox Harb'r Golf Resort near Wallace, NS. Among a series of failures, the TSB cites Transport Canada oversight during SMS implementation into the business aviation sector. More information, including a links to the report and the previously released Canadian Union of Public Employees' Access to Information material can be found here: http://safeskies.ca/news/TSB_cites_SMS.
In other news, the CBC reports that "Pilots who operate a small coastal airline in B.C. are warning that a plan to divert its flights for security screening during the Olympics will cause serious safety risks in winter weather." Please read the full story at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/11/02/bc-saltspringair.html, including a link to the Salt Spring Air petition.
FROM THE UNITED STATES
==>Obama Administration Seeks to Fix Airline Industry<==
The Obama administration is taking its first step toward trying to fix the ailing airline industry, mired in a severe economic slump and facing safety worries.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is holding a forum Thursday to discuss the state of the industry and ways government can help provide economic stability for air carriers. The industry has been rocked by repeated crises in recent years, including the 9/11 terror attacks, the SARS virus and the current economic downturn.
LaHood's invitation to aviation stakeholders says the forum, which is closed to the public and the media, was organized at the request of the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department.
Ed Wytkind, the trades department's president, said the industry has become dysfunctional, and all involved are suffering.
He said he is hopeful the administration or Congress will create a blue-ribbon commission to recommend solutions.
"We can't keep doing things the exact same way and expect a better outcome," Wytkind said, adding that there "probably" should be consideration of new regulatory authority for the industry.
See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20091111/ap_tr_ge/us_travel_briefs_fixing_airlines for the full article.
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CONTACT US
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Send comments, questions and story ideas to kirsten.stevens@safeskies.ca .
Report problems to webmaster@safeskies.ca .
