In any BC Plan, it is critical to define when and
how a disaster should be declared.
“Was the GTAA correct in making the decision to
impose ground stop during frigid temperature of -25 to -45 Celsius?”
Pearson right to ground
flights during ice storm
These
are the facts from those of us who were working on the ground when this
decision was made:
Simply
put, there is a very good chance that the GTAA's decision saved people's lives.
In the proceeding 30 hours before the ground stop, there were two airplane
crashes in similar conditions at New York's JFK Airport and Aspen, Colorado.
Two days later, an aircraft slid off the runway shortly after landing in
Saskatoon.
Years
of two-tiered wages and contracting out has forced thousands of our co-workers
into precarious, near-minimum-wage jobs. This is creating a high turnover rate
and a lost opportunity to retain the experience needed to work in irregular
operations. Many airports around the world, particularly in the U.S., are
implementing Living Wage Ordinances in recognition that skilled, properly paid
people on the ground are necessary for your safety.
Most
importantly we need to remember that we are all people first. None of us can
control bad weather in an industry with zero room for error. Nothing is
achieved when we are abusive to each other — worker or passenger. After all,
these decisions are made for both of our groups' safety.
Sheri
Cameron, Martyn Smith and Sean Smith are airline workers and representatives on
the Toronto Airport Council of Unions encompassing over 20,000 airport ground
handlers and flight attendants in both Terminals 1 and 3 at Pearson Airport.
Source Article (Toronto Star
News)
GTAA criticized for “Ground Hold” at Pearson International Airport
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is being harshly criticized for their decision to stop all arriving North American flights for more than eight hours at Pearson International Airport, which literally stranded thousands of frustrated passengers and caused serious delays since that day.
As a result, more than 50 per cent of all 774 arriving flights, i.e. 381, had to be cancelled as of Tuesday evening. Consequently, hundreds of weary travelers slept on seats or trudged forward in hours-long lines to rebook their cancelled or missed flights.
Vice President of strategy development for the GTAA, Toby Lennox, revealed that the decision to impose ‘Ground Stop’ at the airport is the CEO’s first in his 15-year career. He alleged that usually stops are only imposed due to snowstorms or lightning and last only a few hours. Although, he also admitted that “it’s just never been this extreme,” and “no matter how much you prepare, you’re not going to be able to make the event go away. I can’t prepare to make the weather go away.”
Source Article (Oye! Times):
http://www.oyetimes.com/news/canada/57358-gtaa-criticized-for-ground-hold-at-pearson-international-airport
As a result, more than 50 per cent of all 774 arriving flights, i.e. 381, had to be cancelled as of Tuesday evening. Consequently, hundreds of weary travelers slept on seats or trudged forward in hours-long lines to rebook their cancelled or missed flights.
Vice President of strategy development for the GTAA, Toby Lennox, revealed that the decision to impose ‘Ground Stop’ at the airport is the CEO’s first in his 15-year career. He alleged that usually stops are only imposed due to snowstorms or lightning and last only a few hours. Although, he also admitted that “it’s just never been this extreme,” and “no matter how much you prepare, you’re not going to be able to make the event go away. I can’t prepare to make the weather go away.”
Source Article (Oye! Times):
http://www.oyetimes.com/news/canada/57358-gtaa-criticized-for-ground-hold-at-pearson-international-airport
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