Pilots union wants Transport Canada to check foreign pilot credentials
OTTAWA — A Canadian pilots union says Transport Canada should be responsible for checking the credentials of foreign pilots.
The call comes after Miroslav Gronych, who was employed by Sunwing Airlines on a work visa from Slovakia, was charged with being impaired in Calgary after allegedly passing out in a cockpit Dec. 31.
Greg McConnell, chairman of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association, said Transport Canada is shirking its responsibility by asking air operators to check foreign pilots’ licences and their medical records.
“It used to be that when foreign pilots came into Canada to do work for airlines, that we would check their licence and medical validities with the foreign authorities,” McConnell said Friday.