Witness Testimony

Scott Routly, a former military and civilian pilot who served as Chief Pilot for a federally regulated Canadian airline, testified regarding his responsibilities to both his airline and Transport Canada for pilot training standards and medical compliance. He explained that Canadian aviation licensing requires both aircraft type certification and strict medical certification, including regular in-person examinations and ECG testing for certain age groups. He stated that during the pandemic, while pilots were considered essential workers, routine medical requirements were relaxed or converted to remote renewals.
Routly testified that when COVID-19 vaccines were introduced, he raised concerns within management, the Air Line Pilots Association, and Transport Canada about administering what he characterized as experimental vaccines to active flight crew. He stated that he provided research materials and referenced safety management principles, arguing that mandatory vaccination without long-term data could pose medical risks to pilots and the travelling public. He reported that exemption processes were ineffective and that he ultimately refused vaccination.
He testified that he was suspended without pay following implementation of a federal transportation mandate and later terminated. Routly further stated that medical monitoring requirements, including ECG testing, were extended or reduced during and after vaccine rollout, which he viewed as inconsistent with aviation safety norms. He expressed concern about airline safety, pilot health, and reported crew shortages, attributing some flight cancellations to illness and workforce reductions following mandate enforcement.