The Air Transport Association of Canada has sent a scathing letter to Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, stating that Canada's air transportation system "is damaged and without intervention will be irreparably compromised."
Founded in 1934, the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) is a national trade association for the commercial aviation and flight training industries, as well as aviation industry product and service suppliers.
Signed by ATAC president John McKenna, the letter says that while airlines are struggling to recover from the pandemic, the government is imposing "preposterous" new regulatory measures that will "result in a requirement for an additional 30% more pilots to maintain the same level of service to Canadians."
The letter to Minister Alghabra states: "Flight Crew Fatigue Management Regulations and the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) could not have come at a worse time. Your department is aware of the impact of a global pilot and AME shortage. Instead of aiding, providing relief, your department is aggravating the problem.
"Imposing a regulation requiring an overnight increase in pilots in the midst of severe pilot shortage demonstrates a complete lack of understanding and a total disregard for sustained air services to Canada's remote regions."
McKenna says proposed changes to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations will hit the industry with higher fees, compensation levels, and penalties.
"Why is this government holding the aviation industry to standards no other industry or government service is mandated to meet?," the letter states. "This government is driving up the cost of our industry, making us globally uncompetitive, while at the same time making it impossible to service all regions of our own country."
ATAC adds that the government's proposed Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) for pilots "has been amply proven to be impractical and impossible to implement except for perhaps Canada's largest carrier."
The association says that for Canada's air transportation system to recover, all Flight Crew Fatigue Management Regulations should be immediately suspended for a period of no less than 18 months.
"This will allow industry and the department time to develop a useful FRMS and increase pilot levels needed to continue offering Canadians a high quality of service, at affordable prices. Our robust, well-established, and auditable SMS is more than sufficient to ensure safety."
ATAC says recovery from the pandemic is being compromised by "unacceptable, substandard, and negligent levels of service by the Government of Canada, NAV CANADA, Airport Authorities, CATSA, CBSA, and by ground service providers."
The letter adds: "Mr. Minister, we implore you, challenge your department and the CTA, impose a new approach, one where the industry's plea for tolerance or temporary reprieve is not seen as an obstruction or a disguised refusal to comply, rather an opportunity to enhance our air transportation system."
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