Unlicensed man crashes C-180 during joyride in Nfld
 

Up north, this is waaaaaaay more common than many people realize. It is borne witness by the fact that in Alaksa, an FAA 'major initiative' was to get 50% of active pilots licensed! (They missed by a mile, btw. ;)) Most people up here grow up with sleds, atvs and floatplanes - they are just another tool in the box.

Despite high profile accidents such as this one, it would be a mistake to assume that any unlicensed pilot necessarily = bad pilot. Many have grown up operating bush planes and have thousands of hours operating in remote areas in some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet. Others have picked up their skills as safety pilots for other family / friends.

Yes, it is wrong and the authorities are right to come down on transgressors, but it happens all the time. Perhaps a little more effort should be spent by our po-faced bureaucrats on examining the reasons why and ensuring a cheaper and easier route for skilled pilots to comply with the regulations.

Without knowing the details of the situation, this

Is very true. Of course it is simply wrong to take anything without permission, however, that aside, the fact that a person is not licensed is not uncommon. I bought my 150 29 years ago from a man who had never had a license - he could not read and write. Excellent "pilot". I'm sure that he had flown that 150 many hundreds of hours without any trouble nor log entries. He sold my now 150 to buy a 172, which he flew a lot. He is one of many people who just fly. I can't condone it, but it is low on the list things we need to be concerned about for aviation safety in Canada.

Completely unacceptable behaviour , no excuses!

Sure, you should come up in Northern Canada and Alaska, and tell them that.
(make sure to wear a bullet proof vest)

JD

I did fly up north, I followed the rules , kept to myself and complied with the rare TC audit. How are these sort of things tolerated ? The rest of us actually did the work and got licensed

3 ways to increase safety and compliance.
1. Actually insist that skills be taught, make the students think.
2. Make the flight tests harder, at least include a measure of real reduced vis ops.
3. Quit making the f&cking tests a way to prove that the authors are english majors, and much smarter than you. RTFQxQ, pick the most correct answer my heiney. Make sure the concepts are grasped rather than trying to decipher the intent of the dweebs in ottawa.....
The maintenance tests are similarly obtuse.