It's Nav Canada's job, essentially, to maintain a cushion of space around every aircraft-about three to five nautical miles front and back depending on the size of the craft, and 1,000 feet above and below. It's a tough job, especially in Toronto, where thousands of aircrafts on hundreds of routes are merging down to just four runways every 45 or 50 seconds. Still, Nav Canada maintains an astounding safety record. That's astonishingly good. You become a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
Every incoming aircraft is scheduled to arrive as one flight number and depart as another.
The plane lands, goes to a gate, and unloads its passengers and luggage. It must be cleaned, possibly refuelled, and safety inspected, and it may require a new crew. Meals have to be delivered in containers that match the galley configuration of the particular aircraft. Passengers must be rounded up, and in some instances tracked down. Luggage is loaded and matched to the passenger list.