A "terrifying" incident
Marilyn McHugh, a senior living in the Shaw House on Toronto Island, had an experience about two weeks ago that she describes as "terrifying."
At about 7:30 on a Friday evening suddenly an airplane came off the lake at a terrific speed, flying at tree top level. It seemed to be coming right into her living room. The lights from the plane, powerful enough to be search lights, flooded into her living room. The engine of the plane roared as it came closer. In that moment Marilyn was convinced the airplane was gong to come right through her window and demolish everything in sight. Thankfully the plane screamed past overhead and was gone, but it left her in "a complete panic."
After she settled down Marilyn called the airport to make a complaint. No one answered the phone so she left a message. When she got no call back she phoned again and again. Altogether she phoned four times before she gave up and called Councillor Pam McConnell's office and described what had happened. McConnell's staff took up the case and finally Marilyn got a call back from the airport.
The airport staff admitted that this was a serious breach of the flight path rules. There are two flight paths at the eastern end of the Island. One goes over the Eastern Gap and the other crosses the Island over the RCYC clubhouse. Both flight paths are well away from the community. The staff member that Marilyn talked to said that they had checked the log books and determined the plane and the pilot. They admitted that this was a violation of the rules. (It was a small aircraft, not a Porter Q400.) Apparently a letter has been sent to the pilot.
Planes are constantly flying over the Island community. Islanders have made many complaints but nothing seems to be done. Marilyn's experience of not receiving a return phone call is, unfortunately, typical. It must have been the combination of a particularly bad violation, along with the fact that a Toronto City Councillor took up the cause, that finally resulted in the phone call that Marilyn received. Every complaint should be taken seriously.
The handling of complaints by the Island Airport staff is a serious problem, but the enforcement of the airport rules and the handling of grievances is even more disturbing. Is a letter to the pilot enough? This is a serious incident and yet it is shrugged off with a reprimand. When traffic laws are broken police issue a ticket and the driver has to pay a fine. That should be the process with violations of the rules at the Island Airport. A letter of reprimand is not good enough.
Many have become very cynical about the Island Airport operations. Over and over again there are violations of curfew and flight path rules and nothing is ever done. Many citizens have simply given up and do not even bother phoning the airport when a violation occurs. This Island Airport management will never improve their relationship with the community until they begin to enforce the rules.
Bill Freeman
At about 7:30 on a Friday evening suddenly an airplane came off the lake at a terrific speed, flying at tree top level. It seemed to be coming right into her living room. The lights from the plane, powerful enough to be search lights, flooded into her living room. The engine of the plane roared as it came closer. In that moment Marilyn was convinced the airplane was gong to come right through her window and demolish everything in sight. Thankfully the plane screamed past overhead and was gone, but it left her in "a complete panic."
After she settled down Marilyn called the airport to make a complaint. No one answered the phone so she left a message. When she got no call back she phoned again and again. Altogether she phoned four times before she gave up and called Councillor Pam McConnell's office and described what had happened. McConnell's staff took up the case and finally Marilyn got a call back from the airport.
The airport staff admitted that this was a serious breach of the flight path rules. There are two flight paths at the eastern end of the Island. One goes over the Eastern Gap and the other crosses the Island over the RCYC clubhouse. Both flight paths are well away from the community. The staff member that Marilyn talked to said that they had checked the log books and determined the plane and the pilot. They admitted that this was a violation of the rules. (It was a small aircraft, not a Porter Q400.) Apparently a letter has been sent to the pilot.
Planes are constantly flying over the Island community. Islanders have made many complaints but nothing seems to be done. Marilyn's experience of not receiving a return phone call is, unfortunately, typical. It must have been the combination of a particularly bad violation, along with the fact that a Toronto City Councillor took up the cause, that finally resulted in the phone call that Marilyn received. Every complaint should be taken seriously.
The handling of complaints by the Island Airport staff is a serious problem, but the enforcement of the airport rules and the handling of grievances is even more disturbing. Is a letter to the pilot enough? This is a serious incident and yet it is shrugged off with a reprimand. When traffic laws are broken police issue a ticket and the driver has to pay a fine. That should be the process with violations of the rules at the Island Airport. A letter of reprimand is not good enough.
Many have become very cynical about the Island Airport operations. Over and over again there are violations of curfew and flight path rules and nothing is ever done. Many citizens have simply given up and do not even bother phoning the airport when a violation occurs. This Island Airport management will never improve their relationship with the community until they begin to enforce the rules.
Bill Freeman
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