Decision No. 457-AT-A-1999
Follow-up - Decision No. 519-AT-A-2000
August 5, 1999
IN THE MATTER OF Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999 dated March 5, 1999 - Aéroports de Montréal.
File No. U3570/98-29
BACKGROUND
In Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999 dated March 5, 1999, the Canadian Transportation Agency (hereinafter the Agency) made its determination on the application filed by Henry Vlug concerning the provision of TTY pay phones (telephone-teletype used by persons with a hearing impairment) at the Montréal International Airport - Dorval (hereinafter Dorval airport).
The Agency made the following findings:
- Although there was a TTY available at Dorval airport on the day Mr. Vlug travelled, there was not appropriate signage directing him to the TTY.
- Given the size and configuration of the airport terminal, and the nature of operations, the provision of only one TTY, coupled with the absence of appropriate signage, constitute an undue obstacle to the travelling public requiring the use of a TTY.
As a result of the complaint, Aéroports de Montréal (hereinafter ADM) made arrangements to have two additional TTYs installed in the general public area on the Departure Level and two more beyond security check-points on the Departure Level (i.e. one in each of the Domestic and Transborder Flight Fingers of the airport terminal). ADM also advised that it would deal with the issue of signage following the installation of the new TTYs.
In addition to the measures undertaken by ADM, the Agency, by Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999, required ADM :
- to advise the Agency, no later than 5 days from the date of the Decision, of the interim measures taken to ensure that travellers are made aware of the availability and location of the existing TTY;
- to complete, by April 15, 1999, the installation of a TTY in each of the public and secure areas located on the Arrival Level of the airport terminal and in each of the international and domestic flight areas of the Aeroquay, including all appropriate signage; and
- to provide the Agency, by April 30, 1999, with a report confirming that the installation of the TTYs and related signage have been completed and describing the location of all TTYs and related signage.
ADM was also requested to provide the Agency with a copy of the publication/pamphlet that will inform the public of the existence of TTYs at Dorval airport.
ISSUE
The issue to be addressed is whether the information submitted and the measures undertaken and proposed by ADM satisfy the requirements of Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999.
FACTS
ADM's initial submission was received on March 15, 1999. Further details and clarifications were subsequently filed with the Agency.
ADM has confirmed that there are currently five existing TTYs at Dorval airport, all of which are located on the Departure Level. ADM has completed the installation of a TTY at each end of the public walkway identified as "Rue Montréal" and in each of the Domestic and Transborder Flight Fingers.
ADM proposes to complete the installation of a TTY in each of the international and domestic flight areas of the Aeroquay, but only by June 30, 1999 due to financial and operational constraints and to lead time required by its supplier.
On the Arrival Level at Dorval airport, ADM clarifies that there are two distinct and separate public areas: a first one to accommodate passengers arriving on international/transborder flights; and a second one to accommodate passengers arriving on domestic flights. Access between these two public areas is only possible from the outside of the airport terminal. Based on an overall review of the airport's installations and facilities, ADM submits the following proposals, which will be carried out once they are approved by the Agency:
- ADM proposes to remove one of the three TTYs located in the general public area on the Departure Level (i.e. the TTY currently in place at the Information Counter) and to reinstall it in the international/transborder flight public area on the Arrival Level by April 15, 1999.
- In lieu of the required installation of a TTY in the domestic flight public area on the Arrival Level, ADM proposes to install specific signage directing users to a TTY on the Departure Level that is accessible by escalators and elevators located nearby.
This proposal is based on the fact that all passengers arrive and depart to/from the secure area located on the Departure Level, and that passengers arriving at the terminal by air walk by the TTY in the secure area on the Departure Level on their way down to the baggage retrieval area on the Arrival Level. Moreover, ADM states that all of the regular telephones (a total of 29) in the domestic flight public area on the Arrival Level are mounted on posts, a system which does not accommodate a TTY.
As there is basically no domestic flight secure area on the Arrival Level, ADM does not deem it necessary to install a TTY in that area. The baggage carrousels are in fact in the domestic flight public area on the Arrival Level.
ADM also sees no need to install a TTY in the international/transborder flight secure area on the Arrival Level for the following reasons:
- All passengers arriving at the terminal on international/transborder flights walk by the TTY installed in the secure area on the Departure Level on their way down to the Arrival Level baggage retrieval area.
- While there is currently a total of five regular telephones in the secure area, some may be removed due to their little usage and the congestion within this area since the transfer of international flights from Mirabel to Dorval.
ADM provided copies of building layouts showing the location of the existing and proposed TTYs, as well as pictures of the four TTYs, identified with a pictogram, that have been installed following the issuance of Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999. ADM advises that it will await the Agency's approval of the proposed work before proceeding with the edition of new publications/pamphlets informing the public of the existence of TTYs at Dorval airport.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
In making its findings, the Agency has reviewed the information submitted and the measures undertaken and proposed by ADM.
The Agency notes that ADM has proposed to complete the installation of a TTY in each of the international and domestic flight areas of the Aeroquay, but only by June 30, 1999 due to financial and operational constraints and to lead time required by its supplier. The Agency is satisfied that ADM's proposal is in line with the requirements of Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999 and that, accordingly, ADM should proceed with the proposed installation of these TTYs.
The Agency also finds that the proposed relocation of the TTY from the Information Counter located in the general public area on the Departure Level to the international/transborder flight public area on the Arrival Level meets, in this regard, the requirement set out in Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999. Accordingly, ADM should proceed with the proposed relocation of the TTY.
As there is basically no domestic flight secure area on the Arrival Level, the Agency agrees with ADM that it is not necessary, under the circumstances, to install a TTY in that area. ADM is therefore relieved from complying with this requirement of Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999.
However, the Agency finds that the absence of a TTY in the domestic flight public area and in the international/transborder flight secure area on the Arrival Level creates an undue obstacle to the mobility of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing while they travelled. The Agency is of the opinion that the ability to communicate by phone is essential for all travellers, including persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. This finding is also consistent with Recommendation 15 of the Agency's report entitled Communication Barriers: A Look at Barriers to Communication Facing Persons with Disabilities who Travel by Air, which establishes that airport operators must ensure that an adequate number of public TTYs are available in both the public area and the arrival and departure area, 24-hours a day. Consequently, the Agency directs ADM to install a TTY in the domestic flight public area and in the international/transborder flight secure area on the Arrival Level, as required by Decision No. 85-AT-A-1999.
Furthermore, as no submission was made by ADM with respect to signage other than the pictograms affixed on the actual TTYs, the Agency finds that ADM should provide the Agency with a report describing all existing and future signage to facilitate the location and access of TTYs for travellers requiring the use of such service throughout the airport terminal building.
CONCLUSION
Based on the above findings, the Agency hereby requires ADM:
- to complete the installation of a TTY in each of the international and domestic flight areas of the Aeroquay.
- to complete the relocation of the TTY from its existing location at the Information Counter in the general public area on the Departure Level to the international/transborder flight public area on the Arrival Level.
- to install a TTY in the domestic flight public area and in the international/transborder flight secure area on the Arrival Level.
- to inform the Agency, within thirty (30) days from the date of this Decision, of the installation date(s) for all of the above-noted TTYs.
- to provide the Agency, within thirty (30) days from the date of this Decision, with a report describing all existing and future signage to facilitate the location and access of TTYs for travellers requiring the use of such service throughout the airport terminal building.
ADM is also requested to provide the Agency with a copy of the publication/pamphlet that will be issued to inform the public of the existence of TTYs at Dorval airport.
- Date modified: