Transport Canada has suspended the air operator certificate of Orca Airways for 鈥渞epeated non-compliance with aviation safety regulations,鈥� effective March 15, 2018.
But the company鈥檚 chief operating officer says the suspension is primarily the result of mis-timing of the company鈥檚 recent merger with Calgary-based Integra Air Group, and at least some flights are planned to resume as soon at this weekend.
鈥淔or financial reasons, the two companies merged together, and the Orca management team was phased out,鈥� said Andrew Naysmith, former president of Orca Airways and now COO of Integra Air Group鈥檚 Orca Airways division. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 operate on a certificate if you don鈥檛 have a management team. We didn鈥檛 quite time it the way we wanted to time it.鈥�
Naysmith told the Parksville Qualicum Beach News that Orca Airways flights are scheduled to resume at Qualicum Beach Airport Saturday, March 17, flying under Integra Air鈥檚 operating certificate.
鈥淲e actually implemented this merger seven or eight weeks ago with Integra,鈥� Naysmith said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been flying to Tofino for two months on (Integra鈥檚) certificate.鈥�
In an written news release, Integra Air CEO John Macek confirmed the merger of the companies, and said, 鈥淚ntegra Air is currently in the process of negotiating aircraft, crews and management to support Orca Airways and prevent any further interruption to Orca passengers and customers.鈥�
The airline, which operates daily flights from Vancouver, Victoria, Parksville, Tofino, Ucluelet, and Qualicum Beach, is frequently used by major resorts and lodges in Tofino and Ucluelet.
In a statement, Transport Canada said they found several areas of non-compliance, 鈥渋ncluding maintenance, operational control, documentation, and quality assurance.鈥� Flights are suspended until the airline comes into compliance.
鈥淥rca鈥檚 Air Operator鈥檚 Certificate was always planned to be phased out as operations moved to Integra Air,鈥� Macek stated in the company鈥檚 release. 鈥淭he suspension of their AOC by Transport Canada-Pacific Region, although untimely, should have only a short-term, minor impact on our ability to provide Orca鈥檚 existing customers and passengers the level of safety, reliability and outstanding customer service they deserve.鈥�
Contacted by Black Press with a request for details of the reasons for the suspension of Orca Airways鈥� operating certificate, Transport Canada spokesperson Marie-Anyk C么t茅 said in an email reply, 鈥淭ransport Canada is not in a position to release details of the contraventions due to privacy reasons.鈥�
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
鈥� With files from J.R. Rardon
