Buffalo grounded

[AussieMan]

Transport Canada has suspended Buffalo Airways operating licence indefinitely.

http://www.myyellowknifenow.com/10139/buffalo-airways-grounded-by-transport-canada-over-safety/

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1022829&tp=1

Suspension took effect on the 1st of December.

[stansdds]

Don't know what to say. I've seen a bunch of the Ice Pilot's episodes, from those it seemed that the operation was as save as it could be with old piston powered aircraft. Joe always came off as being abrasive towards Transport Canada. Maybe there is something going on or maybe he angered the wrong people? At any rate, sad to see them grounded.

[gman5250]

From the photos it looks like the pilots did a fantastic job of getting the airplane onto the ground considering the circumstances. Kudos

[ThinkingManNeil]

There was this on the CBC (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/buffalo-airways-plane-overweight-when-it-crash-landed-at-airport-1.3051177)...

N.

[av8erjm]

Concerning Joe's attitude, I have to say ''you don't piss in your kit''

[manfredc3]

I hope Joe get's his act together.

It would be a shame to see the worlds one and only "Vintage" airliner disappear into history.

[stansdds]

There was this on the CBC (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/buffalo-airways-plane-overweight-when-it-crash-landed-at-airport-1.3051177)...

N.

So it is a combination of attitude towards the governing authority and a failure to carry out required weight and balance procedures. Attitude not withstanding, without knowledge of weight, how can you safely load the aircraft? This is a dangerous practice and I expect this is what ultimately grounded Buffalo. Seems there were some other violations as well.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/buffalo-airways-suspended-1.3346524

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Not a very Merry Christmas for many in the north I suspect. I'm sure other carriers will step in but the key question is money? Isn't it always? Is it cheaper to patch together 75 year old aircraft or buy and operate modern aircraft? I think that is where you end up and I do not know the answer.

There may be a lot of legitimacy to the complaints that Canadian government regulatory agencies are favoring big carriers over small. No different than Walmart shutting down local business through cheaper prices - the way of the world especially now that it is global.

All that said there really is no excuse for violating basic safety issues likely thinking the rules of the past were good enough then they are good enough today.

-Ed-