Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
- Sweden edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Germany |
- Norway |
- Switzerland
Reader Offer
February 14, 2012
Swedish pilot flew 13 years without licence
Published: 3 Mar 10 17:02 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25330/20100303/
A 41-year-old Swedish man with a forged pilot's licence was arrested in the cockpit of a plane in Amsterdam on Tuesday evening as he prepared to take off for Turkey with 101 passengers on board.
- Sweden to blast fresh blood into space (11 Feb 12)
- Bones and guts in military 'horror dungeon' (8 Feb 12)
- Man performed surgery on his own dog (8 Feb 12)
Expressing relief that his duplicity had come to light, the Swede claimed he had flown for 13 years with a forged licence for companies in the UK, Belgium and Italy, spending a total of 10,000 unlicensed hours in the air.
Dutch police said they were able to arrest the 41-year-old on suspicion of holding a fake pilot licence thanks to a tip-off from the Swedish authorities.
The Swede, resident in Milan, had once possessed a Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) but this had long since expired, Dutch police said. He subsequently forged an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), the highest level of aircraft pilot licence and one which enabled him to fly large passenger planes.
An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for Friday, March 5th.
Following the arrest, Turkey's Corendon Airlines was quickly able to bring in a replacement pilot and the plane left for Ankara at the scheduled time.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
GOTHENBURG SCHOOL STABBING
Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old
A 28-year-old man suspected of stabbing a young girl in the throat at the beginning of February has been apprehended and is being held in another country pending Sweden's extradition demand. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Swedish man lay 'dead for weeks' in Lund flat
A man in Lund, southern Sweden, lay dead in his house for weeks before his body was discovered, as visiting care staff had left after the man failed to answer his door. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
Sweden expels foreign official: report
The Swedish government said on Tuesday it has expelled a foreign diplomat, but spokespeople were unwilling to confirm international reports that it was a high level official from Rwanda. READ »
THE LOCAL LIST
Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored
On Valentine's Day, The Local invites you on a journey of seduction through Sweden, a country which may be worth probing further when it comes to matters of love. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
Valentine's Day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories
With Valentine's day upon us again, The Local called for messages from the star-crossed lovers of Sweden, who sent us their loving letters and sweet tweets in a celebration of love in Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'
A Swedish man set to take off on his "dream holiday" to Mexico was turned away before boarding, as flight officials claimed he shared the name of a wanted terrorist. READ (21 COMMENTS) »
Swedish man suspected of 'kidnapping himself'
A 29-year-old man in northern Sweden has been remanded into custody together with an accomplice after trying to extort money from his parents by pretending he had been kidnapped. READ (6 COMMENTS) »
Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government
The Swedish Government has penned a new terror strategy, upgrading Sweden’s risk status since the last plan four years ago, calling for an ‘inter-agency cooperation’ in the fight to counter terror in Sweden. READ (12 COMMENTS) »
More National
- 14/02 Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old (2 comments) »
- 14/02 Sweden expels foreign official: report »
- 14/02 Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government (12 comments) »
- 14/02 Four in custody for Malmö murder (3 comments) »
- 14/02 Prisoner reports jail after waiting for loo roll (11 comments) »
- 13/02 Masked man raped cyclist in Malmö park (17 comments) »
- 12/02 Malmö murders linked to fake online firms: report (9 comments) »
- 12/02 Teacher held after having sex with teen students (4 comments) »
- 12/02 Man arrested after 'hugging thief' attack (1 comment) »
- 11/02 Psychiatrist had sex with patient during therapy (17 comments) »
20 things to know before moving to Sweden
As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »
How far can English take you in Sweden?
Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »
Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island
"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »
- 11/2 09:27 Fika Quiz (The Swedish Teacher)
- 10/2 10:47 Reefer Madness (110% LAGOM)
- 07/2 12:55 Queen of Diamonds (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
Highlights
|
|
Swedish word of the day
fin
adjective
Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.
Latest news from The Local in Germany
- 14/02 Merkel pledges more EU sanctions against Syria »
- 14/02 Six little pigs find new mum - a bulldog »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland
- 14/02 Swiss stick with Swedish jets to replace fleet »
- 14/02 Geneva rents: World's 7th most expensive city »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
Latest news from The Local in France
- 14/02 Record year for French wine and spirits exports »
- 14/02 Police turn to France, Facebook in Norway gunman probe »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in Norway
- 14/02 Norway killer and Dutch MP in fictional meeting »
- 14/02 Facebook and France in focus in Breivik probe »
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Blog
New book about Sweden – get to know the country
Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.
Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop
In cooperation with DoToday
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
Jobs in Sweden, in English
522 jobs available
250 new jobs this week
45 new jobs today
- Financial Controller
- Business Controller
- Technical Sales Service Specialist (m/f)
- Software Engineer - Online
- Data Warehouse Developer for DONG Energy IT
- Build Master
- Line Manager
- Software Engineer - Gameplay/Audio
- Univar recruits Accounting Manager/Financial Controller to be based in Malmö
- Purchasing Program Manager
Noticeboard
- 13/02 Looking for a long term appartment
- 13/02 Babysitter
- 13/02 flat or room available
- 13/02 Party Photographer
- 13/02 Apartment Near Arlanda
- 13/02 Apartment Needed Immediately
Discuss
- 23:04 What is death?
- 22:56 Should I ask her on a date or not?
- 22:52 SFI - personal number loop...
- 22:45 E-Mail replies from Swedish Businesses
- 22:40 Driving on Autobahn
- 22:13 Where do you live?
- 22:13 Big Fat Gypsy weddings
- 19:17 Upper abdominal pain
- 18:20 Need to replace windows
- 18:05 Women drivers & safety
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
He has not crushed his plane whereas many with a licence has crashed their planes.
ha ha
Do you think his 10,000 unlicensed hours in the air should be counted for future employment positions.
So although he forged a licence, he would have done his simulator training every year, had medicals and was certainly fit to fly. He would have had conversion training on ant=y new aircraft types he has flown as well. So really not a safety question.
RELAX but insist on see the pilots licence next time you fly. Well they ask for ID when you buy something with a credit card...
The article says
"The Swede, resident in Milan, had once possessed a Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) but this had long since expired, Dutch police said. He subsequently forged an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)"
a A CPL is a licence to fly multi-engined commercial aircraft and is the requisite qualification to get an ATPL. When anybody is employed to fly for an airline he must take a check to get the aircraft type that he is going to fly, on his licence. Thereafter he has to take annual medicals and concurrency checks with a line pilot employed by the airline. He was competent to fly but had not kept his licence current so forged one
I suggested Anders Högstrom having tipped off Swedish authorities about this pilot on Corendon Airlines.
Don't you think that the airline might not have asked too many questions about a pilot who was able to fly from Tel Aviv on to Warsaw and then on to NYO? Sounds a Mossad-based one to me, and what could have been involved in moving a lot of contraband, especially the Auschwitz entrance sign out of the country to Skavsta.
And don't you find it strange that the whole Högstrom question has gone surprising quiet over the past two weeks or so. What if he told Swedish police about the use of the airline, and the pilot's role in it, claiming that he was not officially licensed to fly?
Since they acted on it, and the pilot has essentially confessed, the case against Högstrom could be completely falling apart.
Somthing must have happened recently which he knew would lead to his exposure.
And what would that be?
You wrote in your first mail 'The pilot in question had a ATPL'.
In your second you quote the article which says he once had a CPL (long expired) and had FORGED an ATPL - so he did not have a ATPL according to the article - so why do you say he did..
A CPL may allow you to operate a multi engine aircraft but only if it single pilot operation (so a small commercial aircraft) or be a co-pilot on multi crew operations. But why did he forge an ATPL. Well that allows you to be a commander on the aircraft and that makes it a whole new ball game and requires a higher level of competence.
If he got away with it much longer they might as well give him retirement or at least a promotion. If you read carefully he is a trained pilot so there is/was no real safety issue (anymore) he has put in the hours. so in short he was a few years ago a naughty boy, now it is just bureaucracy going overboard. the regulators now have egg on their faces because they let him through, It would have been much better to secretly catch him and make him sit the exam for the licence he has been holding.... not tell everyone they mucked up big time by failing to catch him for 13 years ...Give the man a gold watch!
I've read that pilots routinely have training and exams to prove that they can handle a wide set of possible malfunctions and incidents. Many of these incidents are rare enough that a pilot can go for 13 years without facing them outside of these simulated training events. But if they DO happen in a real-life situation, you want a pilot who has taken the training as he's supposed to.
Several years ago there was a "doctor" in Nova Scotia working in a hospital emergency room saving lives, etc, and apparently was very brilliant. Turns out he had fraudulent credentials and had never gone to medical school at all.
