Anger after Sunwing diversion in New Orleans leads to lengthy delays

News provided by 680news.com/The Canadian Press

By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press, Posted Mar 31, 2019 4:57 pm EDT, Last Updated Mar 31, 2019 at 5:05 pm EDT

A Sunwing Airlines plane is seen in an undated file photo. HANDOUT/Sunwing Vacations Inc.

A replacement aircraft for a grounded Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737 Max was forced to make an emergency landing in New Orleans on the weekend, sparking anger among passengers who complained they were stranded for hours.

In a statement on Sunday, the charter airline confirmed the Boeing 767-300 en route from Toronto to Cancun, Mexico, was diverted on Saturday due to an unspecified “mechanical issue.”

However, Sunwing normally has no connection to the New Orleans airport, creating logistical issues for the 239 people aboard, the company said.

“We didn’t have our staff on the ground to support communications,” the company said in a statement. “Because of the unplanned nature of the landing, the airport was very busy and it took many hours to find a secured area for our customers to deplane to.”

Passengers aboard Flight WG511 took to social media to vent their frustrations at being stranded aboard the aircraft for hours, then for several more hours in a holding room at the airport.

One passenger, Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern, a vice president with Canada Lands Company, tweeted that passengers had been “locked in” the airport basement for more than seven hours without any information.

“No one from the crew is to be seen,” Gomez Wiuckstern said. “The call centre says, ‘We are working on it, keep waiting’.”

“Stuck at New Orleans in a basement which feels like a detention centre with no idea what is happenings,” tweeted another passenger, Robert Liu.

Sunwing said it had leased the Boeing 767 from Eastern Airlines to help maintain its flying schedule after regulatory authorities recently grounded the 737 Max.

The grounding followed deadly crashes off Indonesia and in Ethiopia killed 346 people. Suspicion has fallen on an automated system designed to prevent the aircraft from stalling by pitching the nose of the plane down.

Sunwing said it provided its stranded passengers with water service, snacks and pizza while it sought to replace have Eastern replace the aircraft. That ultimately happened Saturday night with a plane sent from Miami. Everyone was then flown to Cancun, the agency said.

“We are very apologetic for this unfortunate start to their vacation and have compensated accordingly,” Sunwing said.

Sunwing Airlines bills itself as an award-winning leisure carrier that flies out of 33 airports across Canada and the U.S. using more than 40 Boeing 737-800 and the now-grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. It mainly flies to vacation destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Florida.

Bombardier Delivers Global 7500 Aircraft to Racing Legend Niki Lauda as Production Continues to Ramp Up

Provided by Bombardier Inc

March 29, 2019 Montréal Business Aircraft,  Bombardier Inc.,  Press Release

• Long-time Bombardier customer and F1 World Champion takes delivery of the first European-based Global 7500 aircraft
• Production and completions ramp up for Global 7500  jets proceeding as planned
• The Global 7500  aircraft recently completed the world’s longest-range business jet flight in history and broke the city pair speed record between LA and NYC*
• Winner of the 2019 Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award, the Global 7500 aircraft offers Bombardier’s signature smooth ride and a spaciousness that is unique among business jets

Bombardier announced today that it delivered its first European-based Global 7500 aircraft to long-time Bombardier customer, Niki Lauda, as production and completions of the award-winning business jet continue to ramp up as planned. Bombardier is on track to deliver between 15 and 20 Global 7500 aircraft in 2019.

“We are thrilled to deliver our flagship Global 7500 business jet to Niki Lauda, our esteemed customer for many years,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Global 7500 aircraft is simply the best business jet on the market. It sets the standard by which all other aircraft in private aviation will be measured, demonstrated by the prestigious design and aviation awards it has garnered. The Global 7500 aircraft is the crown jewel of the industry.”

“I have enjoyed watching the evolution and growth of the Global Aircraft program. I have always been impressed with the expertise, craftsmanship and innovation that go into building every Global business jet,” said Niki Lauda. “The Global 7500aircraft is the culmination of all the knowledge Bombardier teams have gained over the years and I look forward to experiencing the range, speed and comfort this jet has to offer.”

