The sweeping rule change puts Canada at odds with the United States and European Union, which still compel pilots to meet stringent standards to keep their licences valid, including a requirement to actually fly a plane.
Until now, Canadian airline pilots could not legally fly an aircraft unless they acted as a captain or co-pilot within the previous five years or completed a flight review with an instructor and met other licensing standards. Private pilots also had to meet similar requirements including takeoff and landings within a set period.
Hmmm. Is it actually required that pilots land planes to stay current? It should be, but is it? I have a recollection of a remark made about the pilot flying the Asiana plane which crashed in SFO, that it had been a really long time since he'd actually landed one. Apparently!
Many of Transport Canada’s aviation inspectors, who are licensed pilots, are not able to keep their licences current because Conservative spending cuts imposed in 2011 curtailed their ability to fly government aircraft.
They can't fly privately like many of the rest of us?