Air Canada Captain didn't have required license

[Nauclerus]

"Police in the Greater Toronto Area say a former airline captain flew hundreds of flights without the required licence."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ ... d-licence/

[Pacqing]

Was he from Angola?

[CaptDukeNukem]

All I can think of is that this pilot must have doctored his license. You would think that numerous training captains and ultimately ACP would have noticed if he still had CA****** numbered license. Also, don’t you need an ATPL for air Canada? This stems back from the very beginning. Human Resources, etc. TC needs a search tool based on license numbers for everyone to see, such as the FAA, or the very least, accessible to airline operators.

I love how air Canada is downplaying this. It’s fine, he passed his ride and stuff and safety was not compromised and he was qualified. But in reality, safety was compromised . You need an ATPL to sit left seat on 705 gear.. it’s as simple as that

[alkaseltzer]

All I can think of is that this pilot must have doctored his license. You would think that numerous training captains and ultimately ACP would have noticed if he still had CA****** numbered license. Also, don’t you need an ATPL for air Canada? This stems back from the very beginning. Human Resources, etc. TC needs a search tool based on license numbers for everyone to see, such as the FAA, or the very least, accessible to airline operators.

I love how air Canada is downplaying this. It’s fine, he passed his ride and stuff and safety was not compromised and he was qualified. But in reality, safety was compromised . You need an ATPL to sit left seat on 705 gear.. it’s as simple as that

There is never just one cockroach.

[Inverted2]

What’s the big deal? There’s thousands of truck drivers with fake AZ licences in the GTA and they’re perfectly safe on our roads. It’s no different.

[Tanker299]

The man should lose his job for lying. Full stop.

But some of the commentary is acting like he was flying around with a forged learner’s permit. He held a CPL, a valid Group 1 IFR, and passed every airline training event, PPC, simulator check, recurrent check, and line check required to occupy the seat.

For years, an ATPL was essentially a logbook review and paperwork exercise once the experience requirements were met. It didn’t involve another flight test. Transport Canada didn’t take you for a ride and suddenly discover whether you could actually fly.

The problem is integrity. The problem is not that passengers were somehow being protected by an administrative rubber stamp that he didn’t have.

By the way some of you are talking you should go work for Gun Grab Gary.

[MX-5]

For years, an ATPL was essentially a logbook review and paperwork exercise once the experience requirements were met. It didn’t involve another flight test. Transport Canada didn’t take you for a ride and suddenly discover whether you could actually fly.

So innocent question: what is the process at AC to go from a CPL to the ATPL? No written tests, etc?

But from the CARS:
An applicant shall have obtained a minimum of 70% in each of three written examinations on the following aviation subjects:

Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) Meteorology, Radio Aids to Navigation and Flight Planning (SAMRA exam)
Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) Air Law, Aeroplane Operation and Navigation General (SARON) including: Instrument Rating (INRAT)

[Nauclerus]

Police news conference to be streamed live at 11am.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ ... r-licence/

[Eric Janson]

Hard to believe this is possible in this day and age.

Making a false statement on an application is cause for dismissal - normally very clearly stated.

[Stu Pidasso]

He held an ATPL (AA.....) slight problem it was an "ATPL (H). For 25 years, by some mysterious circumstance, no one caught the "H."

[digits_]

He held an ATPL (AA.....) slight problem it was an "ATPL (H). For 25 years, by some mysterious circumstance, no one caught the "H."

Impressive 'loophole'.

"Do you hold an ATPL"
- 'Yes'

Nice!


Do you know if it was an honest mistake or intentional deceit?

[Nauclerus]

The media is going to town on this. Good job catching the guy after 27 years. Former ACPA MEC Chair. Classy.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ ... r-licence/

[Canoehead]

Do you know if it was an honest mistake or intentional deceit?

The Peel investigating detective was pretty clear it was deceit.

Forged documents were used according to the charges.

[digits_]

I'm wondering if Air Canada isn't shooting itself in the foot by claiming there were no safety issues.

If there were no safety issues, he didn't crash any planes, and performed on standard, how would AC claim any damages?

I was also intrigued by:

"The former pilot now faces several charges, including fraud over $5,000, uttering forced documents, possession of counterfeit mark, and public mischief."

How is the monetary fraud value being determined? He might not have been licensed properly but he did do the job he was hired to do.

[cdnavater]

27 year career with Air Canada before they caught this, he would have to forge every sticker or is it as simple as above, nobody noticed the H.
The fact they are charging him means they have evidence it was intentional, I see above that there is indication it was intentional forgery

https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026 ... ce-police/
“A former Air Canada captain is facing several charges after he allegedly forged documents and misrepresented his qualifications to his employer and Transport Canada.

