Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Vancouver International Airport union demands independent inquiry into snow removal problems at YVR after learning new details concerning a jet crash in an early January snowstorm and damaged caused by plowed snow, while landing on runway that should have been closed; union releases crash photos

Vancouver – A union representing hundreds of workers at Vancouver International Airport is demanding an independent inquiry into snow removal problems at YVR after learning new details of a jet crash during a snowstorm in early January.

A Mexican-registered Cessna Citation 650 business jet with five people on board crashed off Runway 12 after landing in a snowstorm at Vancouver at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday January 4, collapsing its nose gear when it went through 18 inch deep plowed snow alongside the runway edge lights, according to a report from Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS).

But original YVR reports to the media said the nose gear “collapsed after landing” and did not mention that the nose gear was broken by the heavy, ploughed snow, says Stephen Dunsmore, Regional Vice-President Pacific of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees – a component union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The union is also releasing photos of the jet crash on the PSAC BC website at www.psacbc.com.

Furthermore, during “snow event” operations, Runway 12 is supposed to be closed to aircraft, Dunsmore said, raising additional questions about what happened that day.

“There were huge problems at Vancouver International Airport with snow removal, including dozens of flights being cancelled and dozens more delayed because YVR was unable to handle the snow, Dunsmore said. “Now we are disturbed to hear that a significant aircraft crash may have been caused by improperly ploughed snow and possible use of a runway that should have been closed.”

“Therefore, we believe that an independent inquiry into how Vancouver International Airport deals with snow removal is more than warranted given the problems we had over Christmas and early January and the new information about this crash,” Dunsmore said.

“We still have weeks of winter left and snow is even predicted as possible in the days ahead, so it’s critical that air travelers, pilots and flight crews be assured that future snow removal is handled safely and appropriately,” he said.

Dunsmore said the Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation of the crash but that airport staff members represented by the UCTE are concerned that any results or recommendations might not be made before another snowfall affects VYR.

“When it comes to air safety, we don’t believe in taking any chances,” Dunsmore said. “If there’s a problem with snow removal procedures – especially when those procedures may have resulted in serious damage to an incoming flight – then let’s fix it right now.”

PHOTOS OF JET CRASH:

For further information contact: Stephen Dunsmore, UCTE, at (604) 739-1491 or cell (778) 998-1491 or Bill Tieleman, West Star Communications, at 604-844-7827 or cell 778-896-0964.