VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 harbour master, Dave Featherby, came before city council to present new federal airport safety standards, and even boast about a safety award.
Instead of praise, he got an earful.
B次元官网网址淭he issue here is, you say you do a great job, but no one knows,B次元官网网址� Mayor Dean Fortin told Featherby and fellow Transport Canada staffer, operations manager Wayne Marston, at ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 governance and priorities meeting. B次元官网网址淭he absence of that information allows the imagination to run wild.B次元官网网址�
For years, the Victoria Harbour airport has been a source of public concern, in part because of its proximity to residential condominiums, but also due to the heavy use of the harbour by several industries and interest groups.
More recently, the approval of a luxury-yacht marina in the harbour has aggravated anxieties about overcrowding.
Reports detailing the number of safety complaints and the outcomes of investigations are not made public by Transport Canada.
In response to the mayorB次元官网网址檚 comments about a lack of communication, Featherby said, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always been an issue to me as well.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hen there is an alleged violation in the harbour B次元官网网址� and we investigate it and it didnB次元官网网址檛 happen the way it is portrayed, there is nothing to (bring) back to you or council,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 left in the mind that this happened.B次元官网网址�
The answer frustrated Coun. Pamela Madoff.
B次元官网网址淲hen somebody complains (about a safety infraction), that person needs to be responded to,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e turning into your own worst enemies.B次元官网网址�
A previous Transport Canada commitment to open the lines of communication by creating a residentsB次元官网网址� committee has not materialized, she added.
Air pollution and noise from the float-plane industry was another point of contention. Council expressed frustration that the new federal regulations are silent on these issues.
B次元官网网址淭he individual concerns of our harbour have not been acknowledged,B次元官网网址� Madoff said, adding the one-size-fits-all approach fits no size.
Under former mayor Alan Lowe, the City of Victoria created a harbour airport task force. In 2010, the city wrote a letter to then transport minister John Baird outlining its conclusions, including quality of life issues.
In response, the city received a letter committing the federal government to further studies.
Marston acknowledged the commitment, but said the funds are lacking.
B次元官网网址淩ight now, I donB次元官网网址檛 think the flight numbers justify the expense,B次元官网网址� he said.
Flights have been decreasing every year for the past four years. After reaching 43,600 aircraft movements in 2007, there were only 33,700 movements last year.
Coun. Ben Isitt wasnB次元官网网址檛 appeased by the numbers.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting the runaround,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need some accountability here.B次元官网网址�
He floated the idea of a local airport authority. Madoff is also open to the idea, but warns it would need to be implemented with caution. Like the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, an airport authority would operate as a private society.
B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 a private society and there is no oversight at all, where do you go if you donB次元官网网址檛 get satisfaction from them?B次元官网网址� Madoff asked. B次元官网网址淚t would have to have constitution and bylaws that were very specific and a chain of command (to resolve concerns).B次元官网网址�
After the public presentation, the B次元官网网址 asked Marston and Featherby for an interview, but was told all inquiries must be addressed through Transport CanadaB次元官网网址檚 media relations. A formal interview request was not met by the B次元官网网址B次元官网网址� deadline.
Safety standards being enhanced
The new federal Safety Management Systems was fully implemented at the Victoria Harbour airport by March 2012. The new procedures focus on aircraft companies.
B次元官网网址淚nspectors will also go into a company to watch how it operates, and speak with the workers to measure how well a companyB次元官网网址檚 procedures identify and address safety hazards before they become a serious safety risk,B次元官网网址� a general statement about the new strategies states on Transport CanadaB次元官网网址檚 website.
It goes on to state that after decades of improvement, the national accident rate leveled off over the past decade. B次元官网网址淭he steady improvement in the accident rate was attributable to improvements to technology, such as the introduction of more reliable engines and navigation systems. However, the majority of todayB次元官网网址檚 accidents can be attributed to human or organizational factors B次元官网网址� Safety management systems offer the most promising means of preventing these types of accidents.B次元官网网址�
rholmen@vicnews.com
