Orca Airways and others fined by TC
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:23 am
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Vancouver-based Orca Airways received the heaviest fines from Transport Canada over the last 12-month period for aviation violations in B.C., a review of federal enforcement files by Postmedia News reveals.
Orca Airways was fined a total of $20,000 for three times permitting an aircraft to take off with equipment that was not serviceable, plus $5,000 for permitting an aircraft to take off that had been subjected to an abnormal occurrence without inspecting it for damage.
Company president Andrew Naysmith said in response Monday he is appealing the larger fine, saying he has a letter from the manufacturer of the Piper Navajo saying the airline operated safely. The airline continued to fly after shutting down one of its four tanks due to a mechanical problem, but Transport Canada says repairs should have been made to the tank first, he said.
The lesser fine involved a pilot who overshot the runway in Tofino but did not report the incident to the airline. He has since been fired.
“That’s unfair,†Naysmith said. “There was nothing we could do about that situation.â€
Separate Transport Canada files on reportable incidents in 2016 show that on Oct. 8 an Orca Airways flight between Fort St. John and Dawson Creek “declared an emergency due to losing all navigation capabilities.†The crew “transitioned to standby instruments and climbed to 19,000 feet†to try to trouble shoot the problem. The plane landed safely at Grand Prairie, Alta.
Naysmith said that “all the screens went black†soon after the installation of new state-of-the-art cockpit equipment, which the manufacturer since replaced. “It’s a bit scary,†he confirmed. “Thankfully, it was a beautiful day.â€
On May 26, an Orca Airways plane also declared an emergency “with one engine shut down/possible fuel issue.†The plane landed with fire fighting crews on standby, although at a different runway due to the flight crew making changes.
Founded in 2005, Orca Airways operates passenger and cargo flights to Tofino, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Vancouver, Victoria, and Abbotsford, as well as charter and air-ambulance flights. It has a fleet of 20 airplanes and describes itself as a “safety-driven and performance-based†airline.
Meanwhile, an industrial helicopter company also received multiple aviation fines over the past 12 months.
Coulson Aircrane was fined $5,000 for a violation related to operating an aircraft that was registered in the U.S. and $10,000 for twice authorizing a person to sign a maintenance release when that person had not successfully completed the required training.
Airports also were the subject of federal enforcement action last year.
North Peace Airport Services in Fort St. John was fined $12,500 for operating without providing firefighting vehicles and the personnel required to respond to an aircraft emergency at the airport.
Prince George Airport Authority was also fined $10,000 for failing to comply with aerodrome standards and recommended practices publications. The authority also failed to notify the Minister of the existence of an obstruction affecting aviation safety at the airport.
Other B.C. fines over the last 12 months:
• Qwest Helicopters, $15,000, for failing to comply with a maintenance control manual, specifically by not ensuring that the person responsible for maintenance performs the duties as set out.
• High Terrain Helicopters, $10,000, for permitting an aircraft to take off when it had not been maintained in accordance with the air operator’s maintenance control system. The company also failed to ensure that its maintenance control system and all of the included maintenance schedules would continue to be effective and comply with the regulations.
• Westair Aviation, $8,750, for failing to amend its company operations manual where it no longer met the commercial air service standards.
• Pacific Professional Flight Center, $5,000, for operating an aircraft (visual flight rules) at night to conduct aerial work.
• Island Air Charter, $5,000, for permitting an aircraft to take off when maintenance performed on the aircraft had not been certified.
• Pacific Rim Aviation Academy, $5,000, for failing to ensure that its maintenance control system and all of the included maintenance schedules would continue to be effective and comply with regulations.
• Island Express Air, $5,000, for permitting a person to act as a flight crew member in an aircraft when the person had not fulfilled the requirements of the airline’s ground and flight training program.
• Aeronav Avionics, $5,000, for failing to establish a quality assurance program consisting of provisions for sampling maintenance programs to ensure safe performance.
• Moves Media Ltd., $5,000, for operating a drone — also known as an unmanned air vehicle, or UAV — contrary to its Special Flight Operations Certificate.
• Riverside Helicopters, $3,750, for operating over a built-up area at an altitude lower than about 300 metres above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of about 150 metres.
• Sky Helicopters, $3,750, for operating over an open-air assembly of persons at an altitude lower than about 300 metres above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of about 150 metres.
