Halifax airport authority reports strong earnings amid calls for better landing systems

Above watch: Halifax Stanfield International Airport management heard from pilots at their annual public meeting who want better landing systems to avoid crashes like the one in March. Ray Bradshaw reports.

ENFIELD, N.S. – The Halifax International Airport Authority held its annual general meeting Thursday and said it had a good year financially, but revealed it had heard from several pilots requesting better landing systems.

The airport authority said revenue was up: in 2014, total revenues climbed to $90.8 million and expenses rose to $83 million, according to Paul Brigley, its chief financial officer.

The result is a $7.8-million surplus that will go toward upgrades, such as a roadway improvement project, a new self-serve baggage drop system and an expanded food court.

Passenger numbers rose 2.2 per cent and a record 32,000 metric tonnes of cargo was shipped, mainly lobster and seafood products.

One sticking point for the airport authority could be two pending lawsuits against it following the crash landing of Air Canada Flight 624 in March, although CEO and President Joyce Carter had little to say about it.

“There is litigation ongoing and the airport authority will respond to that matter as appropriate, through the normal legal channels,” she said.

Several former pilots attended the meeting, including Norm Murnaghan. He questioned management about why better landing equipment, like an instrument landing system (ILS) isn’t being installed despite the money the airport authority now has.

“We all know after this latest incident how important it is to have an ILS,” he said.

Carter said navigational aids are the responsibility of Nav Canada.

She said the airport authority spoke with the pilots on Wednesday and plans to hold further talks, although no date has been set.