For example, we, of course, do not know the pilot's name from even the Dutch and other presses, there is often no mention of even the airline's name he worked for, and no discussion of Corandon's management, certification, and routes, especially to Warsaw, Tel Aviv and Skavsta, the Transport Department knowing about his problems for years but somehow taking no action on it until recently, thanks to more tips, playing down his connections with Sweden though he was originally licensed and flew from here, etc.
Reminds me of all those CIA covert carriers during Iran-Contra, working particularly out of Mena's International Regional Airport in Bubba's Arkansas - what went on for years until that D-3 was finally shotdown by the Sandinistas.
And we live in Western countries with free presses!
- he did not live in Sweden
- he did not fly for a Swedish registered airline
- he did not fly in Swedish airspace
They had had several requests for confirmation of his credentials from airlines and had informed all who checked that he was not eligible to fly
The TA allowed the concern about him somehow to lapse years ago, no one has said the Swede now lives in Sweden, the Corendon Airline for which he flew 10,000 hours does go to NRO, showing that it has used Swedish airspace, and he could have used it too. And why all the false claims about Turkey regarding his exposure and his flights?
And I find it quite unprincipled that the Swedish media is quite happy to broadcast Högstrom's name but protect the name of a pilot who endangered the lives of passengers for years because of his shortcuts with all the rules. He showed contempt for them while now being protected from public exposure.
I should have said NYO, the authority which runs Stavska, in my earlier post
Outrageous.....Sure is! But he sure have more experience after 13 years of flying. Iam quite sure I would mind be on his plane. They should maybe give him a fine and give him a license. Sure in this case he shouldn't go unpunish......hats off to him for all the safe flights.
Facts..
He was a Captain with Corendon, and the AMS base Captain
He was promoted in Air One about 1997-1998
He left Air One and flew briefly for a Leeds-based low-cost carrier, based in BFS
He has been a Captain with Corendon since 2008
I have worked with him and alongside him in all 3 airlines
He was extremely proficient in handling the B737, had training as TRI, and never had any problem with checks
http://www.milliyet.com.tr/sorguda-sucunu-itiraf-eden-cakma-pilot-un-isine-son/turkiye/sondakika/04.03.2010/1207011/default.htm?ver=50
He has passed all the stuff for the requirements but right now, he lost his job.
Let me say, I believe in experience more than education.
hehe
If Greenfield is to be believed - what Rick posted - this guy must be a Siamese twin of the offender since he apparently has been with him on three different airlines, and apparently all his flights together!
For more rumours, see the link:
http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/407582-...-license-2.html
And don't miss the other rumour threads about it on the site.
The guy strikes me as a corrupt pilot who worked for corrupt airlines for corrupt purposes, or he would have been shot down long ago. My choice now is a secret agency involved in shipping stolen goods to Sweden and beyond.
NO Airline can or will allow a pilot who has not got a current type rating in the cockpit. And the CAA of the country where he is based must be shown the evidence that he has done his sim checks with the companies licenced TRE/IRE and that he has had an annual medical. In any case when he started, like all pilots, he flew the right hand seat. Read the quote from a colleague who knows him that I posted earlier he was made up to captain in 2008
Take a look at pprune.org and find the thread ther where Professional pilots talk about the whole matter. There is NO suggestion in any of the posts that he was a danger to anybody. And these are the guys in the sharp end who are looking after their own lives ahead of those of the SLC ( Self loading cargo ) at the back
The posts on PPrune show that there are all kinds of pilots in command, including possibly this one, who are not in control.
The only real check about flying abilities is if there is no accident. If he had ever had an accident, it would have been the end of the insurance companies.
And the posts show that the guy, besides working for Corendon, apparently worked for Air One, Jet2, Apollo Airlines, and Air Sweden, putting the lie to the claim that he never entered Swedish airspace, and explaining why TA is treating the matter like a spy case.
Why are you so protective of this unlicensed pilot?
The guy learnt to fly most probably the same way as I did at a flying school and got a PPL he then went further and got an instrument rating and a twin engine rating for CPL which allowed him to fly as PIC in an aircraft with a max take-off weight of 12,500 lbs. If you dont get in enough hours in any year your licence lapses which seems to be what happened to him. He then forged a licence and went out job hunting, got a job and was trained on the 737 aircraft and got his type rating on that aircraft. he must have been checked at least once a year since then.
He is a cheat and most probably a bit of a Walter Mitty character but he is not and never has been a danger to passengers.
