Good point, Joe.  Yes, we will remove the reference to the Q400 crash from the website.  It was inaccurate in one way; the number of people killed was 70, not 50.  But the rest of the quote is not inaccurate.  This is what it says.

"On February 13, 2009 a Colgan Air Q400 aircraft went down in Northern New York State killing 50 people.  It is believed that the crash was the result of deicing problems with the aircraft, but it is still under investigation."

When the crash happened the speculation by the inspectors (not members of CommunityAIR) was that it was problems with the aircraft deicing system that caused the crash.  Later there have been news accounts saying that it was pilot error.  The accident is still under investigation.  We will have to wait until the safety experts make their determination before we can say with confidence what caused the crash.

In the news coverage of this accident other safety issues were highlighted.  Articles pointed out that in an effort to keep costs down, many companies have cut the salaries of pilots, often the air crew lack experience and many are flying when they are over tired, if not exhausted.  That is believed to be part of the cause of the Colgan Q400 crash.

Those comments were made about U.S. airlines but what about Canada?  We know that Porter pilots do not have the protection of a union.  We have no idea about their level of pay, how many hours they are flying every week and their level of experience. 

As the article that appeared in the Walrus says the Canadian Department of Transport is deregulating the airline industry and safety is becoming the responsibility of the airlines.  What is happening at Porter?  How about other Canadian airlines?

These questions do not give comfort to the flying public. 

Bill Freeman