Ministry of Transport implements measures to address flight safety issues

The federal Ministry of Transportation is introducing measures to address the emerging maintenance and flight operation issues surrounding the emergency landing of the Air Transat Airbus A330 in the Azores.

These measures come in advance of the final report of the Portuguese investigating authority.

Following discussion with Transport Canada, Air Transat has created a new senior director of safety position, reporting directly to the president and CEO, who will work closely with Transport Canada to implement a safety management system program.

Air Transat has agreed to immediately implement special training sessions on extended range operations for all Air Transat flight crew to review with them the proper procedures for the conduct of these flights. This will include fuel management procedures and the necessity to divert to the closest alternative airport at the first signs of an engine-related emergency.

In addition, Air Transat will commence a comprehensive review of the safety of their maintenance and operations program, and will report on the implementation of the review’s recommendations to Transport Canada, and has provided to Transport Canada a corrective action plan that will improve the performance of maintenance activity and includes the hiring of additional maintenance and quality assurance personnel; and will institute human factors training for all technical personnel, review their quality procedures and introduce a system for analyzing maintenance errors.