Pilots union wants Transport Canada more involved in checking foreign pilot credentials

One of Canada's pilotsunions wants better checks when it comes to letting foreign pilots fly Canadian planes, following an incident in Calgary where a Slovakpilot employed by Sunwing Airlines on a work visa is accused of being so drunk he passed out in the cockpit.

• Transport minister 'very concerned' about Sunwing pilot accused of passing out drunk in cockpit

MiroslavGronychisdue to appear in aCalgary courtroomlater this month.

The Dec. 31 incident has Canadian pilots and unions raising concerns about the employment of foreign pilots and how closely their documentation is scrutinized by government officials.

"Transport Canada specifically directs staff to not check medicals and licences unless they have a concern," said Greg McConnell with the Canadian Federal Pilots Association, who says it shouldn't be left to airline operators to validate such important information.

"It used to be common place where licensing inspectors would check this," he said. "I'd think they would want to check to make sure licences are valid and that these people were capable of doing the work they were about to do."

McConnell says Transport Canada would also be able to work more closely with foreign aviation authorities when needed.

"How would an airline operator be able to determine whether there are any concerns with respect to the pilots and would the foreign authority provide that information to an airline operator? I don't think they would, but I think they would provide it to Transport Canada if Transport Canada asked the question," he said.

Foreign pilots hold validation from Transport Canada

To be employed by a Canadian airline, foreign pilots who don't hold a Canadian commercial or airline transport pilot licence needa Canadian validation of their foreign licence, called a Foreign Licence Validation Certificate (FLVC).

Transport Canada says last year it issued176 such certificates in 2016.

Sunwing says all of its foreign pilots are licensed by the European Aviation Safety Agency and receive a FLVC from Transport Canada. In addition, the company says all foreign pilots receive training and are approved by Sunwing's flight operations training department before being approved to fly a Sunwing aircraft.

No shortage of pilots in Canada, argues captain

Gilles Hudicourt, a Canadian airline captain with 30 years of aviationexperience, questions why Sunwing would need to hirepilotsfrom outside Canada.

"Most industrialized countries require that airlines be flown by pilots who are licensed to fly in that country. These guysare coming and doing it with a foreign licence ...Canada is unique in the industrialized world in allowing this practice."

He doesn't believe there's a pilot shortage in Canada.

"We've been fighting this from around 2012. It was Sunwing pilots themselves who sounded the alarm," he said.

"Air Canada doesn't have problems hiring pilots,WestJetdoesn't have problems hiring pilots, AirTransatdoesn't have problems hiring pilots."

Multiple safeguards in place, says pilots union

Earlier this week, Federal Transport Minister MarcGarneauwroteto all commercial air carriers to say he is "very concerned" about the Sunwing incident.His department is planning aworkshopinearly spring where airlines,unions and medical experts can get together to"consider further steps necessary to enhance aviation safety."

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which representspilots at 31 airlines in North America, released a statement Friday saying they support the minister"in the continuing effort to maintain Canada's stellar safety record."

"ALPA fully supports the existing layers of defence that ensure that pilots are fit to fly. Multiple safeguards,including regulation [Canadian Aviation Regulation 602.03], various safety programs at each individual airline, ALPA's internationally recognized pilot assistance program, and flight crew monitoring on every flight to ensure that crew members comply with government regulations and company policy, provide a thorough and effective approach to advancing aviation safety."