Joe argues the TCCA has good safety record
Hi Joana,
I'll TRY to address your concerns point by point.
1)YES, Pilots May or May Not have all appropriate publications onboard the aircraft. I agree this is unfortunate but it is also very rare. It would be like you driving without a map for somewhere you are driving for the first time.
2) YES, transgressions are very hard to foresee. I can't possibly know -in advance - when a pilot is going to turn their plane left or right or climb or descend unless they ask me prior to doing so. Don't confuse the majority of pilots at the TCCA with those that fly airliners. The small aircraft that frequent the TCCA are usually flying by VISUAL rules (see and be seen). The larger aircraft generally fly INSTRUMENT rules which assigns them fixed routes and altitudes and consequently makes them very predictable.
I'm not certain if the midair crash in NY was overseen by a control tower. At the TCCA, if a pilot was approaching another aircraft in a possible conflict, the controller would pass on information to allow the pilots to see each other and take appropriate action.
3) The main function of Air Traffic Control is to provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic. If a pilot requires navigational assistance, this service is provided as long as there aren't higher priority actions required by the controller such as conflict resolution. It would be like asking a firefighter to get a kitten out of a tree while a house is burning next door. Volume of traffic does not allow controllers to treat every pilot as if it is their first time flying into the TCCA. As previously stated, procedures and information are readily available and Pilots are expected to brief themselves prior to entering the airspace.
4) You omitted the portion of my comment that indicated NO Minimum Altitudes **IF** an aircraft is on APPROACH TO LAND. There are indeed minimum altitudes and distances around built up areas but these rules DO NOT apply for aircraft that are in the LANDING phase of flight. I cannot remember the last time an aircraft hit a tree or boat mast or building trying to land at the TCCA. Remember that the pilot would like to live to talk about their flight and has very little interest in flying that close to an obstruction.
4)Controllers are not the police. However, if a pilot was approaching the TCCA and there was NO control tower, who is going to nab them for flying through the noise sensitive area?
A control tower acts as a deterrent to pilots cutting corners or misapplying procedures.
Joana, people speed and drive dangerously all over the place and police do not ticket every one they pull over. Some drivers get a warning etc.. We pass on transgressions BUT it is completely up to TRANSPORT CANADA if any action will be taken.
I'm not sure what information could possibly reassure you. The safety record of the TCCA is excellent and some credit should be given to the quality control service that has been provided over the years.
Joe.
I'll TRY to address your concerns point by point.
1)YES, Pilots May or May Not have all appropriate publications onboard the aircraft. I agree this is unfortunate but it is also very rare. It would be like you driving without a map for somewhere you are driving for the first time.
2) YES, transgressions are very hard to foresee. I can't possibly know -in advance - when a pilot is going to turn their plane left or right or climb or descend unless they ask me prior to doing so. Don't confuse the majority of pilots at the TCCA with those that fly airliners. The small aircraft that frequent the TCCA are usually flying by VISUAL rules (see and be seen). The larger aircraft generally fly INSTRUMENT rules which assigns them fixed routes and altitudes and consequently makes them very predictable.
I'm not certain if the midair crash in NY was overseen by a control tower. At the TCCA, if a pilot was approaching another aircraft in a possible conflict, the controller would pass on information to allow the pilots to see each other and take appropriate action.
3) The main function of Air Traffic Control is to provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic. If a pilot requires navigational assistance, this service is provided as long as there aren't higher priority actions required by the controller such as conflict resolution. It would be like asking a firefighter to get a kitten out of a tree while a house is burning next door. Volume of traffic does not allow controllers to treat every pilot as if it is their first time flying into the TCCA. As previously stated, procedures and information are readily available and Pilots are expected to brief themselves prior to entering the airspace.
4) You omitted the portion of my comment that indicated NO Minimum Altitudes **IF** an aircraft is on APPROACH TO LAND. There are indeed minimum altitudes and distances around built up areas but these rules DO NOT apply for aircraft that are in the LANDING phase of flight. I cannot remember the last time an aircraft hit a tree or boat mast or building trying to land at the TCCA. Remember that the pilot would like to live to talk about their flight and has very little interest in flying that close to an obstruction.
4)Controllers are not the police. However, if a pilot was approaching the TCCA and there was NO control tower, who is going to nab them for flying through the noise sensitive area?
A control tower acts as a deterrent to pilots cutting corners or misapplying procedures.
Joana, people speed and drive dangerously all over the place and police do not ticket every one they pull over. Some drivers get a warning etc.. We pass on transgressions BUT it is completely up to TRANSPORT CANADA if any action will be taken.
I'm not sure what information could possibly reassure you. The safety record of the TCCA is excellent and some credit should be given to the quality control service that has been provided over the years.
Joe.
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