The Global 7500 jet is the latest in a series of Bombardier business aircraft that Mr. Lauda has owned and piloted during his career as an aviator. Previously, he operated a Global 6000, Global 5000 and Challenger 300 jet as his private aircraft.

Since its entry-into-service, the Global 7500 aircraft has unequivocally proven itself to be the highest-performing aircraft in the industry. The Global 7500 business jet has a top speed of Mach 0.925 and recently flew from Singapore to Tucson, completing a record-setting 8,152 nautical mile flight—the longest-range flight in business aviation history. In addition, it also recently broke the city pair speed record between Los Angeles and New York. The Global 7500 aircraft continues to assert its position as the leader in the business jet market.

The Global 7500  aircraft offers Bombardier’s signature smooth ride and a spaciousness that is unique among business jets. With its award-winning bespoke interior featuring a full-size kitchen and four true living spaces, the Global 7500 jet offers the ultimate in-flight experience. Setting the benchmark for the most exceptional cabin interior, the Global 7500 aircraft offers the most innovative features: Bombardier’s patented Nuage seat, meticulously designed for maximum comfort and the revolutionary nice Touch cabin management system (CMS), a new way to connect with the Global 7500 aircraft cabin through the Bombardier Touch dial, featuring business aviation’s first application of an OLED display.

TSB deploys a team of investigators to the site of a small aircraft accident north of Kenora, Ontario

Provided by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada/CNW

WINNIPEG, March 31, 2019 /CNW/ – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of yesterday’s accident involving a Piper J-3 Cub that occurred north of Kenora, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

The TSB is online at www.tsb.gc.ca. Keep up to date through RSS, Twitter (@TSBCanada), YouTube, Flickr and our blog.

SOURCE Transportation Safety Board of Canada

TSB deploys a team of investigators to the site of an aircraft accident near Val-d’Or, Quebec

Provided by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada/CNW

DORVAL, QC, March 30, 2019 /CNW/ – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of yesterday’s accident involving a Zenair ultralight aircraft near Val-d’Or, Quebec. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

The TSB is online at www.tsb.gc.ca. Keep up to date through RSS, Twitter (@TSBCanada), YouTube, Flickr and our blog.

Industry Flagship, Global 7500 Aircraft Makes High-Speed Transatlantic Crossing in Record Time

Provided by Bombardier Inc

March 29, 2019 Montréal Business Aircraft,  Press Release

• Global 7500 business jet sets impressive speed record between New York and London, once again highlighting its unmatched performance
• New record set just days after completing the fastest ever business jet flight between Los Angeles and New York
• Record demonstrates exceptional capabilities of aircraft by attaining a top speed of Mach 0.925
• The unrivaled Global 7500 aircraft is the largest and longest range business jet in the industry
• The multiple award-winning Global 7500 aircraft offers Bombardier’s signature smooth ride and a spaciousness that is unique among business jets

Bombardier announced today that the ultra-long-range Global 7500 jet has again proven its unmatched performance capabilities, adding another significant city-pair speed record to its list of remarkable achievements, this time during a transatlantic flight from White Plains, NY to Luton, UK. The record is pending certification by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association.

The award-winning Global 7500 business jet left Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY at 6:26 a.m. local time on March 27, 2019, and arrived at London Luton Airport at 3:52 p.m. local time. The aircraft completed the transatlantic mission in 5 hours and 26 minutes under seasonal winds, establishing the record and making it the fastest flight for a business jet between these two major financial centres. During the flight, the aircraft reached a top speed of M 0.925, with an average speed of M 0.92, demonstrating exceptional speed, all while providing the smoothest ride.

“This recent record showcases the real-world capabilities of this impressive aircraft and demonstrates once again why the unrivaled Global 7500 aircraft is the undisputed leader in our industry,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft, “Our award-winning, best-in-class Global 7500 aircraft is redefining private aviation and elevating the overall in-flight experience through its speed, range and its exceptional cabin comfort.”

