Attention:
All Canadian air operators
| File Classification No.: | Z 5000-35 |
|---|---|
| RDIMS No.: | 21436000 |
| Document No.: | CASA 2026-09 |
| Issue No.: | 01 |
| Effective Date: | 2026-06-12 |
Purpose:
The purpose of this Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is to communicate the importance of determining the validity, authenticity, and currency of pilot licences and associated credentials at all stages of employment and operations.
Background:
There has been a recently reported enforcement case involving allegations that a former airline captain operated hundreds of flights without holding the appropriate licence. While the matter remains subject to ongoing legal processes, the circumstances described in the Peel Regional Police investigation highlight serious potential vulnerabilities in verification, oversight, and renewal processes across the system.
Ongoing action
Transport Canada will be undertaking an internal review of existing processes. This will be done with the view to identifying gaps in current verification and oversight frameworks, assessing the effectiveness and consistency of existing control measures and implementing strengthened procedures to ensure rigour, traceability, and fidelity across the licensing and monitoring system. Further guidance may be issued as this work progresses.
Recommended action:
1. Exercise heightened diligence in verifying the validity, authenticity, and currency of pilot licences and associated credentials at all stages of employment and operations. This includes initial hiring, ongoing monitoring, and licence or type rating issuance. Any discrepancies, irregularities, or anomalies no matter how minor must be treated seriously.
2. Transport Canada is now reinforcing its approach to validation of all new pilot hires. Operators are expected to ensure that all newly hired flight crew credentials are thoroughly verified and aligned with Transport Canada records prior to commencing operations. This measure is intended to strengthen front-end controls and prevent gaps in the system.
3. Transport Canada is to be contacted immediately at the first sign of any unusual or inconsistent information, including documentation concerns, red flags, or irregularities in records. Early reporting of such issues is essential to enable timely intervention and to maintain the integrity of the licensing and oversight system.
4. Enhanced Scrutiny during the Pilot Proficiency Check (PPC) validation process is a critical control point, not simply an administrative exercise. During these renewals, operators / delegates are expected to conduct thorough reverification of licences and supporting documentation, reassess data consistency across systems and report any concerns promptly to Transport Canada.
Contact office:
For more information concerning this issue, contact the AART Documentation Services AARTDocServices-ServicesdocAART@tc.gc.ca.
Original signed by
Jamie-Lee MacDermid
Executive Director, Standards branch
Pilot documentation
(PDF, 260 KB)
The Transport Canada Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is used to convey important safety information and contains recommended action items. The CASA strives to assist the aviation industry's efforts to provide a service with the highest possible degree of safety. The information contained herein is often critical and must be conveyed to the appropriate office in a timely manner. The CASA may be changed or amended should new information become available.