Canadian aviation inspectors warn of ‘impending disaster’ due to lax regulations

The current state of aviation safety in Canada is leaving travellers at serious risk, according to a new report.

A recent online survey of hundreds of Canadian aviation inspectors showed that a majority — 81 per cent — agreed that a “major aviation accident” is in Canada’s near future.

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“What we’re trying to do is give people a perspective on what’s going on with Transport Canada, primarily with respect to the dismantling of aviation safety and oversight,” said Greg McConnell, chairman of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association, which commissioned the study.

“Flying has become riskier in the last 15 years.”

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Budget cut after budget cut has left Canada’s aviation inspection industry overworked and under-trained, said McConnell.

“The inspectors are stuck in offices looking at paperwork for days on end and not actually getting out and doing hands-on type actual inspections of air operators and pilots,” said McConnell.

They should be out in the field inspecting the pilots and their training programs, air operators, and air operators’ dispatch systems. But random, in-person inspections have become few and far between, McConnell said.

“Now we rely on reports that come from the airlines themselves,” said McConnell.

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Also among the survey’s findings: Most of Transport Canada’s pilot inspectors haven’t flown an actual aircraft in years, and a majority reported that they are being asked to do work for which they haven’t been trained.

Transport Canada would not comment directly on this report, but said that the safety and security of the travelling public and transportation systems are the agency’s “top priorities.”

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“Canada has one of the safest aviation systems in the world and we are continuously working to improve safety,” agency spokesperson Natasha Gauthier said in an email to Global News.

“Transport Canada has a robust, risk-based oversight program that allows the department to prioritize its resources strategically to areas that provide the greatest safety benefit.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Canada has one of the safest aviation systems in the world and we are continuously working to improve safety," agency spokesperson Natasha Gauthier said in an email to Global News.</p><p>"Transport Canada has a robust, risk-based oversight program that allows the department to prioritize its resources strategically to areas that provide the greatest safety benefit."

Both scheduled and unscheduled inspections and certification activities are regularly conducted by Transport Canada officials, Gauthier said. In addition, all pilots must comply with numerous training and licensing requirements.

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The House of Commons’ transportation committee launched a review of aviation safety Tuesday. McConnell sees it as a chance to put in motion industry-wide reform.

“The department now has an opportunity,” said McConnell. “We’re hoping that the committee does their job of looking into aviation safety in Canada and we’re hoping they come out with strong recommendations … and reinstate a strong regulatory structure.”