It sure seemed like all the planes over the Atlantic were winding up in Newfoundland.
Keep in mind that it was Newfoundland and not Ontario. It’s like New York being willing to risk West Virginia. That said, we were happy to help.
I’m sure it seemed like it.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport on 9/11.
One detail in my other post that still amazes me is the fact that NAV Canada landed all those planes so rapidly without a single loss of separation event. Considering the number of loss of separation/safety not assured events I see in the Canadian Aviation Daily Occurrence Reports on a regular basis, it’s amazing that under the stress and panic of 9/11, not a single such event occurred. Now that is focused air traffic control!
Like I said, the more I learn about that day, the more impressed I am. We all know that Canadian airports took in all the planes we had to that day, but how they handled all of it, all the logistics and planning with zero notice, seriously impressive.
Believe me you don’t know the half of it.
as I said upthread I was in Vancouver BC that week.
The one runway at the airport had widebody aircraft parked wingtip to wingtip for what seemed like the length of the runway.
On the afternoon of 9/11 the police had to close the road into the airport, there were too many people showing up to offer their homes as shelter for the stranded passengers.
All of the hotels put up cots (from the Army I think) and turned their ballrooms into dorms. They fed all of these people. I spoke to one lady staying on a cot at the Hilton. Apparently the hotel manager did not want anyone leaving BC bad mouthing their food. Prime rib, roast turkey, each meal was a feast.
the people of BC did a yeoman’s job of taking care of a bunch of stranded and scared passengers.
This was the story all over town, hotels, churches where ever they put these people up, the red carpet was rolled out for them.
One personal story. I knew I was not going to be able to fly out until Monday. On the weekend, I took a car and headed out of town North to see the sights. I got about and hour north of West Van on the highway and I pulled off to get a cup of coffee at some little town. Driving though this little town, I see a post office. Nothing special about it, except they had an American flag flying at half mast. Someone that worked there took the time to find a flag from another country and replaced their country’s flag with the stars and stripes. It choked me up then, and it does now when I retell this story.
As a result I can say this without fear of contradiction: Canadians ROCK!
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Similarly, one of my most memorable moments from 9/11 was watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner.
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According to him they were right on the halfway point which basically made it London’s call whether or not to let them back. That doesn’t explain why Reykjavyk denied them access, he said that was their next emergency go to spot.
He was impressed as well with the people of Gander, the airport literally filled up with planes and they went above and beyond to see to the needs of the thousands of people now stranded.
Here’s a ropey video of that:
