by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Nov 05/97) - Transport Canada officials are satisfied the Rankin Inlet airport is safe following an investigation into three complaints that arose after the regions's worst storm in 13 years.

"We have of late had concerns with the maintenance at the airport," said Sheila Monnette, who works for the regulatory body of Transport Canada in Winnipeg that monitors airport safety.

The three complaints arose after an employee of M&T Enterprise Ltd. fell on some ice outside the baggage door Oct. 21, an aircraft parked on the apron slid on ice during the high winds Oct. 15, and two approach lights blew over in the storm.

The M&T employee who fell didn't miss any work and wasn't treated for any injury, and the aircraft wasn't damaged when it slid on ice, according to airport officials in Rankin Inlet.

But Monnette said that three complaints forced Transport Canada to look into the safety of the airport and its overall maintenance. She maintains that inspectors were satisfied the areas of concern were quickly addressed and corrected.

"We stepped in to point out matters and said we wanted to see some improvements," she said. "I don't think we have ongoing problems with Rankin Inlet. And we're really quite pleased with the action that was taken."

While Transport Canada does have the authority to close an airport because of a failure to comply with safety regulations, the complaints at Rankin Inlet airport weren't serious enough for it to close.

"Worse case scenario, yes, we do have the authority to close an airport, but I don't think that this was an option or even the next step here," she said. "The travelling public can be comforted."

Jason Brown, deputy minister of transportation, said that the situations occurred after a major storm that cause all kinds of damage throughout the Keewatin region, but admits that the airport often has to deal with difficult weather during the winter months.

"We went through some pretty wild weather in Rankin," he said. "There's only so much humanly possible to do during those conditions. This time of year, there's all kinds of problems. It's really par for the course, but the department is working with Transport Canada and the municipality to ensure safety."

Brown said that the Department of Transportation, the hamlet of Rankin Inlet -- which contracts out the maintenance work -- Transport Canada, NAV Canada, and the carriers take safety issues seriously and respond to problems quickly. Furthermore, he said, these safety concerns that recently arose weren't serious enough to issue NOTAMs or warnings to pilots coming into the airport.

"With the equipment and staff we have, we have attempted to bring it up to safety quickly as possible after a storm," he said.