Since its entry-into-service, the Global 7500 jet has emphatically proven itself to be the highest-performing aircraft in the industry. With unmatched capabilities, the Global 7500 aircraft is on a record-setting streak. Earlier this month, it completed the longest flight in business aviation with an 8,152-nautical-mile mission between Singapore and Tucson, landing with 4,300 lbs of fuel reserves, representing nearly 1.5 hours of additional flight. This week, it also set a record-breaking speed flight from Los Angeles to New York in 3 hours and 54 minutes, sustaining a speed of Mach 0.925 for more than two hours. The Global 7500 aircraft continues to set the bar for unprecedented excellence and performance in the world of business aviation.

Through visionary design and superior performance, the Global 7500 aircraft redefines the business aircraft experience. With four distinct living spaces plus a dedicated crew rest area, it is unique among business jets in spaciousness, comfort and highly personalized design flexibility.

Norwegian Inaugurates Hamilton to Dublin Route this Weekend

Provided by Hamilton International Airport

First transatlantic route from Hamilton to be operated by 737-800 to Ireland

NEW YORK CITY (March 29, 2019) – Norwegian, the World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline, will launch its inaugural flight from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to Dublin this Sunday, March 31. The airline’s first-ever transatlantic route from Canada will be summer seasonal, with flights operating four times weekly on a Boeing 737-800.

Boeing 737-800

The aircraft replaces the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft originally scheduled to operate this new route. Fares to Dublin start as low as C$209 one-way including tax and are available to book on Norwegian.com/en-ca. The lowest fares can always be found on Norwegian’s low fare calendar.

Passengers on Norwegian’s flights are eligible to join Norwegian Reward, the airline’s award-winning loyalty program to earn CashPoints every time they fly, book a hotel or rent a car. Starting 2019, free WiFi will be available on transcontinental flights, another reason to fly the most-awarded low-cost airline, Norwegian.

Skytrax 2019 World Airport Awards: YUL employees in the top 5

Provided by Aéroports de Montréal/CNW

MONTRÉAL, March 29, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ – Once again this year, Montréal–Trudeau airport (YUL) has posted excellent results in the various categories of the 2019 edition of the Skytrax World Airport Awards, considered a benchmark of quality in the world airport industry.

Montréal–Trudeau made a strong showing in the Best Airport Staff Service category, moving up to 4th place among North American airports after finishing 6th in 2018 and 10th in 2016. This category acknowledges the quality of service provided by the 13,000 employees who serve passengers in the terminal building.

“Aéroports de Montréal is extremely proud of the excellent work of all employees of the airport and the wider airport community,” said Philippe Rainville, President and CEO, Aéroports de Montréal. “They are the main reason Montréal–Trudeau continues to climb in the rankings among other world-class airports. These results clearly show that our priorities are in line with passengers’ needs.”

Among the many initiatives implemented over the past year to further enhance the passenger experience at Montréal–Trudeau, YUL now has a new brigade of ambassadors whose mission is to maximize the airport experience for travellers at all stages of their route through the terminal, as well as the Pet Squad, made up of 30 dogs and their handlers, who roam the terminal building offering moments of companionship to passengers.

In the rankings of the World’s Top 100 Airports, as voted by air travellers all over the world, YUL is now 62nd, an improvement of 26 spots over 2016. And in the category Best Airports by Global Region, North America, Montréal–Trudeau held on to its No. 10 ranking.

The Skytrax World Airport Awards, viewed as a benchmark of quality in the world airport industry, are based on assessments of customer service and facilities at more than 550 airports worldwide, with some million passengers surveyed.

About Aéroports de Montréal
Aéroports de Montréal is the airport authority for the Greater Montréal area responsible for the management, operation and development of Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and the Mirabel aeronautic and industrial park.

SOURCE Aéroports de Montréal

Government of Canada investing in safety at the Moosonee and Timmins Airports

Provided by Transport Canada/CNW

TIMMINS, ON, March 28, 2019 /CNW/ – Canadians, tourists and businesses benefit from safe and well-maintained airports. From visiting friends and family, to travelling to medical appointments, or getting goods to market, we rely on our local airports to support and sustain vibrant communities. These airports also provide essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue and forest fire response.

