A severe storm system moving through southern Manitoba forced multiple aircraft bound for Winnipeg to divert to Southport Aerospace Centre, where about 150 passengers and crew were temporarily accommodated before continuing their journeys once conditions improved.
Nathan Peto, chief executive officer of Southport Aerospace Centre, says the weather system developed quickly and disrupted normal flight operations across the region.
He notes most flights were coming from northern routes.
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“We ended up having about 10 flights land at Southport and our airport operations specialist, Audrey Wilson, coordinated on-site,” Peto continues. “Most of them were Perimeter Aviation flights from northern Manitoba and northern Ontario that got diverted to Southport.”
Peto says the number of passengers involved was manageable, but still required a coordinated response from staff and partners on the ground.
“Luckily, not too many passengers,” Peto remarks. “I think we had about 150 passengers and crew land, and they had to wait out the storm.”
On-site response and care
Once on the ground, passengers were provided with support while they waited for the weather to clear, with multiple local service partners stepping in to assist airport staff.
“We did our best to accommodate them on site,” Peto says.
He adds a number of organizations helped ensure passengers were fed and comfortable during the delay.
“Special thanks to KF Aerospace, Allied Wings, CBO and Brown Fine Food Services,” Peto mentions. “We got them time to rest, got them fed. Kept them comfortable and then when they were able to leave again after the storm system, we got them back on their way.”
The runway at Southport had some extra visitors Tuesday evening, the same runway people will be eating on for table for 600 Friday night.
Prepared for rare events
Peto says while diversions of this scale do not happen frequently, Southport maintains the capability to respond when aircraft cannot land at their intended destination due to weather or other disruptions.
“It worked really well, thanks to a lot of hard work from a lot of different staff and different parts of the team that help run Southport,” Peto says. “As an airport, you’re responsible for helping the people when they are unable to land in the locations they intend to.”
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He says the facility is prepared for a range of emergency and weather-related situations, even if they only occur occasionally.
“You have a responsibility to provide safe harbour to flights that can’t make their final destinations,” Peto adds. “It’s happened a couple of times over the last five years, but you always have to be ready, whether it be winter systems or strange summer storms like we had last night, to provide those services.”
Peto adds that aircraft also require refuelling and logistical support before they can return to service once conditions improve.