The Manitoba NDP are calling on Premier Brian Pallister to stop the privatization of LifeFlight and other government-run air services.
The party released footage of an emergency landing at the Thompson Airport on September 9th, when an Island Lake-bound flight (responding to a medical call) had to circle back when the crew was unable to get the landing gear to lock. The plane’s landing gear collapsed upon landing, rupturing the fuel system.
NDP leader Wab Kinew says that the footage was released as it shows that it is owned by SkyNorth, one of the 12 companies who have bid on the request for proposal to take over LifeFlight. The Fort Rouge MLA added that the footage is “harrowing to watch”, as the plane could have been transporting a patient in critical condition.
Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey spoke to Arctic Radio News and said that the footage is significant, as it highlights “the fact…that some of the private carriers have had more incidents in the past than what government air services have ever had”.
Lindsey said that since 1994 there have been around 30 incidents, 23 fatalities and 33 serious injuries involving private air carriers. He added that there has only been one incident with a government air service in that time, which the Transportation Safety Board ruled was caused by directions of the air traffic controllers.
The NDP say that they are concerned that there will be a lower standard allowed with private companies than what the current government-run services meet. A release from the party says that the Pallister Government’s RFP includes a provision which allows flight crews to not meet minimum safety requirements, while another would allow for the use of unpressurized aircraft.
The Province’s RFP to replace LifeFlight closes on September 23rd.
