Airline unions fear a decline in safety in the name of profit

A year after a damning report from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which gave Canada a “C” grade for its safety oversight, two unions of pilots and air traffic controllers are calling on the industry to aviation and the government to have a concerted approach to “fix the system”.

During the next audit, Canada must bettersays the vice-president of the Airline Pilots Association of Canada (ALPA Canada), Louis-Éric Mongrain.

Industrial workers wonder if we are on the right track can we read in a joint white paper from theALPA Canada and the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (ACCTA) which will be unveiled on Monday and of which - has obtained a copy.

The document highlights a range of issues that can impact safety, such as staff shortages, fatigue management and financial pressures.

There is a lack of modernization of regulations and compliance with international standards say the two unions which represent around 15,000 employees.

The Canadian airline sector no longer meets the standards expected by passengers and its international counterparts.

During its audit carried out in 2023, theICAO gave Canada a score of 64 out of 100. This was a sharp decline from the score of 95 obtained in 2005. These ratings are an indicator of security monitoring capacity based on international standards.

L’ICAO recommended in particular that the federal government put in place a system to ensure that air carriers and airports fully respect the rules in place.

Transport Canada recognizes that some of its safety systems and processes must be more aligned with international standards. The senior communications advisor, Hicham Ayon, emphasizes thatICAO did not identify any security issues that would require immediate action.

The elements questioned by theICAO do not constitute a significant security issue certifies Laurent de Casanove, the press secretary in the office of the Minister of Transport. He adds that Canada’s airline sector is among the safest in the world.

In response to the latest audit, Transport Canada established a Compliance Office dedicated toICAO.

Alignment with international standards requires adjustments, including regulatory changes, updates to internal standards and procedures, and improvements to training programs explains Hicham Ayon.

According to the Transportation Safety Board, there were 182 air accidents in 2023. This is a 17% decrease from the average of the previous ten years.

Fatigue not always taken seriously, according to unions

Fatigue management rules, which govern pilots’ working hours, remain unevenly applied and are not as rigorously respected as they should be allege the two unions.

According to captain Louis-Éric Mongrain, some industry players believe that fatigue rules exacerbate pilot shortage . These are two completely different situations, he insists, and we should not force teams to fly tired.

In their white paper, the unions accuse the entire aviation sector [de faire] all this [qu’il peut] to slow or avoid progress in fatigue, workload management and other initiatives to improve safety, to improve the service.

A setback [de la sécurité] in the name of profitability, it doesn’t make sense.

L’ALPA Canada andACCTA are pleading for a law to recognize that it is more cost-effective to take preventative measures to improve safety than to react after an accident has occurred .

Since the regulations came into force in 2022, concerns have been raised by both unions and large and small airline operators confirms Transport Canada spokesperson Hicham Ayoun.

The ministry says it is conducting consultations to review concerns and explore solutions with industry partners .

The two unions also deplore that air traffic controllers still lack a comprehensive safety regime for fatigue and workload management .

Industry looking for solutions

The Canadian air system remains among the safest in the world, and together we must continue to innovate to meet challenges, including staff shortages, to improve flight operations and the traveler experience.said by email the president and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada (CNLA), Jeff Morrison.

The organization reports that it has been lobbying the federal government since 2023 to address the labor shortage in the aviation sector. THE CNLA would like Ottawa to develop financing programs to support the training of future airline pilots.

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The ability of the Canadian aviation sector to meet the growing demand for air travel and improve the passenger experience depends on access to skilled workers.

NAV Canada, which is the employer of air traffic controllers, also acknowledges facing staffing challenges, exacerbated by the pandemic .

In an email, media relations manager Maryam Amini explains that the Canadian air navigation system operates 24/7, with schedules based on flexible shifts, governed by collective agreements and fatigue limits. She adds that controllers benefit from frequent breaks adapted to cognitive intensity of their work.

NAV CANADA is optimizing schedules, rehiring retirees, using temporary assignments, increasing overtime and increasing recruitment efforts.

Transport Canada says it closely follows the practices and policies in effect at NAV Canada regarding the management of air traffic controller fatigue.