The federal government has proposed new safety measures for private and commercial airplanes that would equip the aircraft with a warning system geared to prevent often-fatal collisions with natural terrain and other obstacles.
The terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) would be implemented for aircraft with six or more passenger seats, resulting in improved safety and increased competitiveness in the international market, Transportation Minister Denis Lebel said Friday.
"Our government will continue strengthening aviation safety for Canadians," Lebel said in a statement. "Using TAWS will significantly reduce the risk of airplane crashes with land, water or obstacles."
The TAWS uses alerts, both audible and visual, to warn pilots about potential collision risks and aims to provide sufficient time to take action to prevent an air crash.
The Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities said most Canadian air carriers that operate internationally now use the system, but the proposed requirements would extend to all aircraft that meet the six-seat criteria.
The proposal was forwarded to the Treasury Board in October. In a news release, the Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities said the implementation of the program to all applicable aircraft in the country would result in a cost savings of $215 million over 10 years through death prevention and a reduction in serious injuries and property damage.
Without knowing precise figures, airline analyst Robert Kokonis, of Air Trav Inc. said implementing the safety systems would costs six figures per aircraft, which he said could be a tough burden to bear for some smaller airlines.
"It would be something to enhance safety — at any airline, safety is always your No. 1 concern," Kokonis said.
"For some of these smaller carriers that work on tighter margins, especially in an era of (high fuel) costs and uncertain economic times and now we'd add on an extra cost. Of course, if it's mandated by the government, they're going to have no choice."
The proposal estimated that it would cost a total of $59 million for "equipping and retrofitting the remainder of the fleet" with both TAWS and an enhanced altitude accuracy system.
"There would be some cost associated with the implementation of these proposed amendments, but the risks associated with . . . accidents would be reduced, resulting in fewer deaths, serious injuries and material loss," the proposal reads. "Businesses and consumers would therefore benefit from the increased safety of aircraft. Moreover, airlines travelling to the United States and to the European Union would be in compliance with similar regulations in those jurisdictions, strengthening Canada's ability to compete economically in those markets."
It is not clear whether the First Air plane that crashed into a hillside in foggy conditions in Resolute, Nunavut, on Aug. 20, had similar safety mechanisms in place or whether that crash, which claimed 12 lives and left three survivors, led to the TAWS proposal.
The proposal notes that between 1977 and 2009, 35 planes "were flown into the ground while under pilot control" in Canada, leading to 100 deaths and 46 serious injuries.
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