Transport committee  I understand, sir, but on other items that were announced by the minister that were ruled by the threat and risk assessment not to be brought on board, the minister changed his mind and went against the staff recommendation. On the matter of the scissors, two-and-a-half-inch scis

Transport committee  We have respectfully disagreed with our pilots on the issue of non-passenger screening. We believe that non-passenger screening, an ICAO recommendation, is operative with some of our international partners. At the present time we believe non-passenger screening, when crew go thro

Transport committee  I think the organization you were referring to is IATA. I think you said ITAC.

Transport committee  Yes. I think I tried to respond.... The ICAO list allows knives under six centimetres. The Canadian government has not gone that loose, to its credit, because its threat risk assessment decided that those knives should be.... So we haven't harmonized fully with ICAO.

Transport committee  I'm not so sure of the role of IATA, because it is a voluntary association of airlines. I don't think it sets regulatory standards for governments to follow. Maybe the airlines do, but the prohibited items list I understand is regulated in this country by Transport Canada as an e

Transport committee  I think we have to distinguish the training for safety under a safety management system and the training for security. That issue of security training is now being reviewed by the department. They actually published changes to the Canadian aviation security regulations in the C

Transport committee  In reading the staff report to the 9/11 commission, you find that most witness reports that they had were about slashing of the throats. Unless you had some sort of armoured outfit, I don't think you would be protected. A bladed weapon is what a police officer fears. I went to

Transport committee  At the present time, the training to evade and avoid a grasp is what is taught. Self-defence techniques to get away from you if you come at me are taught, but for me to attempt to deal with you in a more aggressive fashion, that is not taught today. We have had long and hard deba

Transport committee  There have been a number of media articles in April and May of 2010, and November and December of 2010, and I believe the Airline Pilots Association, ALPA, has written objecting to those cuts. So is there a document? No. Are there media reports, yes.

Transport committee  Beyond the media reports, no, I have not, sir.

Transport committee  No, I don't believe that answer. CATSA was part of the working group. On these key items, such as restraining devices, they filed a dissent. They have had one line: “It doesn't affect aviation security.” Between October 2008 and February 3, 2011, somehow Transport Canada agreed w

Transport committee  In preparation for today's testimony, I looked at exactly those items. The ICAO list provides illustrations, very much like the Transport Canada list. ICAO allows knives under 2.5 inches on board aircraft. We do not allow any knives, because Transport Canada did a threat/risk as

Transport committee  Yes, apparently, by the TSA. It's a bit of a mix and match. On bladed weapons, we are not consistent with ICAO and the U.S.; we are fortunately more restrictive. On the case of restraining devices, I think the issue of safety I've tried to raise is more important. Ice skates we

Transport committee  It is a guide, sir.

Transport committee  There's someone called an in-charge flight attendant. At Air Canada, they're called the service director. We represent all the in-charge flight attendants and flight attendants on board the aircraft. In the case you were referring to, the counter agents would have been represen