Canada’s federal police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), is currently investigating reports that former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots are involved in training military personnel in China. The RCMP issued a statement confirming their awareness of these reports but declined to provide further details as their investigation is ongoing.
The Globe and Mail had previously published an article revealing that three ex-RCAF fighter pilots had been participating in the training of pilots from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) via the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA). Reportedly, TFASA has enticed former military pilots from various NATO countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, with lucrative six-figure salaries. TFASA has had contracts to provide training to Chinese military and civilian pilots in both South Africa and China.
TFASA has responded to inquiries by confirming that Canadian authorities have been in touch with their employees but asserts that their training programs do not cover sensitive or classified information, such as NATO tactics and frontline equipment. They emphasized that any claims suggesting their involvement in equipping foreign powers with advanced tactics or technology are inaccurate.
In June, TFASA and other overseas flight schools faced U.S. export sanctions for their involvement in training Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources. The U.S. Department of Commerce cited this activity as being against U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. However, TFASA maintains that it has not broken any laws, citing strict protocols and a Code of Conduct in place to prevent the sharing of sensitive or classified information.
The potential legal ramifications for the Canadian pilots involved remain unclear, including whether they may have violated the Security of Information Act, which carries penalties of up to 14 years in prison for the unauthorized communication of special operational information.
Canada’s Department of National Defence has referred the matter to the RCMP and emphasized that the Security of Information Act applies to both current and former members, with non-compliance resulting in serious consequences. Public Safety Canada declined to provide further details on the case, citing the need to protect sensitive activities and sources of intelligence.
The situation has raised concerns among Canadian officials and lawmakers about the potential implications for national security and Canada’s relationship with its allies. James Bezan, a Conservative defense critic and Member of Parliament from Manitoba, expressed his concerns about former RCAF members potentially training fighter pilots for the Chinese government.
Notably, a former U.S. Marine who worked for TFASA was arrested in Australia in October 2022, although the charges were not disclosed. Additionally, Australian authorities conducted a search of the property belonging to a TFASA executive and former British military pilot in December 2022, but no charges were filed. Australian pilots have also been implicated in these activities.
TFASA, established in 2003, positions itself as a leading provider of test flight and specialist flying training for various nations worldwide, including Asia.
The RCMP spokesperson acknowledged that they are aware of foreign actor interference activities in Canada and stated that it is within their mandate to investigate such activities if they involve criminal or illegal conduct linked to foreign states.