- Runway 08L/26R was shut down for a couple of days after a Cargojet-operated Boeing 767-300 in Amazon Prime livery skidded off the end of 08L of Vancouver airport in the early hours of Tuesday, November 19. The pilots of the flight, which originated in Hamilton, Ontario (CYHM), reported trouble with the aircraft’s flaps during the approach, calling in a “Pan-Pan-Pan” to air traffic control (ATC). (This is the standard aviation code used by pilots to alert other air traffic and ATC of mechanical trouble and to request priority handling.) The 767 landed at a higher speed than normal, coming to a rest around 1,900 feet beyond the end of the runway, not far from the eastern perimeter fence. None of the three crew members was injured. The TSB mobilized an investigative team. Once given clearance to remove the aircraft approximately 48 hours later by the TSB, a specialized team from Air Canada recovered the aircraft and transported it to a hangar for repairs.
- Pilots with Keewatin Air voted last week (Nov. 20) to ratify a two-year contract with their employer, their first collective agreement. Improvements were made in crew scheduling, vacations and overtime. “Our pilots will now be able to balance their work and home life through guaranteed vacation days, solidified parameters around overtime, and the implementation of a seniority-based bidding system,” said Captain Lahiru Gunawardhana of the local bargaining unit of ALPA International. The Winnipeg-based airline operates medevac, cargo and miscellaneous charter flights using a fleet of mainly Beechcraft Super King Airs but also operates the Cessna Citations 560 and Pilatus PC-12.
- Quebec-based aircraft maintenance company Avianor announced last week (Nov.21) the opening of their new state-of-the-art maintenance facility dedicated to the maintenance of Airbus A220 aircraft, aptly named the “A220 Centre of Excellence”. The $70-million, 105,000-sq-ft facility was built at Mirabel airport with financial assistance from both the Canadian and Quebec governments and boasts four maintenance lines to handle up to four aircraft simultaneously. “The inauguration of the A220 Center of Excellence marks a significant milestone in the history of YMX Montréal-Mirabel International Airport and a pivotal step for Quebec’s entire aerospace ecosystem,” said Yves Beauchamp, CEO of Aéroports de Montréal.
- The TSB released its investigation report into the Porter Dash 8-400 runway overrun at Sioux Ste. Marie airport (CYAM) in April of 2023. According to the agency’s press release, “The investigation found that once the aircraft was over the runway, the flight crew’s focus briefly shifted to other tasks. With limited visual cues available during the night landing, they did not recognize that they were further down the runway than expected when they touched down. As such, full braking was delayed until the aircraft was 850 feet from the runway end, when the captain recognized the runway end lights.” The full report can be accessed by clicking here.