The Canadian government's flight safety oversight rating has plummeted in the last two decades, according to a draft report from a United Nations agency. But the Canadian government and Canada's two largest airlines are taking issue with the study.
A confidential ICAO report obtained by The Canadian Press reveals Canada has received a C grade on flight safety oversight — down from an A+ almost two decades ago and far below most of its peers.
Canada’s aviation oversight score was at a sterling 95 out of 100 in 2005. But CP said the latest ICAO rating for Canada gave the country a score of just 64.
The organization said three areas of safety oversight, in particular, have seen a major drop-off: Aircraft operations, airports, and air navigation.
ICAO recommends that the Canadian government set up a system to lock in full regulatory compliance by airlines and airports, shore up certification related to dangerous goods and ensure proper training and fatigue management for air traffic controllers.
The Trudeau government said it begs to differ.
“ICAO has not identified any significant safety concerns with Canada’s civil aviation system, and we know our country’s air sector is among the safest in the world,” said Laura Scaffidi, a spokeswoman for Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez.
Air Canada issued a statement saying that the draft report from ICAO looked at how Transport Canada implements ICAO standards and “was not an audit of the safe operation of Canadian aircraft.”
“We have our own rigid internal safety processes,” Air Canada officials said. “These are evaluated and audited regularly by the International Air Transport Association, the global airline association consisting of 300 members.
“The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the gold standard for evaluating safety for airlines and passing it is a condition of membership.
“Our most recent IOSA audit was concluded in November, and Air Canada passed with exemplary findings, well above the average,” officials stated. “Additionally, we continually engage with other aviation organizations and authorities around the world to promote safety and to share best safety practices.”
“WestJet is aware that the United Nations agency, the ICAO, has conducted a Universal Safety Oversight Audit of Transport Canada,” the airline said in a statement. “This review was focused exclusively on Transport Canada, not Canadian airlines and therefore do not assess or reflect WestJet’s industry leading safety standards.
“Through its participation with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), WestJet is voluntarily and consistently audited to IOSA and ICAO, the highest international safety standards,” officials said.
Last year, the number of air transportation accidents declined 43% to 165 — a new 10-year low, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
“Transport Canada is confident in the safety of Canada’s aviation system, and the department will welcome the opportunity to further improve our processes and framework to better align with ICAO (standards and practices),” department spokesman Hicham Ayoun said in an email to The Canadian Press.
