Picture this: it’s freezing cold outside, the wind is blowing and snow is flying through the air, creating white-out conditions. It’s enough to make the heartiest of Edmontonians want to stay inside where it’s warm, but for those who work at the Edmonton International Airport, that’s not an option.
So what does it take to keep operations running smoothly at EIA during the cold winter months? A new documentary series, set to premiere Wednesday night, will outline just that.
“We don’t often see the other side of it, which is: ‘What’s it like being the airport staff that have to deal with all the problems that come up?'” Joe Houlihan, executive producer of Airport: Below Zero, said.
“I think this is the sort of show that should appeal to a really wide audience because it’s really relatable. We all fly. We all experience some of the problems of flying sometimes and here we’ve had a real behind-the-scenes look at the airport.”
Airport: Below Zero follows the crews who fight to keep North America’s most northerly major airport open – whatever the weather conditions.
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The 10-part series was shot entirely in Edmonton over three months last winter and follows airport and airline staff as they work 24/7 to ensure operations at the airport stay on track. But it isn’t always smooth sailing – or flying, in this case – as crews are shown battling in-flight and airport emergencies, irate passengers, missing passengers and even a snowy owl.
“Stuff just happens at airports. People who come through airports always have a story, they’re going somewhere for a reason. Everyone’s in a kind of heightened state of anxiety,” Houlihan said.
“They’re places of natural drama.”
Burl Hamm is the fire chief at EIA. From aircraft-related emergencies to structure fires, the fire department responds to about 1,000 calls a year.
“We operate a 24/7 crash rescue department. We have 32 staff members on four crews that respond to all emergencies day and night,” Hamm said of his specialized team.
The most memorable day of shooting for Hamm was when a 747 was diverted to Edmonton because of a passenger in cardiac arrest.
“It was a bit of a challenging call for us and you’ll see on the episode how it all goes,” Hamm teased.
Hamm, who admits he’s a bit nervous to see the show premiere, hopes the series will help people see a different side of what goes on at the airport.
“I hope that it actually helps people feel more confident and comfortable in flying and the fact that there’s lots of services available here and we operate an extremely safe aviation environment.”
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The series also showcases the arrival of Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees and the time Iron Maiden’s jumbo jet touched down.
Approximately 20,000 people use the airport every day.
The series premieres Wednesday night at 10 p.m. on HISTORY, which is part of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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