Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. says people have to stop complaining and getting frustrated with Calm Air, and start being more cautious due to the abnormal warm weather conditions the Kivalliq region has experienced recently.
Savikataaq said the mild weather has led to fog, freezing drizzle and poor visibility, which makes aviation extremely perilous.
“Some people say, 'Aw, Calm Air, you can't even fly in this,' but that stuff is really, really dangerous to try and fly in,” said Savikataaq. “That's what many people in the public don't realize.
“That's why the flights get cancelled because of the safety issue.
“It's 0 C right now (on Nov. 21) and we're almost into December. We should have temperatures of -20 C right now. I was at our rink today and there's more water in there than ice.”
Savikataaq said Arviat had a few really cold days and then this mild weather moved in.
He said it's always about safety when an airplane can't land due to freezing drizzle or fog.
“I can talk as a pilot. When the weather is like this, it's extremely dangerous and you don't want to put your passengers in jeopardy.
“I don't know why so many people get upset when a plane can't land due to safety concerns, and safety becomes an issue when visibility goes down or the ceiling goes down. And, anytime there's any icing involved, that is extremely dangerous.
“I think the frustration is because, for the people who are in town, they want to be able to leave to wherever their destination is, whether it's for medical travel or personal leave going down south. Then you have people who are down south and they're homesick and want to get home.
“So, you at least want to give it a try, but everything comes at a cost when you're doing that. I'm no airline expert, but, from a pilot's point of view, safety is always number one.”
Savikataaq said, at the end of the day, an airline is trying to make money and every time it has cancelled flights or a flight that can't land, it's losing money.
He said people have to start realizing that it's always better for everyone when the airline puts safety first.
“I got my pilot's licence at St. Andrews, Man., in 2007. It's one of the best flight-training airports in the country and international students go there.
“Here in the Kivalliq, as the younger population is growing, people are starting to see different paths for a career and aviation is one of them lately, especially with the flight school going to Rankin Inlet this past summer.
“Hopefully, the more local people who get involved, the more people will understand that, with aviation, safety always has to come first.
“Everyone is frustrated with Calm Air right now and it's not Calm Air's fault. It's all due to safety. That's what it comes down to. I wouldn't want to see in the news that Calm Air went down. I'd rather hear a plane didn't land than hear about a plane that took a risk and the outcome wasn't good.”
