AC Flight 36

Mr. Montie Brewer
President & CEO, Air Canada
Air Canada Centre
7373 Cote-Vertu West
Dorval, Quebec H4Y 1H4

May 3, 2008

Re: Fuel Leak, AC Flight 36, April 27 2008

Dear Mr. Brewer,

I am writing in regard to a fuel leak incident that occurred on Air Canada flight 36 scheduled to depart Kansai International airport for Vancouver at 5:15 P.M. on Sunday, April 27th 2008. I am the passenger who notified the flight crew about the leak.

The aircraft, (a Boeing 767), was holding on the taxiway near the end of the runway and was, (I believe), next in position for take-off. I was on the right side of the cabin, seated at the window in row 29, seat K, slightly behind the wing. It was at this time that I first noticed fluid leaking from the wing about 3 meters inboard of the wing tip.

Initially I assumed the fluid was condensation. However, realizing that the aircraft had already been on the ground for several hours, and seeing how the fluid flow was considerable and concentrated in one area of the wing it seemed unlikely to be condensation. I then became concerned the wing may be leaking hydraulic fluid since the flaps had recently been lowered for take-off.

I decided to immediately contact the flight crew. So, from my seat, (because we were buckled in and prepared for take-off), I searched the cabin for a flight attendant. I couldn't see any of the crew so I activated the flight attendant call button at my seat.

I don’t know how long I waited but, (under the circumstances it seemed like a very long time), no flight attendant responded to the call. I then unbuckled my seat belt and went to the back of the aircraft where I located two flight attendants and informed them, “It might not be anything serious, but there’s fluid coming out of the right wing.”

One of the flight attendants came back with me to my seat to have a look. She said it was probably just condensation but it would be best to notify the flight deck anyway. Soon after, the first officer came back to have a look at the fluid leaking from the wing. He said it might be condensation as well, but after carefully studying the leak and it’s location on the wing he seemed less certain and returned to the cockpit.

Shortly after, the flaps were raised and the aircraft turned around and headed back to the gate to check out what was announced as, 'a possible mechanical problem'.

A couple of minutes after reaching the gate the first officer appeared on the tarmac and approached the puddle of liquid that had now formed under the right wing. He put his finger in the liquid, smelled it, and confirmed it was jet fuel. This started a scramble among the gathered ground crew who immediately brought in portable fire fighting equipment, fuel absorbing pads, a scissor-lift truck, and finally, a fire truck.

The passengers were asked to disembark from the aircraft and wait inside the departure lounge at the gate. On the way out of the aircraft a few of the passengers thanked me and the flight attendant introduced me to Captain Clair Maynard, who shook my hand and also thanked me for noticing the leak and notifying the flight crew.

About an hour later, in the departure lounge, I was again speaking with Captain Maynard, who then introduced me to first officer Greg Margharitis. They both informed me that the fuel leak was indeed a serious issue and, again, how grateful they were that I had notified the flight crew.

After waiting in the departure lounge of the gate for almost 3 hours we were finally informed that flight 36 was cancelled and re-scheduled to depart the next day at 2:00 P.M. as flight 2036.

By 8:50 P.M. we had cleared immigration and customs and were back in the arrivals lobby of the airport at the end of a very long line of passengers waiting to be assigned hotel accommodations for the night. We were tired and hungry, and since my wife’s mother lives in Nishinomiya, (near Osaka), we thought it would be simpler if we stayed with her for the night. My wife went to the counter to inform the agents that we had a place to stay nearby and didn’t need a hotel, and would like to confirm we would be compensated for bus fare and meals. She was rudely told to get back in line.

After another half hour of waiting in a line that barely moved, my wife went to the counter again. This time another agent told her it was “good news” we didn’t need a hotel and immediately confirmed that Air Canada would reimburse us for the bus fare, but not for any meals. By now it was almost 9:30 P.M. One of the last buses for Nishinomiya was about to leave the airport and we just wanted to get “home”, have something to eat, and go to bed. So, we left the airport.

We arrived in Nishinomiya before 11:00 P.M. We were too tired to eat at a restaurant so we bought two instant meals at a 7-11 convenience store and had those for dinner.

The next day my wife and I returned to Kansai International airport to check-in for our 2:00 P.M. flight to Vancouver.

I have to admit I was expecting some kind of recognition or expression of gratitude from Air Canada for what I had done the previous day. Perhaps upgrades to executive class, a voucher for future free flights, anything. The agent at the counter did reimburse us for our bus fare, a total of about $60.00, but refused to pay for our 7-11 meals, a total of about $20.00. After we complained, she took us to her supervisor, who also refused. After more complaining we were finally, grudgingly, reimbursed for our meals.

We completed our check-in, cleared immigration, and boarded our flight without further incident. During the flight several of the flight attendants thanked me again for spotting the leak the previous day, and after landing in Vancouver I was admitted into the cockpit to have photos taken with the captain, first officer, and relief pilot. All expressed their gratitude for my actions.

It’s hard to speculate what may have happened had we departed on that flight over the Pacific in an aircraft leaking fuel.

Since arriving home I have been expecting Air Canada to contact me and acknowledge their appreciation for my role in keeping that flight from leaving the ground. I have yet to hear anything from your company.

On a positive note, I have to give my highest praise to the flight crew. Everyone from the captain to the flight attendants handled this unusual situation coolly and professionally. They all deserve our respect.

On the other hand, my experience with the agents managing the passengers once they were off the plane was disappointing. It seemed as if they had never handled a cancelled flight before and were confused about the procedures. I hope passengers on future cancelled flights from Kansai will be treated better.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about this incident.

Sincerely,

Floyd Gillis

Follow-up: Several months after sending this letter, I received vouchers from Air Canada worth $2,000.00 for travel on any of their routes. Thank you Air Canada.