The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) said it "deplores" last week's decision by Canada's Supreme Court allowing the disclosure of cockpit voice records from a 2015 Air Canada flight crash at Halifax Airport.
The airline, airport and manufacturer Airbus are among the entities being sued over the crash, which saw 25 people hospitalised. The Supreme Court ruling upheld by a 7-2 majority an earlier decision by a Nova Scotia judge to make the recording available to plaintiffs.
Citing the International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO), the IFALPA however said "the sole purpose" of the cockpit record is "to aid investigators in determining the factors leading to an accident and not to apportion blame or be used outside of its safety context".
"Any other use of CVR [cockpit voice recorder] data is not only invalid but is an unacceptable invasion of privacy best described as an attempt at sensationalism and voyeurism of the worst kind and not in line with ICAO standards and recommended practices", claimed the association, which represents around 100,000 pilots worldwide.