Orca Airways (Vancouver International) was one of hardest hit by fines from Transport Canada in 2016. The Vancouver-based airline was issued with a total of CAD25,000 (USD18,400). Three fines totalling CAD20,000 (USD14,700) were for flying an aircraft with unserviceable equipment, but Company president Andrew Naysmith has told the Vancouver Sun that he is appealing the charge.
Buffalo Airways (J0, Yellowknife) also received fines totalling CAD25,000, one of which was an aircraft maintenance violation. Other companies hit by Transport Canada include Kenora Air Service (Kenora), Island Air Charter (Canada) (Prince Rupert), Sandy Lake Seaplane Service (Sandy Lake), and Geotech Aviation (Toronto Buttonville).
Airports were not spared either. The Prince George Airport Authority was fined CAD10,000 (USD7,400) for failing to comply with aerodrome standards and for not notifying "the Minister of the existence of an obstruction affecting aviation safety at the airport". St. John's International Airport Authority copped a CAD15,000 (USD11,000) fine for permitting someone to act as an aircraft firefighter without up-to-date training.
For the period January to November 2016, Transport Canada has issued ninety-seven fines for a total of CAD554,750 (USD409,000). Responding to ch-aviation, a spokesperson for Transport Canada said that it "is responsible for verifying that air operators are in compliance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations. If safety deficiencies are identified, the department does not hesitate to take immediate and appropriate action."