Gary Anandasangaree, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Rouge Park, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, visited the Moosonee Airport and the Timmins Victor M. Power Airport to highlight the recent completion of safety improvement projects that were funded through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program.

At the Moosonee Airport, $7,633,423 was provided to rehabilitate and update Runway 06-24 and Taxiway A. Well-maintained runways, taxiways and aprons that are kept clear of ice and snow are key to ensuring safe usage by aircraft, passengers, and crews, and help protect costly airport assets, such as snow clearing equipment and aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, during airport operations.

The Timmins Victor M. Power Airport received $63,840 to replace a material spreader, which will assist with the essential clearing of ice and snow from runways, taxiways and the apron.       

Quotes

“The Moosonee Airport and Timmins Victor M. Power Airport are important hubs for residents and businesses in this region of Northern Ontario. The updated runway and taxiway, and new equipment helps ensure continued safe operations for flights, passengers, crews and employees, while supporting regional economic development.” 

Gary Anandasangaree 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Rouge Park

“The Government of Canada recognizes the important role played by Canada’s local airports in supporting jobs and tourism, enabling investment and facilitating trade. Our investments are helping airports increase safety and accessibility for residents and travellers, while supporting the continued growth of local and regional economies.”

The Honourable Marc Garneau 
Minister of Transport

Associated Links

• Airports Capital Assistance Program
• Moosonee Airport
• Timmins Victor M. Power Airport

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeand Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

SOURCE Transport Canada

Plane that crashed after Abbotsford airshow wasn’t allowed to carry paying passengers

News provided by The Abbotsford News with a hint from P.N. – Thanks

By Tyler Olsen, The Abbotsford News| March 28, 2019 10:18 a.m.

A report has been released on the crash of a plane last August at Abbotsford International Airport. Abbotsford Airport Authority photo

The plane that crashed following the second day of last year’s Abbotsford Airshow didn’t have a permit to carry paying passengers and “did not meet modern aircraft safety standards,” the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) wrote in a report issued Thursday morning.

Five people were injured – two seriously – when a 74-year-old De Havilland Dragon Rapide crashed shortly after takeoff at the Abbotsford International Airport. The museum that owned the plane had sold rides to paying customers on the air show’s website, the report said.

The plane was operated by the Historic Flight Foundation, a U.S. flight museum.

The report notes that while the aircraft “was considered airworthy, it did not meet modern aircraft safety standards.” The plane had been issued a “Special Airworthiness Certificate – Experimental” by American aviation authorities that allowed it to fly. Transport Canada had issued a permit that allowed the plane to be flown to and from the air show, but which didn’t allow it to carry paying passengers.

Airshow spokesperson Jadene Mah said the Historic Flight Foundation had been selling “memberships” rather than tickets, and that the practice is common for museums that attend air shows.

Those who buy such memberships receive cards and must sign waivers saying they know they are flying on an historic aircraft.

The plane took off with four passengers at 5:31 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2018, shortly after the air show had concluded for the day.

“During the takeoff, the aircraft encountered strong, gusting crosswinds,” the report said. “It climbed to about 30 feet above ground level before descending suddenly and impacting the runway, coming to rest on its nose immediately off the right edge of the runway.”

The TSB found that the aircraft is “more difficult to handle during crosswind takeoffs than most tail-wheel-equipped aircraft, particularly from paved (rather than grass) runways.”

The report said that, “according to pilot notes, the maximum allowable crosswind component for takeoff is 17 knots. This is not a limitation of the aircraft; rather, it is a cautionary speed, meaning that operating in winds above that value would require above-average flying skills.”

Crosswinds during the plane’s takeoff were estimated to be as much as 18 knots. The plane soon “encountered swirling winds, resulting in a sudden loss of airspeed shortly after becoming airborne,” the report said.

The report also found that the aircraft didn’t have an accurate passenger manifest on board, which could make it difficult for first responders to identify passengers.

