YVR delays amid NAV Canada issues symptom of bigger issue: union

Days after NAV Canada said “unplanned absences” at Vancouver International Airport’s air traffic control tower were to blame for a series of delays Sunday, the union representing those workers says that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Nick von Schoenberg, president of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association, says delays are a symptom of a bigger issue.

“Those controllers have been working long shifts, at all hours of the day and night, long weeks, and this is going to continue for a long time. They should be recognized for that. And the fact of the matter is there are other things going on here and, mainly, we don’t have enough air traffic controllers in this country,” he told CityNews, adding the “system relies on overtime to run.”

“Vancouver is one of the shortest-staffed airports in the entire country. That’s obviously going to have a consequence on how much traffic they can move.”

He’s taking issue with NAV Canada’s characterization that sick calls caused the delays Sunday.

Von Schoenberg explains air traffic controllers are bound by Canadian Aviation Regulations, which require them to come to work in a fit state.

“So the standard of what qualifies for a controller to be sick wouldn’t be the same as the ordinary person sort of toughing it out in the office for a day when they’re not quite 100 per cent,” he said.

Last weekend, NAV Canada told CityNews it had to enact a Ground Delay Program because of the absences, “such as sick leave.” That left YVR-bound planes across the country waiting on the tarmac before they could take off.

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Von Schoenberg says he understands delays are frustrating for travellers. However, he adds the Ground Delay Program becomes necessary in such a situation for safety reasons.

He confirms NAV Canada is “making efforts to recruit and train more controllers.”

“I think they could go further in their efforts to try to address retention, because there’s a big retirement bubble coming. It’s actually underway,” he explained.

NAV Canada spokesperson Jonathan Bagg tells CityNews there are 425 new recruits currently undergoing training across the country, 70 of whom are in the Vancouver region. But those new recruits aren’t likely to land at YVR any time soon as it’s a complicated air space that requires experienced controllers.

“There’s a lot of complex air space. That means the training in longer, it’s more difficult, and it can take more time. Often for a tower like Vancouver you’ll see us draw from our existing work force to come train in Vancouver.”

Bagg says he understands the issues facing air traffic controllers at YVR and says NAV Canada is working to fix the problems.

“At Vancouver tower we have a very dedicated team of air traffic controllers that do the work day in and day out. They’re highly valued, they’re at the heart of everything we do and they do ensure the highest levels of safety,” he said. “We are working very actively to ensure we have enough people in the future, but it does take time.”