Aviation management expert John Gradek said Canada’s more robust, modernized air-traffic system makes a nationwide ground stop like the one issued by the U.S. FAA unlikely.
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An aviation management expert says Canada is less likely than the United States to impose a nationwide ground stop on flights, after the U.S. FAA issued such an order on Friday afternoon.
John Gradek said the Canadian system is more robust and modernized than the U.S. FAA operates, pointing to differences between the two air-traffic frameworks.
The U.S. ground stop order was issued because of communications issues affecting nearly two dozen air traffic control centres that direct planes en route across the country.
Following the U.S. order, airports across Canada suspended flights to and from the United States. Air Canada later said it was cancelling the rest of those flights for the rest of the day.
Gradek said the U.S. FAA is underfunded and operating with outdated equipment, while NAV Canada said redundancies are built into the system to help ensure operations can continue safely.
He also noted that the U.S. order was lifted late Friday and that flights resumed, though airlines warned it could take days for service to return to normal.
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