The report concludes with several “safety messages” that stress the importance of being familiar with regulatory requirements and the fact that vintage aircraft may be more difficult to control than modern planes.

It adds: “Appropriate equipment during an emergency response needs to be available to prevent further injury and property loss after a crash. In addition, not having an accurate passenger manifest can make it difficult for first responders to confirm the identity of passengers.”

The TSB is an independent agency tasked with investigating incidents and making recommendations to address safety problems.

The report won’t result in any immediate recriminations, although Transport Canada will also have access to the report, a TSB spokesperson said.

Transport Canada said in an email Thusday that its review of the incident is “ongoing.”

Mah said “experiences with vintage aircraft are an important part of the storytelling component at the Abbotsford Airshow and we will be working together with the museum operators and vintage aircraft owners in the future to see how we can continue to keep vintage aircraft as a very important component of what we do.”

She said it is important to acknowledge that such aircraft “are museum pieces” that “don’t have the same modern components that modern aircraft do.”

Icelandic budget airline WOW Air ceases operations, stranding passengers

News provided by CityNews1130.com and WOW Air

By Associated Press – Posted Mar 28, 2019 3:24 am PDT

(Source: facebook.com/wowiceland)

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelandic budget airline WOW Air ceased operations on Thursday, stranding passengers across two continents.

In a statement on its website, the airline told passengers there would be no further flights and advised them to check flights with other airlines for ways to reach their destinations.

The airline, founded by entrepreneur Skuli Mogensen, began operations in 2012 and specialized in ultra-cheap flights between North America and Europe, with flights to airports in cities including Washington, D.C, New York, Paris, London and its Reykjavik hub.

WOW grounded at least six planes in North America that were set to leave late Wednesday from Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Detroit, New York and Baltimore.

Its bankruptcy comes after six months of turbulent negotiations to sell the low-cost carrier, first to its main rival and flag-ship carrier Icelandair and later to Indigo Partners, an American company operating the airline Wizz.

Tourism is Iceland’s largest industry and WOW’s disappearance is set to have an effect on this summer’s high season.

In its early years the airline expanded fast to 37 destinations and reported up to 60 per cent annual growth in passenger numbers. Its revenue per passenger, however, has not kept up and fell by about 20 per cent in 2017, according to the last earnings report.

“I will never forgive myself for not acting sooner,” Mogensen said in a letter to employees today. “WOW was clearly an incredible airline and we were on the path to do amazing things again.”

In Europe, Reykjavik-bound planes from seven cities — Amsterdam, Dublin, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt and Copenhagen — did not take off this morning.

---

From WOW Air
End of Operation of WOW AIR

Information for WOW AIR passengers

WOW AIR has ceased operation. All WOW AIR flights have been cancelled.

How will I reach my destination?

Passengers are advised to check available flights with other airlines.

Some airlines may offer flights at a reduced rate, so-called rescue fares, in light of the circumstances. Information on those airlines will be published, when it becomes available.

What are my rights?

Passengers whose ticket was paid with a credit card are advised to contact their credit card company to check whether a refund of the ticket cost will be issued.

Passengers who bought their ticket from a European travel agent (within the European Economic Area) as a part of a package tour (a package which includes flights and accommodation or other services) are protected by the Package Travel Directive. Those passengers are advised to contact their travel agent to arrange an alternative flight.

Passengers who may have bought travel protection, or those passengers whose credit card terms may include such protection, may be entitled to claim compensation and assistance due to delays or travel disruption. However, such compensation is often limited.

Passengers may also be entitled to compensation from WOW AIR, including in accordance with European regulation on Air Passenger Rights. In case of a bankruptcy, claims should be filed to the administrator / liquidator.

Where can I get up-to-date information?

This announcement will be published and continuously updated on the following websites:
– Icelandic Transport Authority: www.samgongustofa.is / www.icetra.is
– Keflavik Airport: www.isavia.is/en
– WOW AIR: www.wowair.com
– Posted at all relevant airports
General information about passenger rights can be found atwww.icetra.is

Information to passengers .pdf

28.03.2019