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Air Transat Grounds Flights as Pilot Strike Looms, Focuses on Repatriating Passengers

  An Air Transat plane is seen as an Air Canada plane lands at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Air Transat has begun suspending flights and arranging special services to bring customers home as contract negotiations with its pilots remain unresolved. The move comes after the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing 750 pilots, issued a 72-hour strike notice, raising the possibility of a work stoppage as early as December 10, 2025. The Montreal-based leisure airline, which typically operates more than 500 weekly flights to destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe, announced that it would gradually wind down operations between December 8 and 9. To prevent passengers from being stranded abroad, the company scheduled additional repatriation flights ahead of the strike deadline. Negotiations between Air Transat and the union have been ongoing since last winter, but no agreement has been reached. Pilots are seeking a ...
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Solar Storm Brings Northern Lights to Southern Canada and Beyond


 


A series of powerful solar storms recently graced the night skies, making the northern lights unusually visible even in regions far south. This dazzling display was caused by a geomagnetic storm, which not only illuminated Canada but also extended its colorful auroras to parts of the northern United States and Europe.

The Solar Storm Phenomenon

  • Solar storms occur due to the sun’s activity cycle, which spans approximately 11 years. During the solar maximum, more sunspots appear on the sun’s surface. These sunspots are cooler regions that appear black when observed through solar telescopes. However, they are more than mere spots—they represent an entanglement of magnetic fields that can erupt with a solar flare.

  • Often, solar flares are followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME)—a massive burst of charged particles carried along the solar wind. In this recent case, the sun produced a series of CMEs, which are now heading toward Earth. The U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for our planet, the first in nearly two decades.

A Spectacular Light Show

  • Where can you witness the northern lights? If Earth lies in the path of these charged particles, they interact with our magnetic field and molecules in the upper atmosphere, resulting in the mesmerizing aurora borealis. During this recent geomagnetic storm, the northern lights were visible not only in Canada but also in parts of the northern United States and Europe.

  • Clear skies in various regions allowed people to witness this celestial spectacle. From Vancouver to southern Canada and even central British Columbia, the colorful auroras danced across the night sky. If you were lucky enough to see them, you could capture the magic by sharing your photos with bcphotos@cbc.ca.

A Weekend of Wonder

  • As the solar storm continued, scientists anticipated that the northern lights would continue to dazzle on Saturday night. However, it’s essential to note that while these auroras are awe-inspiring, the storm could also cause disruptions to communications over the weekend.

In summary, the recent geomagnetic storm brought the northern lights to unexpected latitudes, creating a celestial spectacle that captivated skywatchers across Canada and beyond. So, if you find yourself under clear skies during such an event, don’t miss the chance to witness this natural wonder


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