Airlines respond to call for mandatory child seats on planes
Unsure whether that will lead to higher ticket prices
Karen K. Ho
Northern News Services
Monday, July 6, 2015
SANIKILUAQ
Northern airlines are hesitant to speculate on what the financial and cost implications may be following the release of a Transportation Safety Board report calling for mandatory child-restraint systems for commercial aircraft.
The interior cabin of the Perimeter Aviation Fairchild aircraft following the crash landing at Sanikiluaq Airport on Dec. 22, 2012 shows extensive damage. The two crew and six other passengers on board survived with various levels of injuries, but a six-month-old baby died. - photo courtesy of RCMP |
The TSB report concludes the investigation into Perimeter Aviation flight 993 that crashed while trying to land in Sanikiluaq on Dec. 22, 2012.
All the adults on board, including six passengers and two crew, survived the crash but a six-month-old infant was ripped from his mother's arms and killed on impact.
In a written statement, Bert van der Stege, First Air's vice-president of commercial services, told Nunavut News/North his company currently follows the industry practice of an infant being held on the lap of a parent during take-off and landing.
"At First Air, we have read the TSB recommendation with great interest," he said. "Safety is our number one priority at First Air, so if it turns out there is a safer way for an infant on board an aircraft, we're interested in learning more and working closely with the TSB and Transport Canada on this."
If Transport Canada did implement the recommendation by the TSB to develop age and size appropriate child restraint systems as well as mandate their use, van der Stege said First Air would co-operate with the authorities and follow that new directive.
In regard to any possible additional costs as a result of the new safety initiative, van der Stege said, "It is too early to say how that would affect the fare rule and ticket price paid."
At press time, the cost of an additional seat for a child who would otherwise be lap-held may cost as much as $2,400 for a round-trip flight between Iqaluit and Ottawa, according to Kayak.com.
Canadian North spokesperson Kelly Lewis wrote in his e-mail to News/North: "In terms of the TSB recommendations that were released Monday, our comment would be that Canadian North adheres to all Transport Canada regulations. As part of these regulations, we obtain the age of all passengers travelling with us, including infants and children. We will respond as required to any additional Transport Canada regulations that result from these TSB recommendations."
Stephen Nourse, the executive director of the Northern Air Transportation Association, said he wouldn't be able to comment because he hadn't yet consulted with members about the report on the 2012 crash.
Transportation Safety Board chair Kathy Fox made the recommendation for the development and mandatory usage of restraining devices for children after investigators found the death of Isaac Appaqaq was due to injuries incurred while being lap-held during the crash landing.
"Every day, Canadian families board commercial aircraft with infants and young children. And every day, the majority of them trust that, if something goes wrong, a parent's arms can restrain a child safely," she said during the June 29 press conference in Winnipeg. "But that's not possible."