It is really a bit like claiming that you have the required certificates to get into University when you have'nt but study and pass your exams and get a degree
Were you too there with the know-it-all Greenfield? Were there no close incidents which could have resulted in a fatal crash if some qualified pilot had not been there to take the controls at just the last second, and to overlook it since everyone survived? Etc.
Still, I'm quite sure he ultimately learned the ropes, but what about the unnecessary near misses along the way.
And you do not address the vast problems which would have resulted if he were ever in an accident, one not even of his own making? It would have been the end of the airline, undoubtedly some insurance companies, etc. The pilot was a flying disaster in the making.
So speaks an ex-military ATPL holder who drives big kites for a very large (and in the news a lot) British airline
In my day you moved up in the right hand seat from smaller to bigger aircraft and when you did get offered the left hand seat it was usually back in the twin T/P you started off in.
It seems to me that some people seem to think that getting a pilots licence is like a car drivers licence pass one short test and bingo set for life
Aviation joke.
A guy is standing in a bar and another guy walks in, come up and orders a beer, he smells bad and is covered in toilet paper. The first guy says "you stink". The second guy says yes I do, I drive the honey waggon at the airport and sometime the valve gets stuck and the comes out the side and gets allover you just like now. First guy says "seems like a bad job is there nothing else you can do?"
"Plenty and better paid" says the guy. "So why not change jobs" says the first guy
To which the reply was...
"What, and leave aviation?"
Think I'd rather drive the 'Honey Wagon' than fly fro Ryan Air
you guys can invite each other for a drink and blah blah amicably or in watever means you both deem necessary. :( hehehehe
"The real questions. Why did it take so long to catch him? Is he the only unlicensed pilot flying? Whose is responsible for this post 9/11 security breach? 13 Years? That's almost a career".
This situation gives a good picture of employment in Sweden, if you are ethnic then your qualification or non qualification is better than any immigrant with a sound qualification for the same job.
I could make a bet that there are more like him in Sweden and outside Sweden.
Unless you are an authority on the matter and have something to tell us about the usefulness (or lack of it) of these programs, you should just shut up and let the pros do their job. That means not allowing people to pilot a plane unless they've followed all the necessary rules.
BETTER THAN TIGER WOODS !
Now adays its the certificate that makes you a human not you!! if you dont study their stupid way!! you are void!! you have to study frueds Ideas to become a psychologist you have to learn some other dumb az ideas to become a sociologist.
BUT pilot doctor is something danerous!! thing to pretend
Winters, storms, technical problems, all kind of difficulties...
He is a Teacher.
Still, we all ended up safely in the corn field after the aircraft skidded down the runway without catching fire. Luckily it was a low-cost airline which only provided a few extra gallons of gasoline for each flight.
The second flight was a dream until he stalled on his final approach - luckily he was way too high, and had space and time of get out of it before we hit the ground.
Wouldn't fly now with any other pilot. Will make sure of using him once he gets over the bureaucratic
hiccup.
There I was upside down with nothing on the clock but the makers name
Shall ask my Swedish airline pilot friend if he knows the guy, or knows about him tomorrow.
Here is his blog:
http://www.hasselblad.com/hoc/photographer...omas-salme.aspx
There are various articles about them, for example Scott Carmichael's which includes this: "Oddly enough, this was the second time he had been caught - Swedish cops arrested him several years ago for the same reason, but when they summoned him, he couldn't be found, so they just 'forgot' about it."
Seems the TA didn't want people to know how he got a license in the first place.
And for empty Swedish claims that they tried to get him, but couldn't because he did not live in Sweden, did not use its airspace, and did not use a Swedish carrier, see Puffin's post yesterday.
well if they tried to arrest him ealier then that hardly counts as a 'claim' that they know nothing about him. The opposite surely?
I see no purpose in quibbling about what I am saying when the fault is with this pilot who forged a license, the authorities which gave him whatever documents he had, and airlines which took them seriously.
FACT
And who would be interested in any of your guesses, Bender?
Or your guess that it was Plow who drove Holecutter away!
Stop manufacturing guesses, and start looking at the real world.
They believe that Salme could well have been involved in shady deals, like the theft of the Auschwitz sign and flying it to Skavsta when the coast was clear - what Anders Högstrom stopped by informing the police of the operation.
They say that Salme is quite unbalanced, didn't know that he was a former Swedish fighter pilot, and perhaps is even a pyscopath - just the kind of guy you want flying airliners without a license!
More later after I have had a chance to discuss the matter in detail with my friend.