[email]lpynn@postmedia.com[/email]
[/quote]
Vancouver-based Orca Airways received the heaviest fines from Transport Canada over the last 12-month period for aviation violations in B.C., a review of federal enforcement files by Postmedia News reveals.
Orca Airways was fined a total of $20,000 for three times permitting an aircraft to take off with equipment that was not serviceable, plus $5,000 for permitting an aircraft to take off that had been subjected to an abnormal occurrence without inspecting it for damage.
Company president Andrew Naysmith said in response Monday he is appealing the larger fine, saying he has a letter from the manufacturer of the Piper Navajo saying the airline operated safely. The airline continued to fly after shutting down one of its four tanks due to a mechanical problem, but Transport Canada says repairs should have been made to the tank first, he said.
The lesser fine involved a pilot who overshot the runway in Tofino but did not report the incident to the airline. He has since been fired.
“That’s unfair,†Naysmith said. “There was nothing we could do about that situation.â€
Separate Transport Canada files on reportable incidents in 2016 show that on Oct. 8 an Orca Airways flight between Fort St. John and Dawson Creek “declared an emergency due to losing all navigation capabilities.†The crew “transitioned to standby instruments and climbed to 19,000 feet†to try to trouble shoot the problem. The plane landed safely at Grand Prairie, Alta.
Naysmith said that “all the screens went black†soon after the installation of new state-of-the-art cockpit equipment, which the manufacturer since replaced. “It’s a bit scary,†he confirmed. “Thankfully, it was a beautiful day.â€
On May 26, an Orca Airways plane also declared an emergency “with one engine shut down/possible fuel issue.†The plane landed with fire fighting crews on standby, although at a different runway due to the flight crew making changes.
Founded in 2005, Orca Airways operates passenger and cargo flights to Tofino, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Vancouver, Victoria, and Abbotsford, as well as charter and air-ambulance flights. It has a fleet of 20 airplanes and describes itself as a “safety-driven and performance-based†airline.
Meanwhile, an industrial helicopter company also received multiple aviation fines over the past 12 months.
Coulson Aircrane was fined $5,000 for a violation related to operating an aircraft that was registered in the U.S. and $10,000 for twice authorizing a person to sign a maintenance release when that person had not successfully completed the required training.
Airports also were the subject of federal enforcement action last year.
North Peace Airport Services in Fort St. John was fined $12,500 for operating without providing firefighting vehicles and the personnel required to respond to an aircraft emergency at the airport.
Prince George Airport Authority was also fined $10,000 for failing to comply with aerodrome standards and recommended practices publications. The authority also failed to notify the Minister of the existence of an obstruction affecting aviation safety at the airport.
Other B.C. fines over the last 12 months:
• Qwest Helicopters, $15,000, for failing to comply with a maintenance control manual, specifically by not ensuring that the person responsible for maintenance performs the duties as set out.
• High Terrain Helicopters, $10,000, for permitting an aircraft to take off when it had not been maintained in accordance with the air operator’s maintenance control system. The company also failed to ensure that its maintenance control system and all of the included maintenance schedules would continue to be effective and comply with the regulations.
• Westair Aviation, $8,750, for failing to amend its company operations manual where it no longer met the commercial air service standards.
• Pacific Professional Flight Center, $5,000, for operating an aircraft (visual flight rules) at night to conduct aerial work.
• Island Air Charter, $5,000, for permitting an aircraft to take off when maintenance performed on the aircraft had not been certified.
• Pacific Rim Aviation Academy, $5,000, for failing to ensure that its maintenance control system and all of the included maintenance schedules would continue to be effective and comply with regulations.
• Island Express Air, $5,000, for permitting a person to act as a flight crew member in an aircraft when the person had not fulfilled the requirements of the airline’s ground and flight training program.
• Aeronav Avionics, $5,000, for failing to establish a quality assurance program consisting of provisions for sampling maintenance programs to ensure safe performance.
• Moves Media Ltd., $5,000, for operating a drone — also known as an unmanned air vehicle, or UAV — contrary to its Special Flight Operations Certificate.
• Riverside Helicopters, $3,750, for operating over a built-up area at an altitude lower than about 300 metres above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of about 150 metres.
• Sky Helicopters, $3,750, for operating over an open-air assembly of persons at an altitude lower than about 300 metres above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of about 150 metres.
[email]lpynn@postmedia.com[/email]
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