Statement Regarding Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Upholding Decision to Release Flight AC624 Cockpit Voice Recorder

ALPA Canada president Capt. Tim Perry issued a statement in response to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal upholding a ruling that granted the release of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of Flight AC624 to certain parties.

This case pertains to an incident where the Transportation Safety Board of Canada report found certain “approach procedures, poor visibility and airfield lighting led to the 2015 collision with terrain of Air Canada Flight 624 at the Halifax/Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia.”

“According to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, it remains vitally important that the disclosed information must not be used against pilots in 'disciplinary proceedings, proceedings relating to the capacity or competence of an officer or employee to perform the officer's or employee's functions, or in legal or other proceedings. '

“The contents of any CVR cannot be adequately deciphered, contextualized, or properly evaluated for relevancy unless the evaluation is performed by trained professional aviation accident investigators and select subject-matter experts. That's why ALPA works tirelessly to enhance air safety through unbiased, fact-based evaluation of airline safety and security issues, and ALPA will continue working with our fellow aviation stakeholders to ensure the airline industry remains as safe as possible.

“Flight safety, in our opinion, should be the only consideration when examining recordings.”

FMI: www.alpa.org