Canada: Shortage of controllers slows Pearson operations

A shortage of air traffic controllers at Pearson airport contributed to the cancellation of dozens of weekend flights and while new trainees are in the pipeline, it will be some time yet before they’re fully qualified to move metal. Staffing woes in the control tower coupled with thunderstorms Saturday slowed operations at Canada’s busiest airport and ultimately forced airlines to cancel flights, snarling travel plans for hundreds of passengers. And Sunday, in an operational bulletin, Nav Canada, the private operator of the air traffic control system, warned that staffing issues would probably hit again during the day, reducing capacity at Pearson to 44 arrivals an hour, down from more than 56 in good weather conditions. <br/>