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Safety and Security

Sûreté et sécurité

The Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport takes every means possible to provide a highly secure environment for all. The airport's Fire Department and Airport Security Service are responsible for the prevention and intervention in the event of a problem.

Fire Department

The Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Service of YQB is comprised of a team of highly qualified firefighting personnel including:

  • 18 firefighters
  • 4 captains
  • 1 department manager

Four teams of five persons are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Fire Department personnel must comply with Transport Canada standards for training and response, and participate in annual aircraft firefighting drills every year. They are also trained to fight building fires and to act as first medical responders.

Specialized vehicles and equipment

Safety and security

To respond quickly and effectively, the Fired Department has a fleet of specialized vehicles:

  • Three 11,000-liter Oshkosh Striker 3000 trucks
  • One multipurpose vehicle used as a command post, equipped with medical kits and cardiac defibrillators, and spill recovery equipment used in the event of a major fuel spill
  • One spill van with recovery equipment that can be transported to major spill sites, when necessary
  • One van to transport stretchers and other first-aid equipment to accident sites

In addition to responding to aircraft emergencies, the department's firefighters act as first responders in the following situations:

  • Building fires at the airport
  • First aid assistance
  • Fuel spills
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Any other emergency

The Fire Department's other tasks also include:

  • Fire prevention
  • Sprinkler inspection
  • Fire extinguisher inspection
  • Issuance of hot work permits
  • Wildlife hazard management
  • Visual runway inspection
  • Emergency and evacuation plan management

Airport Security

Airport Security is responsible for providing a safe environment and quick and efficient response services to all passengers, air carriers, employees, and partners. Through its dedicated and efficient work in prevention, intervention, and regulation enforcement, the Airport Security team makes an essential contribution to ensuring the safety of air transportation in Canada. The service is based on the airport safety and security policy, which is updated regularly, to take into account changes affecting the airport environment. Airport Security is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Safety Operations Coordination Centre can be reached at 418 640-0707.

Trained staff

To maintain a professional, prompt, and proactive service in the face of constant challenges in an ever changing environment, proper training of our staff is an integral part of our objectives and our mission. The team has a diverse and specialized expertise in the following areas:

  • Issuing and managing access cards, permits and biometric cards
  • Traffic control
  • Crowd control
  • Access control for people and vehicles
  • Patrol and intervention
  • Video camera positioning and surveillance
  • Supervision of operations
  • Investigations and special services

Staff and equipment

With its cutting edge equipment and integrated technology, Airport Security is able to:

  • Prevent and respond to incidents
  • Ensure safe operations
  • Manage security measures surrounding special events

The Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport can count on the expertise of GardaWorld Protective Services as its official partner and security services provider that shares the same values of diligence, reliability, and trust.

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)

In an effort to ensure the maintenance and compliance with airport security standards, Aéroport de Québec inc. works closely with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). Their objective: increase passenger safety by developing operational space and installing specialized airport security equipment. Active since 2002, CATSA is a Crown corporation responsible for providing and managing effective and consistent screening services across Canadian airports, including Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. Aéroport de Québec inc. is committed to maintaining its activities in full compliance with the established security standards. To do so, it:

  • Stays informed of any changes to security measures
  • Ensures compliance with regulations
  • Supports the work of CATSA, through active participation in crucial activities like the implementation of explosive detection systems

To ensure passenger security, CATSA has enlisted the services of Securitas, a security agency responsible for the pre-boarding of passengers and screening of their personal effects. With regard to customer service, Aéroport de Québec inc. and CATSA work closely together to ensure that the services provided offer travellers an enjoyable and top quality airport experience.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for managing, controlling and securing Canada's borders. Its agents ensure that all people entering Canada are eligible and comply with the country's laws and regulations by:

  • Detaining people who may pose a threat, and by removing people who are deemed inadmissible to Canada
  • Inspecting the goods and products that arrive at Canada's borders to ensure that no illegal goods enter the country
  • Ensuring that all applicable duties and taxes on merchandise are collected
  • Ensuring food safety and plant and animal health by intercepting high-risk regulated commodities

To learn more: I declare – A guide for Canadian residents returning to Canada

Detector Dog Services (DDS)

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport uses the services of a detector dog, a Labrador called Buck, who is trained to detect narcotics and firearms. He is one of 72 detector dog teams working for the Canada Border Services Agency, serving both passenger and commercial operations. The DDS plays an important role in keeping restricted and prohibited goods from entering the country, and in assisting the CBSA in its mission to protect the border by:

  • Significantly increasing its capacity to intercept illegal firearms, currency and drugs
  • Deterring smugglers by increasing public awareness of the CBSA's innovative law enforcement methods
  • Assisting CBSA officers by eliminating labor-intensive searches
  • Improving services for travellers by a faster and less intrusive examination of passengers, baggage and commercial shipments