Bel article sur www.cysb.ca

Je vous laisse savourer cet article en anglais publié il y a deux ans sur le site des pompiers de l'aéroport (je viens de le voir). Notez que depuis notre arrivée, le nombre d'incidents a diminué, et au contraire de ce qui est dit dans l'article à propos que les compagnies aériennes ne voudront plus venir à CYSB, notez également que Porter a commencé ses opérations en mars 2010 et prévoit augmenter le nombre de vols bientôt (alors que Westjet a arrêté son service quotidien alors que la tour était en opération) et plusieurs hangars sont continuellement en construction.

Air Traffic Control Tower Closure

Thanks in part to the popularity of the Reality TV series "The Apprentice", the phrase "It's not personal, it's just business" is widely attributed to Real Estate mogul Donald Trump.

Taking that phrase to heart, NavCanada (as predicted in this web site in August 2006), has made a "business decision" to close the Air Traffic Control Tower at the Sudbury Airport. Citing below appropriate traffic levels as their primary concern, the business that has become NavCanada will close Air Traffic Control Services at the Sudbury airport by June of 2008.

In 2006, NavCanada initiated and completed a study of traffic volume at the Sudbury Airport to determine if the provision of Air Traffic Services was warranted. Using arbitrary (and changing as required) traffic volume levels determined by NavCanada themselves, they concluded they can best serve the requirements of aircraft operators at the Sudbury Airport by closing the Air Traffic Control Tower. This of course will result in substantial savings to their operational expenditures.

At present, Air Traffic Control Services are provided daily from 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM. NavCanada will replace this service with a much less capable Flight Service Station which will operate 24 hours per day. The most basic difference in service levels will mean that aircraft arriving or departing the Sudbury airport will no longer be under control of any agency until they actually land at the airport. At that point, the Flight Service Station operator will provide control to move them from the runway to any parking areas. For the traveling and flying public you can expect late, delayed and possibly even cancelled flights as runway snow removal is delayed, air traffic is backed up and the ability of air carriers to utilize the airport in all weather conditions is seriously reduced.

NavCanada has taken the least honourable route in this matter and 'according to policy' will not make an official announcement concerning this drastic change to services at the Sudbury Airport. They will instead, join their Federal Government associates (Transport Canada) in passing responsibility for this decision to anyone else it will stick to. The position taken by NavCanada is that they have simply made a proposal to Transport Canada. Transport Canada will return the volley by stating they are simply approving a recommendation by the service provider.

Without taking into account the recent economic drive taking place at the Sudbury Airport, the ability of the Airport to attract and retain major new business will be seriously curtailed as a result of the removal of Air Traffic Control Services. In May 2007, the Provincial Government expressed it's confidence in the continued growth of the Sudbury Airport by assisting in funding expansion of the Ramp III parking area. This expansion will see a number of new and local businesses establish themselves at the airport. As many as three companies including a new Charter Operator have committed to construction of hangers in the Ramp III expansion area. In addition, most of the nine newly created lots have already been spoken for. Final contract negotiations are being completed for construction of a substantial hanger to house aircraft repair and maintenance facilities for a supplier of services to the Ministry of Natural Resources are underway. There are also plans for further development of aircraft ramp and parking space and rental sites.

In addition, the Airport is just a short time away from releasing a Request For Proposal for a full service Flight Training Facility at the Airport. The establishment of this facility has the potential to grow to include College level programs similar to Sault College Aviation program in Sault St. Marie and two local flying training schools as well as one from out of town have already expressed interest in this project. These three businesses and numerous others have seen and are prepared to participate in the opportunity for growth at the Sudbury Airport. However, that potential growth and new business just doesn't seem to stack up to NavCanada's 'predetermined traffic volume levels'.

Is there someone to blame for this development? NavCanada is simply making a proposal to Transport Canada, who in return 'rubber stamps' the proposal and the chips fall where they may. Are there alternatives? Provision of Air Traffic Control services are not the sole responsibility of NavCanada and other agencies are available. Contact information for at least one other Air Traffic Control services provider was given to senior Management at the Airport in early fall 2006. Unfortunately, no action has yet been taken to determine the feasibility, practicality or costing of those services.

The operation of an Airport requires a number of services working in concert. Aircraft handlers and refuellers, security and screening personnel, fire services, airport tenants, airlines and their agents, maintenance services, restaurants and ground transportation services all combine with Air Traffic Control services to ensure the airport operates smoothly, efficiently and safely to provide the best service possible to the public. To remove any of these services can only eventually lead to the deterioration of the entire service.

To put it in terms that are a bit easier to understand, imagine removing one of the spark plug wires from your vehicles' engine. Oh sure, it will still run, still use gas and oil, still get you where you need to go, but you sure wouldn't want to look inside the engine to see what's going on.

Closure Update 05 June 2008

Proving that poor decisions based on faulty logic are not uncommon with the Federal Government and the Agencies that act on their behalf, NavCanada, today, implemented their plan to change flight services provision at the Sudbury Aiport from an Air Traffic Control Tower to a . . . . . well, let's be kind . . . . . a less than capable Flight Service Station. Please note this in no way is intended to cast doubt or derision on the skills and capabilities of the individual personnel from NavCanada employed at the Flight Service Station, but rather the 'desk bound bean counting bureaucrats' responsible for the decision.

Almost immediately, seldom heard phraseology started to become common practice and the "norm" on the airwaves at the Sudbury Airport.

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) users of the Sudbury Airport will now need to reacquiant themselves with phrases such as "expect a delay on departure due to inbound IFR traffic" from the Flight Service Station; or "Cleared to the 'X' Fix to hold" and "Expect further clearance in 'X' minutes" from Toronto Centre."

On the first day of operation of the Flight Service Station the weather as reported by NavCanada (there's some irony for you), as being 3500 Overcast with a visibility of 15 miles. This weather condition caused numerous arrival and departure delays throughout the morning as IFR traffic took turns, holding, waiting and then finally arriving or departing. There was an increase in the number of aircraft requesting VFR departures then picking up IFR clearances once outside the control zone.

And that's just the start. Wait for the soon to arrive winter weather with maintenance vehicles trying to keep runways open and flights stacking up trying to land. To the aircrew attempting to cope with this change in service, I wish you luck. To the travelling public please be patient as delays, cancelled flights, missed approaches and the pleasure of landing at an airport other than your intended destination become routine.

To once again use the auto repair analogy, imagine replacing the licenced, certified auto mechanic who repairs your vehicle with the high school student who sits behind the cash register. Hey, they both work for the same company and the service station is still open. But I can't imagine you would want to come in for a tune up.