A long-time air traffic controller at Gander International remembers when the airport was grabbing headlines world-wide long before 9-11.
Gander was a fueling stop for trans-Atlantic flights, and countless times during the 1960s and 70s, and even into the 1980s, passengers on board Aeroflot or Cubana aircraft would defect after disembarking at the iconic international lounge.
Author and former air traffic controller, Jack Pinsent (via Flanker Press)
Jack Pinsent has published a book of his memories from three decades as an air traffic controller at Gander International.
While defections gained a lot of global attention, to Pinsent, it was just another day at the office.
He says the big thing was if there was a conflict between the defecting passengers and Aeroflot or Cubana crew and RCMP were called in. He says the control centre was located inside the terminal, so they had a front view seat to the goings-on.
Pinsent says there were a number of high-profile and frightening incidents that did grab his attention.
“Directly, the three bomb scares, one hijacking, and four airplane crashes, you name it.”
“Gander: The Airport That Became A Town” is available through Flanker Press.
