Air Canada Pilot Criticizes ATC Shortage Amid Flight Delay.

VANCOUVER- An Air Canada (AC) pilot expressed frustration to passengers regarding air traffic controller shortages during a Vancouver (YVR)–Montreal (YUL) flight on Saturday.

The pilot announced a 50-minute delay over the intercom, with a CBC reporter capturing portions of his message to passengers.

Photo- Nav Canada (Facebook)

Air Canada Pilot on ATC Shortage

The pilot attributed the delay to understaffing within Nav Canada, the private company operating Canada’s air traffic control system. He explained that sick calls among controllers had created additional holdups at the airport that day.

The pilot made specific allegations against Nav Canada’s training practices during his announcement. He accused the company of deliberately keeping trainee numbers low to maintain high overtime payments for existing controllers.

The pilot urged passengers to contact their elected representatives about the ongoing situation. “Please write your MP and let them know what’s going on and how it’s affecting your business or your leisure plans,” he requested.

Vancouver Airport ATC; Photo- Wikipedia

Issues at Vancouver Airport

The pilot’s complaints emerged over a month after Nav Canada acknowledged that “resource constraints” had caused dozens of flight cancellations and delays.

An Air Canada (AC) spokesperson confirmed that Nav Canada restrictions had affected airline schedules at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) for several weeks.

Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), characterised the situation as a nationwide challenge requiring comprehensive solutions. Perry emphasised that delays resulted from systemic issues rather than individual controller performance.

“If we need more people at work, let’s direct our collective attention to doing that,” Perry stated. He called for collaborative efforts involving government representatives, labour organisations, and employers to ensure proper system staffing.

Photo: ALPA

Small Airlines Face Impact

Teara Fraser, CEO of Indigenous-owned Iskwew Air, operates short flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. Fraser reported daily delays affecting most flights, with delays ranging from 20 minutes to two hours.

She described the controller shortage as an existing problem that continues to worsen.

Fraser urged federal government officials to provide adequate funding for airports, airlines, and service providers across the aviation system.

Photo- Iskwew Air

Nav Canada Response

Nav Canada confirmed that “resource constraints” required temporary traffic management initiatives on Saturday, resulting in widespread delays. The company disputed the pilot’s allegations regarding intentional trainee rejection to protect overtime payments.

A Nav Canada spokesperson outlined current training expansion efforts across the country.

Photo- Nav Canada

Training Improvements

Nav Canada emphasised its comprehensive evaluation process for struggling trainees. “Before any decision is made to cease training for an individual, a multidisciplined panel evaluates opportunities to further support the candidate or to restream them to another program,” the spokesperson explained.

The company reported issuing close to 40 air traffic controller licenses in Vancouver (YVR) over the past year, describing this as a clear progress indicator.

Nav Canada acknowledged that Vancouver (YVR) presents complex training environments due to intricate airspace structures and high traffic volumes.

“Our significant investments and efforts in training and development are yielding tangible results,” the spokesperson concluded, defending the company’s approach to addressing controller shortages nationwide.

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