More breakdowns at Iqaluit airport

Technical problems with instrument landing equipment at the Iqaluit airport forced two planes to re-route to Kuujjuaq this past Monday, prompting one airline to continue its push for compensation from NAV Canada.

Two flights were delayed on May 30 when the airport’s landing equipment broke down for three hours in the afternoon. A cargo plane from Ottawa and a passenger flight from Rankin Inlet landed in Iqaluit later that day.

The incident prompted First Air to repeat its demand for compensation from NAV Canada, which receives sizeable fees from airlines for its air traffic control service.

“We would certainly be making an effort for that [compensation],” said spokesperson Tracy Beeman.

First Air and other airlines were outraged earlier this month when NAV Canada’s instrument landing system in Iqaluit broke down for four days, leaving passengers stranded around the region.

NAV Canada said their system failed this week after snow piled up on an antenna. Spokesman Ron Singer said a technician based in Iqaluit was able to fix the system quicker than last time, because he didn’t need replacement parts.

Singer also said NAV Canada is not liable for airline expenses caused by glitches with their equipment.

“Sometimes there are breakdowns, sometimes there are electronic difficulties,” he said. “But… we go to great lengths to maintain our equipment and repair them as quickly as possible.”