Description
Experienced Flight Safety Investigator, a current ATP rated pilot, with heavy-jet flight check and corporate flying experience. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, he completed Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Flight Navigator training. Following a short tour on the CF-101 as a Weapons System Operator, he trained as an RCAF Pilot. In his first flying tour, he flew the Lockheed (Canadair) T-33 as a NORAD target pilot and provided aircraft check-out training. In his next Air Force assignment, he flew the Lockheed C-130, conducting search & rescue, tactical airlift and international cargo operations. Following completion of the year-long Canadian Aerospace Systems Course, he was assigned as a Systems Flight Test pilot with the military Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE). During this time, one of his projects was the testing of an avionics and flight recorder update for the Boeing 707 aircraft. Next, he flew with the military Boeing 707 Squadron, where he was the Chief Standards Officer and commanded international passenger, cargo, air-refueling and VVIP missions.
Following his posting to the Canadian Forces Headquarters in the Directorate of Air Operations and Training, he left the military and joined the Canadian Aviation Safety Board (CASB) which, in 1990, became the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). He has 31 years of experience as an Operations Safety Investigator. He has participated in major accident investigations as the Investigator-in-Charge, a Team Member or as Accredited Representative. While at the TSB, he flew the Boeing 707 in the Air Force Reserve for eight years. He was the TSB-ICAO point of contact and participated in the process of amending ICAO Annex 13. For the last 15 years he has been teaching aircraft accident investigation subjects at the Singapore Aviation Academy.
Academic Background
- Bachelor of Science -Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba; 1966
Continuing Education and Certifications
- ECCAIRS Database Training, EASA, 2009
- NTSB Cognitive Interview Training, 2004
- NTSB Advanced Investigation Training
- Cessna 550 Citation Qualification 2000
- MD11 Pilot Training, Swiss Air, 1998
- TSB Human Factors Training 1992
- Bombardier CRJ Pilot Training. 1991
- Transport Canada Senior Transportation Management Course, 1989
- Boeing 767 Pilot Training, Air Canada, 1988
- Beechcraft C90 King Air Qualification 1988
- Aircraft Accident Investigation Course, USC, 1984
- Boeing Jet Transport Performance Methods Course, 1980
- Instrument Check Pilot, Canadian Forces, 1978
- Aerospace Systems Course, Canadian Forces, 1977
- Military Pilot Training, RCAF, 1969
- Weapons System Operator CF-101, 1967
- Flight Navigator Training, RCAF, 1967
- Private Pilot Training, Winnipeg Flying Club, 1967
- Technical Photography Course, RCAF, 1964
Professional Experience
- Instructor at the Singapore Aviation Academy Aircraft Accident Investigation Course, from 2002 to present
- Solo instructor for a one-week Basic Accident Investigation Course for Air Astana, July 2016
- Instructor at Aircraft Accident Course at SCSI, Feb 2016
- Independent Consultant, McNair Flight Safety Consulting Inc., 2015 – Present
- Aviation Safety Information System (ASIS) Database Air Branch Lead 2005 – 2015
- Responsible for introduction of the new TSB ASIS
- The TSB Coordinator for the AIG portion of 2005 USOAP Audit of Canada; 2005
- ICAO Liaison Officer at the TSB, 1992 – 2015
- Senior Investigator, Operations, Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), 1990 – 2015
- CAST/ICAO Common Taxonomy (CICTT) Team Member 1999-2014
- Air Force Reserve Pilot (Major), Boeing 707, 1988 – 1997
- ECCAIRS Steering Committee Member for Canada (experience using ECCAIRS 4 and 5)
- ICAO Safety Indicators Study Group (SISG) Member
- Operations Investigator, Canadian Aviation Safety Board (CASB), 1984 – 1990
- Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilot 1969 – 1984
- T-33 NORAD Operations and Training Pilot
- C-130 Pilot, Flight Safety Officer, Search and Rescue
- Aerospace Experimental Test Establishment – System Flight Test, CF-5 Pilot
- Boeing 707-347 Pilot, Chief Standards Officer, VIP Pilot
- Defence HQ, Directorate of Air Operations and Training
Notable Investigations
- Airlines PNG DHC-8-103 Accident near Madang, Papua New Guinea, 13 Oct 2011
- Air France A340 Accident Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2 August 2005
- Sécurité Civile CL415 Accident near Calvi, Corsica, France, 1 August 2005
- China Eastern CRJ200 Accident near Baotou, Inner Mongolia, 21 November 2004
- Hawker Hunter, Pittston, PA, 22 July 2003
- Luxair Fokker 50 Accident near Niederanven, Luxembourg, 6 November 2002
- Beech C90 Toowoomba, QLD, Australia, 27 November 2001
- Swissair 111 MD11 Accident near Peggy’s Cove, NS, Canada, 2 September 1998
- Air Canada CRJ100 Accident Fredericton, NB, Canada, 16 December 1997
- Canadian Airlines B767 CF6 Uncontained Engine Failure, Beijing, 6 September 1997
- Pakistan International Airlines A300 Accident near Kathmandu, Nepal, 28 September 1992
- Thai Airways A310 CFIT Accident near Kathmandu, Nepal, 31 July 1992
- Evergreen B747 Flight Upset Near Nakina, Ontario, 12 December 1991
- Bradley Air Services HS748 Accident near Dayton, Ohio, 1 January 1989
- Bradley Air Services HS748 Accident near Cheney, Ontario, Canada, 15 September 1988
- Arrow Air DC-8-63 Accident at Gander NL, Canada, 12 December 1985
- Northrop F-20 Accident at Goose Bay, NL, Canada, 14 November 1985
Licenses
- Canadian Airline Transport Pilot License 1975-Present
- Cessna 550 Rating, 2000
- Boeing 707 Rating, 1981
- T-33 Rating, 1975
- L-382 Rating, 1975
- FAA Commercial Pilot License
Professional Memberships
- Professional Engineer, Province of Ontario (PEO)
- International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI)
- Australian Aviation Psychology Association (AAvPA)