The statistics show that the chance of dying in a plane crash is one in nine million. That is based on a single trip, and on accident rates from the 25 top airlines in the world. So it would appear you have a better chance of dying in a car crash. That doesn’t diminish the fear some fliers feel when they hit the skies.
This week, Global National is airing a three-part series on aviation safety in Canada. We found examples that may explain the basis of this fear of flying.
RUNWAY LENGTHS
In part I (airing Thursday, January 27), we meet Veronique Lecaille. The Toronto woman and her family were on Air France flight 358 when it overshot the runway at Toronto's Pearson Airport in 2005. It was dubbed the “miracle flight,” because all on board survived the fiery crash.
That day, before boarding, Veronique had what she described as a “weird feeling...a sort of intuition that something was wrong.” She dismissed it when the plane began to descend. Then something shifted. The plane began to climb back up again. It was clear something was wrong and the panic began to rise within. Her son shouted, “I don’t want to die! I’m too young to die!”
When the plane finally skidded into the ravine, the entire clan was quick to get off and run for their lives. Five years later, those memories are still fresh in their minds. They have undergone therapy and it's still stressful whenever they board a plane.
The investigation that followed found the plane had overshot the runway. The Transportation Safety Board recommended all Canadian airports extend the runway end safety zone to 300 metres. The current standard is about a fifth of that. Some airports in this country (for example, Ottawa) already have the 300-metre recommendation. Others cannot expand because they’re bound by geographical barriers.
Landing is a crucial part of flight. The reality is that it's costly to make changes. Transport Canada has been examining the recommendations made after the Air France Crash. For now, it is working with the industry on a proposal to make a 150-metre runway end safety zone the law.
TIRED PILOTS
In part II (airing Friday, January 28), we take a look at pilot fatigue. Here’s something to think about: pilots in Canada are allowed to work up to 14 hours a day - plus an additional two hours for unforeseen circumstances.
That shift can start at any time of the day. In the U.S., flight duty times are now 13 hours during the day and nine hours at night. In the United Kingdom, day shifts max out at nine hours, and eight at night.
Now consider this. Science clearly states the time of day is important when it comes to how long you can work.
According to Kim Cote of Brock University’s sleep clinic, if someone is working into the evening and at night, the circadian rhythms expect our bodies to sleep. Our core temperature drops so that we are functioning at that time of night when it is not in line with our bodies. That will make our performance inefficient, therefore we are prone to make mistakes.
The United States made changes to how many hours pilots spend behind the controls after a crash in Buffalo determined one pilot was working various shifts and the other pilot had taken a red eye to take on the shift. Where is Canada on this? Transport Canada says changes to how much time pilots spend at the control could be two to three years away.
INDUSTRY MONITORING
Finally, in part III (airing Saturday, January 29), we look at a shift in how the transport industry monitors airlines. In 2005, the federal government approved SMS (safety management systems). Safety management systems are meant to keep airlines honest. Airlines (pilots, employees, mechanics) are meant to submit a report about every safety concern they see into a database. Airline safety executives then look at the reports and address the issues raised.
It’s a system that’s been endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organization and Canadian aviation safety gurus as a perfect complement to the regulatory oversight of Transport Canada inspectors. The theory is that the more eyes that are on the industry, the safer it will be. Critics worry it’s a “replacement” for the regulatory oversight and serves as a cost-cutting measure which could put the flying public in danger.
2. Canadian airline to begin JWA nonstop service
Canadian low-cost airline WestJet announced Tuesday that it will begin nonstop service from Vancouver and Calgary to John Wayne Airport in May and June, according to a news release from WestJet.
These are the first nonstop international destinations to be added since Air Canada ended its JWA service to and from Toronto in October.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors, which oversees the airport, approved the WestJet flights in December.
3. Air Canada adds more direct Tokyo flights to its schedule
CALGARY - More direct flights to Japan will boost local tourism and provide more options for Calgary business travellers, the travel industry says, as Air Canada announced Wednesday it's increasing non-stop service to Tokyo.
In March, the airline will start offering five flights a week to Narita airport, up from the three it began running last summer, with an eye to daily service if demand remains strong.
The increase in Alberta's sole direct connection to Asia is important, says the Calgary Airport Authority, which is starting on an expansion project that should further open that gateway by building a longer runway to accommodate longer flights.
"For years (Calgarians) have been saying we need to have direct connections to Asia," Stephan Poirier, the airport authority's chief commercial officer, said. "The business community, as well as the tourism industry, and cargo.
"It's like an economic pipeline linking our city to the rest of the world."
While Korean Air offered flights to Seoul last summer, it doesn't look like those are returning this year, Poirier said, leaving the Tokyo route Alberta's remaining direct service to Asia.
The Air Canada increase comes after the Japanese government allowed more flights between the two countries, and Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu said they hope to offer daily flights by the summer of 2012, should the proper approvals be forthcoming.
"We were very, very pleased with the first season's results and that's why we didn't want to lose the momentum," he said. "I think this is an indication the momentum continues."
The route initially came about after talks with Calgary's business and tourism communities, as well as the airport authority, he added.
Calgary is increasing on the airline's radar, Rovinescu pointed out.
"Part of it is the receptiveness of the business community and the airport authority, both of whom have been very strong here," he said.
Randy Williams, head of Tourism Calgary, said more direct flights to Japan increases their ability to attract international tourists.
"Any time you get an increase in air capacity into Calgary, direct, that's great news for the tourism industry," he said.
While traffic from Japan has fluctuated over the past few years because of the economy and the cost to travel here - with existing flights full there is little competition on price - Williams said the island nation is still a strong market. With the existing flights full, there is little competition on price.
As well, he envisions that other Asian visitors - including those from China and Korea - will use the Tokyo flight to come over."There's the option to fly into Japan and then into Canada," Williams said.
He has estimated that each Japanese tourist spends about an average of $1,000 a day during their visits, including airfare.
Also on Wednesday, WestJet announced that in June it will start daily flights to John Wayne Airport in southern California.
The Orange County destination is in addition to its flights to Los Angeles.
4. Airlines protest against EC cartel fines decision
British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cargolux and Air Canada this month filed appeals against the European Commission’s decision to fine the cargo operators for cartel activity.
The airlines lodged their appeals just in time to meet yesterday’s appeal deadline. The four companies are the latest airlines to lodge appeals. Japan Airlines, SAS, Air France-KLM (which owns Martinair) and Singapore Airlines Cargo (SIA Cargo) all confirmed their decision to appeal last year.
Eleven airlines were fined a combined total of more than €799 million (£685.6 million) by the EC last November, for allegedly operating a global cartel for cargo services.
British Airways, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific, Cargolux, Japan Airlines, Qantas, LAN Cargo, Martinair, SAS and Singapore Airlines were the cargo operators fined by the EC for fixing surcharges for fuel and security without discounts. The EC claimed the cartel fixed prices from December 1999 to 14 February 2006.
In a statement Cathay Pacific said: “Cathay Pacific filed the appeal with the General Court of the European Union, and follows an appeal the airline filed in the Seoul High Court in December 2010, challenging a similar decision by the Korean Fair Trade Commission. We believe we have good grounds for making these appeals.”
LAN Cargo and Qantas have not confirmed whether they are appealing. LAN Cargo received the lowest fine £7.2 million from the EC following its cooperation in the investigation.
By
NEHA JAIN
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