During a news conference on Tuesday morning, Peel Police Deputy Chief Nick Milonovich said details of the investigation “read like a movie script.”

The 59-year-old pilot, identified as Barrie resident Geoffrey Wall, retired in 2025 after a 27-year career with Air Canada.“

[Nauclerus]

So if I understand this correctly, he had an ATPL only valid for helicopters. What would have been involved to convert that to be valid for aircraft in 2009 ? What happens to his pension ?

[digits_]

So if I understand this correctly, he had an ATPL only valid for helicopters. What would have been involved to convert that to be valid for aircraft in 2009 ?

Assuming he had a CPL - A, it would likely just have been the written tests and a sign off during a regular/recurrent sim / ppc ride. A bit bizare he didn't do that. Not that hard or expensive.

I'm wondering if it started out as a genuine oopsie and then dug himself deeper by trying to hide it?
Still, that would be multiple license/booklets and stickers to forge. Also depends on how deep AC was digging at those points in time. I think the initial hiring background check is much deeper than any checks happening after that.

According to the story he got caught *after* retirement? Pretty impressive on AC's part to figure it out at that time though. Unless he was 'asked' to retire to avoid this coming to light? But that's perhaps more of a conspiracy thing.

[cdnavater]

So if I understand this correctly, he had an ATPL only valid for helicopters. What would have been involved to convert that to be valid for aircraft in 2009 ?

Exams are different, aeroplane exams focus on aeroplanes, high altitude, etc
“Exam Focus and TheoryATPL(H):
The theoretical syllabus is heavily tailored to rotorcraft aerodynamics, helicopter-specific instrumentation, and mass and balance. Exams may also be divided into VFR (Visual Flight Rules) or IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) depending on your operational goals.
ATPL(A): The ground school covers fixed-wing aerodynamics, high-altitude meteorology, swept-wing jet performance, and multi-crew coordination for large passenger aircraft.”

[Nauclerus]

Assuming he had a CPL - A, it would likely just have been the written tests and a sign off during a regular/recurrent sim / ppc ride.

Isn't there a PIC requirement as well ? I seem to recall some jet FO guys would have to go rent a C-150 to top up the PIC time ? Or can they waive that ?

[cdnavater]

How is the monetary fraud value being determined? He might not have been licensed properly but he did do the job he was hired to do.

Im guessing this;

Police said the accused earned millions of dollars of salary over the course of his career with the airline

[careerpilot?]

ATPL(H) to ATPL(A) has very little credits to carry over (ask me how I know). From memory:

- 600hrs of helicopter flying can be credited towards the 1500hr requirement
- Much of the night / IFR specific hours can be credited
- The big hurdle is the 250hr PIC (and 100 x-ctry, 25 nt x-ctry, etc) must be in aeroplanes
- No credit for exams, though having written both HAMRA/HARON and SAMRA/SARON, they're similar enough.
- No credit for skill requirement (PPC), should be obvious I suppose.

This guy would have had the PIC and hours requirements, he likely would have just needed to write the SAMRA/SARON. Weird.

Also, I'm seeing no reporting of him holding the ATPL(H) - does this come from insider info that hasn't been reported yet? Just curious.

[digits_]

Assuming he had a CPL - A, it would likely just have been the written tests and a sign off during a regular/recurrent sim / ppc ride.

Isn't there a PIC requirement as well ? I seem to recall some jet FO guys would have to go rent a C-150 to top up the PIC time ? Or can they waive that ?

Oh, right, forgot about that. I didn't think that would have been an issue for high time pilots but at the time it likely could have been a road block... Good point. Points more to deceit from the beginning.

ATPL-Hs are fairly rare. Did he have military experience?

[careerpilot?]

.

ATPL-Hs are fairly rare. Did he have military experience?

This is what I'm trying to figure out.

[TG]

What’s the big deal? There’s thousands of truck drivers with fake AZ licences in the GTA and they’re perfectly safe on our roads. It’s no different.

Are you from Nigeria?

[Nauclerus]

This is what I'm trying to figure out.

"Captain Geoff Wall was elected Chair of ACPA's governing Master Executive Council (MEC). In addition to presiding over meetings of the MEC, the Chair is responsible for administration of the contract between the Association and the airline, as well as dealing with any issues arising between Air Canada and its pilots.

Captain Wall joined Air Canada in 1998, following 12 years of service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he flew the venerable Sea King helicopter. A native and resident of Barrie, Ont., Captain Wall served his fellow Air Canada pilots for the past 11 years as an ACPA volunteer and elected representative. Most recently, Captain Wall represented approximately 1,850 Air Canada pilots as the Local Executive Council Chair of the Toronto base."

https://www.wingsmagazine.com/air-canad ... cers-7789/