WestJet employee faked ATPL
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WestJet employee faked ATPL
http://http://www.calgaryherald.com/...852/story.html
WestJet employee faked pilot's licence
By Daryl Slade, Calgary HeraldMarch 24, 2009Comments (19)
A former WestJet pilot who forged documents indicating he had a valid airline transport pilot's licence will not have a criminal record.
Ryan Atkins was given a conditional sentence Monday that requires him to meet a number of conditions, including the completion of 150 hours of community service during a 12-month probationary period.
"Mr. Atkins has two family members who are WestJet pilots, both successful," prosecutor Susan Mulligan told Judge Bruce Millar, referring to Atkins' father and brother-in-law.
"So it's not hard to understand the misgivings he took when he didn't hold a licence, to follow the family members to fly planes.
"Once he made the mistake, he carried on, and it snowballed from there."
Mulligan said Atkins, 25, has since obtained the proper qualifications. He did not pilot any aircraft he was not qualified to fly and no passengers were put at risk by his actions during the time of the forgery--May to December 2007, she added.
Atkins has worked in the industry since 2001, initially as a commercial pilot. He now has his air transport pilot licence and has worked with Bar XH Air in Medicine Hat since February 2008.
Atkins' lawyer, Don McLeod, presented several character references citing his client's pilot skills.
"He has suffered publicity, as far as these proceedings, which has brought him stress and humiliation," said McLeod. "A criminal record would have devastating impact on his career of eight years now."
The fraud began when Atkins applied to work for WestJet, claiming to have written the required examinations and completed the necessary hours.
He provided a photocopy of a licence and test results, which were forged, and was hired in September 2007 on the understanding he would supply the original licence.
Atkins later claimed the original had been stolen from his vehicle. He obtained a temporary faxed copy of his licence but not an airline transport pilot's licence.
Each time Atkins presented the fraudulent licence, he knew it was a false document that he passed as genuine, according to an admitted statement of facts.
WestJet officials became increasingly concerned after not receiving an original licence or examination results.
Atkins provided written results for both tests to Transport Canada.The documents, however, were from his brother-in-law's exams.
Transport Canada's investigation of Atkins' claims concluded he had never written the necessary exams.
He was suspended in December 2007 from his two-month employment by WestJet and has not been reinstated.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
WestJet employee faked pilot's licence
By Daryl Slade, Calgary HeraldMarch 24, 2009Comments (19)
A former WestJet pilot who forged documents indicating he had a valid airline transport pilot's licence will not have a criminal record.
Ryan Atkins was given a conditional sentence Monday that requires him to meet a number of conditions, including the completion of 150 hours of community service during a 12-month probationary period.
"Mr. Atkins has two family members who are WestJet pilots, both successful," prosecutor Susan Mulligan told Judge Bruce Millar, referring to Atkins' father and brother-in-law.
"So it's not hard to understand the misgivings he took when he didn't hold a licence, to follow the family members to fly planes.
"Once he made the mistake, he carried on, and it snowballed from there."
Mulligan said Atkins, 25, has since obtained the proper qualifications. He did not pilot any aircraft he was not qualified to fly and no passengers were put at risk by his actions during the time of the forgery--May to December 2007, she added.
Atkins has worked in the industry since 2001, initially as a commercial pilot. He now has his air transport pilot licence and has worked with Bar XH Air in Medicine Hat since February 2008.
Atkins' lawyer, Don McLeod, presented several character references citing his client's pilot skills.
"He has suffered publicity, as far as these proceedings, which has brought him stress and humiliation," said McLeod. "A criminal record would have devastating impact on his career of eight years now."
The fraud began when Atkins applied to work for WestJet, claiming to have written the required examinations and completed the necessary hours.
He provided a photocopy of a licence and test results, which were forged, and was hired in September 2007 on the understanding he would supply the original licence.
Atkins later claimed the original had been stolen from his vehicle. He obtained a temporary faxed copy of his licence but not an airline transport pilot's licence.
Each time Atkins presented the fraudulent licence, he knew it was a false document that he passed as genuine, according to an admitted statement of facts.
WestJet officials became increasingly concerned after not receiving an original licence or examination results.
Atkins provided written results for both tests to Transport Canada.The documents, however, were from his brother-in-law's exams.
Transport Canada's investigation of Atkins' claims concluded he had never written the necessary exams.
He was suspended in December 2007 from his two-month employment by WestJet and has not been reinstated.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
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Similar story with a Wardair pilot back in the 80s.
TC mistakenly issued him an ATPL on a renewal but that individual failed to point the error out to TC and he carried on, licence in hand.
Ended up P1 on the 3-10.
This industry does a so-so job of policing itself and with competition for jobs what it is, stories like this surprise no one.
Do they?
TC mistakenly issued him an ATPL on a renewal but that individual failed to point the error out to TC and he carried on, licence in hand.
Ended up P1 on the 3-10.
This industry does a so-so job of policing itself and with competition for jobs what it is, stories like this surprise no one.
Do they?
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Not really that similar. TC issuing a licence by accident is a far cry from an unqualified individual misrepresenting himself and presenting forged documents to support his false claims.
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Anyone posing as a qualified ATPL pilot is a disgrace. Such a person should be banned for life from being granted one by the authority.
I hope ta goodness this incident remains an isolated one...
Men and women of poor character are not needed in this profession.
Perhaps such wannabees would be better suited for investment banking where such tomfoolery is rewarded handsomely...
I hope ta goodness this incident remains an isolated one...
Men and women of poor character are not needed in this profession.
Perhaps such wannabees would be better suited for investment banking where such tomfoolery is rewarded handsomely...
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This was very poorly reported in the Herald.
Ryan obviously did not receive a "conditional sentence". A conditional sentence is a sentence of house arrest in lieu of jail. Such a sentence is given when a person is convicted of a criminal offence.
Atkins obviously received a conditional discharge. This means that the accused is given probation and must comply with the stated conditions of the order. If successful the accused is then discharged. Technically the accused would not have a criminal record and if he is convicted of a later criminal offence, the earlier conviction cannot be mentioned to the judge in sentencing.
However, the record of the conditional discharge still remains on the police computer - CPIC. This could definitely cause problems going into the US. I understand they consider discharges as criminal convictions and they are hooked into CPIC.
Ryan obviously did not receive a "conditional sentence". A conditional sentence is a sentence of house arrest in lieu of jail. Such a sentence is given when a person is convicted of a criminal offence.
Atkins obviously received a conditional discharge. This means that the accused is given probation and must comply with the stated conditions of the order. If successful the accused is then discharged. Technically the accused would not have a criminal record and if he is convicted of a later criminal offence, the earlier conviction cannot be mentioned to the judge in sentencing.
However, the record of the conditional discharge still remains on the police computer - CPIC. This could definitely cause problems going into the US. I understand they consider discharges as criminal convictions and they are hooked into CPIC.
The thread keeps getting pulled off www.avcanada.ca
It makes you wonder which companies lawyer is getting it done.
Westjet,Borek,Bar-X-H ,or Sunwest
It will be intersting to see how many flights he made flying pax on a 737 without the correct paperwork.May cost the airline big bucks in fines and or customers suing for not duing due dillegence
It makes you wonder which companies lawyer is getting it done.
Westjet,Borek,Bar-X-H ,or Sunwest
It will be intersting to see how many flights he made flying pax on a 737 without the correct paperwork.May cost the airline big bucks in fines and or customers suing for not duing due dillegence
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I wouldn't say he was quite let off because the record of the discharge stays with him on the computer. If he gets into trouble again the crown will definitely take this into consideration in considering a disposition. So although he got a break it's not a good thing to have anything against you in the system.
As for fake lawyers, the courts generally take that kind of thing pretty seriously
As for fake lawyers, the courts generally take that kind of thing pretty seriously
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Ya gotta love aviation though, I mean God forbid that you board an aircraft with a baby bottle full of milk for your kid...and yet a wannabe can hose the aviation community with forged documents and then still maintain a security pass for the country????What is up with that ??? What do we actually pay those people in charge to do ?
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It will be intersting to see how many flights he made flying pax on a 737 without the correct paperwork.May cost the airline big bucks in fines and or customers suing for not duing due dillegence
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Since when do you need an ATP to have a Type Rating?
Interestingly, in the US one one the requirements to hold an ATP Certificate is:
While this requirement is both vague and at the same time a cover-all, one could easily argue that misrepresenting qualifications in order to get a licence and a job is a lack of poor moral character . . . certainly the level of moral character expected of an airline pilot.
Strangely, the only example I have heard of the US FAA (or at least, one overzealous inspector) denying an ATP to an applicant on this grounds was because the applicant was gay.
Interestingly, in the US one one the requirements to hold an ATP Certificate is:
Sec. 61.151 Eligibility requirements: General.
To be eligible for an airline transport pilot certificate, a person must--
(a) Be at least 23 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
(c) Be of good moral character;
To be eligible for an airline transport pilot certificate, a person must--
(a) Be at least 23 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
(c) Be of good moral character;
Strangely, the only example I have heard of the US FAA (or at least, one overzealous inspector) denying an ATP to an applicant on this grounds was because the applicant was gay.
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PANAMA JACK
I my memory serves me correctly Eastern Airlines had a a guy who flew with them for years on a PPL . He was discovered on a line check by a FAA inspector in the late sixties or early seventies.
I my memory serves me correctly Eastern Airlines had a a guy who flew with them for years on a PPL . He was discovered on a line check by a FAA inspector in the late sixties or early seventies.
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Wouldn't an individual not know they didn't hold the proper qualifications?
Any 'pilot' who knowingly occupies a seat on any aircraft when he/she knows he/she doesn't meet at least the minimum requirements deserves the maximum penalty of law.
The one caveat must be the appropriate licence with appropriate endorsements. Not the required hours to obtain the licence.
But, that's only my opinion.
Any 'pilot' who knowingly occupies a seat on any aircraft when he/she knows he/she doesn't meet at least the minimum requirements deserves the maximum penalty of law.
The one caveat must be the appropriate licence with appropriate endorsements. Not the required hours to obtain the licence.
But, that's only my opinion.
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Code:
I think things began to come apart when Wj applied for the type rating on his licence, only to be told 'no ATPL.
Had he held the IATRA and if WestJet did the training and ride; when they submitted the appropriate paperwork the only confirmation they would have received is when crew sched or training received a copy of his sticker (assuming thats their policy). In any event, that sticker would show his 737 type rating but it would also show his CPL - in which case a clued in crew sched agent or training person would see the error and stop any line flying.
I don't think it would come to that anyways as the A-Check doing the ride would probably be employed by WestJet; would know of the policy to hold an ATPL and would stop any ride before it began once the license was reviewed during the Pre-Ride document check and technical Q&A.
My best guess is they may have let him attend Company Indoc, CRM and Ground School (depending on how WJ does these things) but were waiting on his documents before throwing him into a simulator - that way they've only wasted a little time, not any serious money.
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For all the effort this guy put into faking his license, if he had put in half the time actually trying to earn it, he'd have been set, with a job at WJ. He started flying in 2001 and got the WJ offer in the fall of 2007, so he should have more than had the flight time.
And not that I would have been applying to WJ with a fake ATPL, but as his application progressed, he should have done everything in his power to get it. Heard plenty of stories of guys banging out ATPLs at the last minute to add it to their application package at smaller carriers, and sometimes bringing in a "wet" one makes a powerful impression.
And not that I would have been applying to WJ with a fake ATPL, but as his application progressed, he should have done everything in his power to get it. Heard plenty of stories of guys banging out ATPLs at the last minute to add it to their application package at smaller carriers, and sometimes bringing in a "wet" one makes a powerful impression.