Last week (Saturday, February 15, 2014), aircraft with registration CFBNA was "nordo" (no radio) and had an emergency landing. The aircraft circled around Ottawa Airport (CYOW) for a period of time. The pilot did an approach into Gatineau Airport (CYND), but later aborted and went back to Ottawa Airport where it did land safely. The situation, from my calculation, lasted about 31 minutes.
The Ottawa Airport tweeted this out (
https://twitter.com/FlyYOW/status/434731358645391360), but in my opinion, downplayed the statement by saying there was no emergency situation.
Attached below is the audio clip.
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Play-by-play timeline
10:29 [15:29Z]: Montreal Centre tries to reach aircraft registration CFBNA and no response
10:31 [15:31Z]: Montreal Centre tries to reach CFBNA and no response
10:32 [15:32Z]: Ottawa Terminal tries to reach CFNBA and no response.
10:32 [15:32Z]: Montreal Centre tries to reach CFBNA and no response.
10:33 [15:33Z]: Montreal Centre tries to reach CFBNA and no response. Another attempt was made a few seconds later by asking the pilot to do a squawk ident.
10:33 [15:33Z]: Porter 256 on Tower advising that they are ready for an intersection takeoff on Runway 14. Controler advises pilot that there is a possible emergency (nordo).
10:34 [15:34Z]: (Conversation in progress) Ottawa Terminal advises aircraft registration CFVZN that they are unable to do the requested "City Tour" until the emergency is resolved.
10:34 [15:34Z]: (Converstaion in progress) Converstation between emergency vehicles and Ottawa Ground.
10:37 [15:37Z]: Emergency vehicles reporting to Ottawa Ground on their standby positions.
10:38 [15:38Z]: Ottawa Tower advises Porter 256 vacate taxiway D (short of Runway 14/32).
10:39 [15:39Z]: Porter 256 checking back in with Ottawa Ground.
10:40 [15:40Z]: Emergency Vehicle "Red 1" inquires Ottawa Ground how long communication was lost from the aircraft.
10:40 [15:40Z]: Porter 253 checked in with Ottawa Terminal
10:41 [15:41Z]: Fedex 9153 inquiring about the emergency with Ottawa Ground so that the pilot could decided whether to start their engine for pushback and departure.
10:42 [15:42Z]: Ottawa Terminal provides information on the emergency situation to Porter 253.
10:43 [15:43Z]: Aircraft registration CFWSH on Ottawa Clerance/Ottawa Ground requesting clearance.
10:44 [15:44Z]: Aircraft CFWSH speaks to Ottawa Clearance/Ottawa Ground issues squawk code and taxi instructions, but advises pilot that they aren't doing any departures until the emergency situation was resolved.
10:45 [15:45Z]: Ottawa Terminal makes another attempt to reach CFBNA by asking the pilot to squak ident. A few seconds later gives surface wind information and suggests aircraft to land on Runway 32.
10:46 [15:46Z]: (Conversation in progress) Ottawa Ground speaking to pilot on the ground (unknown) about the emergency situation and they are not doing any departures until the emergency lands.
10:46 [15:46Z]: (Conversation in progress) Ottawa Terminal giving runway information for Runway 32 frequency for the localizer.
10:47 [15:47Z]: Ottawa Clearance attempts to reach CFBNA, no response.
10:48 [15:48Z]: Ottawa Ground speaks with Red 1 on the possibility of the aircraft setting up for the approach to Runway 25.
10:48 [15:48Z]: Ottawa Tower speaking to aircraft with registration ending "BGL" (which was airborne) regarding the emergency situation and provides aircraft with instructions to avoid CFBNA.
10:48 [15:48Z]: Ottawa Ground gives instructions/authorization to various emergency vehicles for repositioning.
10:49 [15:49Z]: Emergency vehicles reporting their positions to Ottawa Ground
10:50 [15:50Z]: Ottawa Ground advises Fedex 9153 to start up and advises that the emergency aircraft might be landing at Gatineau AIrport.
10:50 [15:50Z]: (Conversation in progress) Porter 253 advises Ottawa Terminal that they might need to go to Montreal as their alternate. Terminal also advises the pilot that the emergency aircraft might be landing in Gatineau and told the pilot to plan Runway 32 for landing.
10:51 [15:51Z]: One of the emergency vehicles reporting their position to Ottawa Ground.
10:52 [15:52Z]: Ottawa Terminal advises Porter 253 to plan Runway 25 for landing.
10:52 [15:52Z]: One of the emergency vehicles reporting their position to Ottawa Ground.
10:53 [15:53Z]: Ottawa Terminal gives descent instructions to Porter 253.
10:53 [15:53Z]: Ottawa Tower asks Porter 256 if they are ready to depart, if Ottawa Terminal gives authorization.
10:54 [15:54Z]: Ottawa Tower advises Porter 256 that the emergency aircraft is climbing (out of Gatineau Airport) and is unable to give takeoff clearance.
10:54 [15:54Z]: Ottawa Tower asks aircraft BGL to look for CFBNA.
10:55 [15:55Z]: Ottawa Ground advises Red 1 that the CFBNA did not land in Gatineau.
10:55 [15:55Z]: (Conversation in progress) Ottawa Terminal advises Porter 253 that there will not be any approach clearance because CFBNA appeared to be heading back to Ottawa Airport.
10:57 [15:57Z]: (Conversation in progress) Ottawa Ground updates Red 1 on the situation.
10:58 [15:58Z]: Porter 253 with Ottawa Terminal requesting clearance to divert to Montreal (CYUL).
10:59 [15:59Z]: Ottawa Ground gives instructions to Red 10.
11:01 [16:01Z]: Red 9 on Ottawa Ground makes request to reposition.
11:01 [16:01Z]: Red 1 asks Ottawa Ground for instructions on what to do as the CFBNA has landed.
11:03 [16:03Z]: Duty Manager (presumably Staff 21 - not sure) speaks to Ottawa Ground telling that the pilot of CFBNA would like to go to the Esso Avitat from taxiway E.
11:04 [16:04Z]: Staff 31 advises Ottawa Ground that the runway is fine.
26 minutes later
11:30 [16:30Z]: Aircraft registration CGLLM asked Ottawa Terminal about that emergency aircraft and Terminal advised that the aircraft landed safely.