A former captain flying for Air Canada has been found to have operated hundreds of flights without holding the required Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).
Air Canada stated that the pilot was immediately removed from active duty after the airline discovered that he did not possess the ATPL required for promotion to the rank of captain. The carrier also confirmed that it voluntarily reported the matter to Transport Canada.
According to the Peel Regional Police, the case is being investigated as part of a fraud inquiry. Authorities said the investigation began after inconsistencies were identified during a random certification audit.
In a statement, Air Canada maintained that the situation did not compromise flight safety, noting that all pilots undergo mandatory recurrent training every six months and are subject to flight proficiency checks by Transport Canada check pilots every 12 months.
“Nevertheless, proper licensing remains a fundamental component of our multi-layered safety system,” the airline said.
