First Quarter 2013 - Toronto Pearson International Airport

From the GTAA to CATSA
In October, the Canadian Airports
Council (CAC) announced that Lloyd
McCoomb, former President and
CEO of the GTAA, had been named
the new chairperson of the Canadian
Air Transport Security Authority
(CATSA).
"A well respected Canadian
airports veteran, Lloyd McCoomb
will bring to CATSA a wealth of
airport operational perspective
from Canada's busiest airport,"
said CAC Chairman Tom Ruth.
"Canada's airports welcome Lloyd
to his new role as chair of CATSA, an
organization with an important role
for the industry with which we enjoy
a close and collaborative working
relationship."
Lloyd served as president and
CEO of the GTAA from 2007 until
January 2012, during which time he
also was on the Board of Directors
of the CAC. He brings more than 35
years of experience in transportation
and engineering management to his
new role at CATSA.
The National Airlines Council
of Canada (NACC) members – Air
Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation
LP and WestJet – also welcome this
announcement. "We have worked
well with Dr. McCoomb in the past,
and we look forward to working
with him in his new role. We believe
that his airport background and
understanding of the industry's
issues will go a long way to improve
a passenger's journey through the
airport without compromising
security," said George Petsikas,
President of the NACC.
“CATSA plays a crucial role in
ensuring the safety and security of
the travelling public. Lloyd's extensive
knowledge of the aviation industry
and understanding of the unique
issues airlines face is welcomed by the
NACC. Canada's passenger airlines
recognize that safe and secure air
travel is a priority for all Canadians,
and is vital to our national security at
large.”
The NACC works with Transport
Canada, airports, CATSA and other
government agencies to improve the
security processes.
Coming to the Rescue
On December 17, the GTAA’s Fire
and Emergency Services (FES) team
responded to a call for assistance at
a blaze at an industrial building near
Airport Road and Hwy 407. Although
nearly 50 Brampton firefighters were
on hand, they were forced into a
defensive mode around the building’s
exterior while the fire engulfed the
building with flammable liquids like
ethanol and heptane exploding inside.
The GTAA FES quickly responded and
sprayed the blaze with a special foam
to help contain the flames.
“It’s the first time we’ve used
them, and we’re lucky they were right
next door,” said Brampton Deputy
Fire Chief Matt Pegg, who couldn’t
risk sending his firefighters inside. “It
made a huge difference for us.”
Pegg said the chemicals within
the building made for a complex fire,
heightening the risk of explosions,
and the foam that the GTAA FES
used helped to keep the flames under
control. Thirty to 50 employees were
in the building at the time of the fire
but all made it out. Only one person
was taken to hospital with burns on
his hands. The cause of the fire is still
unknown.
The GTAA responds to
emergency calls for assistance
from other Fire Services within the
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) about
two to three times a year. Calls for
assistance come directly from other
fire services communication centres.
Fire Chiefs will also phone each other
directly during an incident to make
the request. This is all carried out
quickly and effectively because the
Fire Chiefs and the fire services have
a good rapport, understanding and
working relationship with each other
that facilitates easy interoperability
and support during major events and
regularly scheduled joint training and
information sharing sessions.
Congratulations to the GTAA’s
FES for their quick response and for
doing their part in keeping the airport
community safe.
16 TPT first quarter 2013
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