Transport Canada Reacts
Canada's Transport Minister, David Collenette, has
provided an initial response to the Transportation Safety Board's
final report on the crash of Swissair Flight 111 following an
on-board fire off the coast of Nova Scotia on September 2,
1998.
"I would first like to commend the Transportation Safety Board for
its thorough and exhaustive investigation into this tragic accident
- an investigation of unprecedented magnitude in Canadian
history.
"The issues raised in the Transportation Safety Board's final
report are detailed and complex. The report culminates
four-and-a-half years of painstaking work by Canadian investigators
that will significantly enhance international aviation safety. The
board's interim reports on the Swissair accident have already led
to worldwide improvements in aviation safety," said Mr.
Collenette.
First, 'We didn't do it.'
There are no MD-11 aircraft -- the type of aircraft involved in
the Swissair accident -- operated by Canadian carriers. The board's
recommendations are directed to world aviation regulatory
authorities. As a result, this accident will require international
cooperation and resolve to implement the recommended safety
actions. Transport Canada will assume a leadership role and bring
the board's work directly to the attention of its international
partners, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and
the Joint European Aviation Authorities, through various
international safety working groups and committees.
Helpful suggestions...
"I have written to my counterpart in the United
States, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, to encourage the
United States to adopt the board's recommendations. The MD-11
aircraft involved in the Swissair accident was certified in the
United States and, as such, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration will play a key role in implementing the board's
recommendations," said Mr. Collenette.
"I have also written my counterpart in France, M. Gilles de
Robien, Minister for Capital Works, Transportation, Housing,
Tourism and Maritime Affairs and Mr. Klaus Koplin, Secretary
General Joint Aviation Authorities, to engage them and other
international partners in addressing the safety issues raised in
the report."
Covering the Canadian fleet:
Transport Canada has already taken action on the
board's recommendations and has assessed the Canadian fleet to
confirm that no Canadian registered aircraft were using metalized
Mylar covered insulation blankets (MPET), which were identified by
the board as significant contributors to the spread of fire on this
aircraft. As a further precautionary measure, the department has
issued an airworthiness notice to the Canadian aviation industry,
including manufacturing and maintenance organizations, design
organizations and operators, to reinforce that MPET not be
used.
Spinoff benefits of intense investigation:
In the course of its investigation, the board has broken new
scientific ground to help identify the potential causes of this
complex accident and developed new testing methods that will become
standard practice for aircraft safety and design.
Transport Canada accepts the new scientific flammability test
recommended by the Transportation Safety Board and is proposing new
rules for flammability tests that will govern Canadian industry.
These new rules will exceed what is recommended by the board.
"My department will provide a formal response to the board's
report within 90 days and looks forward to working closely with the
Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration and our other domestic and international partners
and stakeholders to achieve the goals and safety objectives brought
forward in this final report," added Mr. Collenette.