Flight Delay Reveals Air Traffic Control Problems

A flight delay on an Air Canada flight bound for Montreal from Vancouver last weekend sparked a pilot to prompt passengers to write MPs about problems plaguing Canada’s air traffic control system. 

The comments, relayed by a CBC reporter who was onboard the flight, reveal frustrations with NAV Canada and the shortage of air traffic controllers. The delays at YVR on Saturday were caused by absences due to illness in the control tower, according to the pilot. 

In his address to passengers, the pilot suggests that the number of air traffic controllers is kept low in order to keep overtime hours and pay high for those already on the job.

Nav Canada was quick to refute that charge, although it has taken responsibility for  “resource constraints” as the cause of delays and cancellations at airports over the past few weeks.

Related: Nav Can Blamed for YVR Delays

Nav Canada is currently in the midst of a hiring blitz, hosting application evaluations at major centres across Canada every month. Over the summer the sessions will be held: 

• June: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
• July: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Moncton.
• August: Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Gander.

 The notoriously high-stress occupation requires intensive training, first in general air traffic control functions and then focused on the specific region where they will be working. Nav Canada acknowledged that Vancouver (YVR) presents complex training environments due to intricate airspace structures and high traffic volumes, according to Aviation A2Z.   

The U.S. is also facing difficulties in the air traffic control sector, leading to highly publicized troubles at Newark Airport. You can read more about that on our sister site: A Look at the Current State of US Air Travel Heading Into Summer

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