Our Board

President: Anthony Kokai-Kuun

Anthony is an ATPL licensed Airline Pilot with a BSc. in Geological Sciences from the University of British Columbia and over 21,000 hours of flight experience.

Anthony started his career as a Flight instructor in 1989 and advanced to a Class 1 Flight Instructor and then a charter pilot on the Piper Navajo and Beech King Air.   In 1994, and in no small part due to injustices that he saw in the industry, Anthony founded his own aircraft company, North Vancouver Airlines Ltd.  North Vancouver Air grew from an airline with 2 six passenger aircraft to eventually operate 11 aircraft including 2 Piper Navajos, 2 Piper Chieftains, 2 Beechcraft King Air 100s and 4 Jetstream 31s (19 passenger 704 operations) and 53 full time pilots.

Anthony closed North Vancouver Air in 2005.  In the meantime he was hired in 1998 by Air Transat and was thus running North Vancouver Air and flying full time for Air Transat from 1998 until 2005.  At Air Transat, Anthony flew as First Officer on the Lockheed L-1011 and Airbus A-330, then advanced to Captain on the Airbus A-310, A-330, Boeing 737 and the Airbus A-321 Neo LR.

Anthony has volunteered on several union Committees at Air Transat (ALPA) including the Communications Committee, Training Committee, and Retirement Committee, and is involved with feedback initiatives with ALPA and Air Transat.

Anthony has always been an advocate for safe professional aircraft operations and joined the CPPC early in its development with high hopes for the College.  Anthony became a Director of the College in 2022 and has recently been bestowed the honour to represent the College as its President.

“I have a passion for aviation and the goal to help make the profession of piloting the respected and sought after career it once was.  Mentoring and advocating for all Commercial Pilots and especially my younger colleagues from all backgrounds is something that I have always done.  As President of the College of Professional Pilots of Canada (CPPC) I plan to bring that goal to the next level.  After all, every day pilots safely and professionally operate thousands of flights with hundreds of thousands of passengers in the difficult and challenging Canadian environment.  That achievement, day in and day out, year after year, is the direct result of the experience, hard work and dedication of our Canadian Commercial Pilots and it deserves respect.  Only through a body such as the CPPC will pilots be able to champion issues that go beyond unions and regulations that affect our lives as pilots on a daily basis.”

Vice President: Jim Spentzas

Jim knew from a very young age that he wanted to be in, or around, airplanes. Growing up in Canada and Europe, Jim first successfully completed an Oil Engineering degree followed by an Aircraft Maintenance license before setting his sights on obtaining his pilot qualifications. After returning to British Columbia in 1996, Jim quickly completed his Canadian Pilot licenses. He joined a Canadian cargo start-up as a Second Officer on the Boeing 727.

One opportunity led to another and Jim stayed in the business flying on the Boeing 727, with different companies for several years. During this time, he also became involved in the training of newly hired pilots, which sparked his interest in mentoring the younger generation of pilots. In 2011, Jim left the night cargo business in favour of a Canadian Charter operation flying the Boeing 737NG, where he is presently Captain.

Secretary-Treasurer: David Shi

David has worn many hats throughout his work careers. His favourite however is that of flight instructor.

An overarching aim of his is to make a positive impact on growing Canadian aviation, specifically by enhancing the standards of the profession to the benefit of all pilots, preparing student pilots the fast-moving industry of today, and improving flight training instruction and standards.

Aside from line flying, he is serving as Career and Industry advisor for the aviation programs at his alma mater, Mount Allison University, as well as part-time instructing at a large flight school in the Maritimes. He also volunteers his time as translator for the Webster Memorial Trophy team, and in the past, has served on the judge panel.

With the College of Pilots, David leverages his experience in data analysis, graphics, and flight instruction to complete projects set by the board.

“I view my role as that of a care-taker. In conjunction with service providers, I run the back-end required to maintain the College’s presence as an additional option for resources and representation for pilots at all levels. It is my hope that the College can receive widespread support from all pilots, so that it can provide in return a non-union, non-industry, impartial voice for safety and our profession throughout industry, and be a definitive authority when it comes to representing our overlapping interests with the travelling public. Going forward into the age of social media and AI, it will be more important than ever to have as many established voices in our corner.”

Other Board Members

Alistair Beaton

Alistair’s interest in aviation was sparked as a Cadet in the Air Training Corp, where he had the opportunity to do an air experience flight in an RAF DH Chipmunk and obtain his A&B Certificates in Gliding after soloing a Kirby Cadet Mk3 in 1964.

During a work assignment in the Bahamas, Alistair completed his FAA Private Certificate in 1971 and accumulated approximately 1200 hours flying around the Islands and southeast Florida.

In 1972 Alistair was transferred to Jamaica where he gained experience in flying into the many challenging bush airstrips that existed in Jamaica at that time. During an extended vacation to the USA, Alistair completed his Commercial Pilot training at Fort Worth, Texas, in 1973.

While working for the oil industry in the Middle East that allowed generous amounts of time off for rest and relaxation, Alistair completed Flying Instructor Courses with both Rogers Aviation and CSE Oxford Air Training in the UK. His first junior flying instructor job was in 1977 in Dubai, UAE. Alistair progressed through the Company to become a line pilot in the Company’s commercial aviation division and was seconded to Gulf Air in Oman and for about one year, to Bandar Abbas in Iran, to fly for the Imperial Iranian Navy.

Returning to the UK in 1980, Alistair started a flying school for a local aviation company in Glasgow. At that time, he was also appointed as a CAA / AOPA Flight Examiner.

Alistair arrived with his wife Diane in British Columbia, Canada, in 1982 and has since worked as a Chief Flight Instructor and Chief Pilot for a number of small Commercial Air Service both in the northwest of British Columbia and for the last 18 years, in the Vancouver area.

Paul Slaney

Paul Slaney is a seasoned aviation professional with over 20 years of experience, currently serves as the Director of Flight Operations at PAL Airlines in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In addition to his extensive background as a Captain and Training Pilot ACP, Paul has held key positions such as Director of Quality, Safety & Training and Manager of Training & Standards, showcasing his in-depth knowledge of aviation regulations and best practices.

Paul joins to bring his wealth of experience to revolutionize pilot training and operational standards in Canada. His diverse background and expertise will play a pivotal role in advancing the agenda of the board, leveraging his varied experiences to push for excellence in pilot training and operational practices.

A respected figure in the aviation community, Paul Slaney is dedicated to enhancing safety, promoting training excellence, and safety. His leadership and commitment to industry standards make him valuable asset to the board and the college.

Colin Forrest

Colin Forrest is a highly experienced pilot and aviation educator with over 30 years in the aviation industry. He currently serves as a contract A320 simulator instructor for Air Canada, where he plays an essential role in training and mentoring the next generation of pilots. Colin is also a dedicated volunteer board member of the College of Professional Pilots of Canada (CPPC), a national non-profit organization committed to setting the highest standards for professional pilot training, safety, and industry leadership in Canada. Through his work with the CPPC, Colin helps advocate for pilot development programs that emphasize skill, safety, and professional ethics, ensuring Canadian pilots are well-prepared to meet the demands of modern aviation.

Throughout his diverse career, Colin has held a range of pivotal roles in aviation. He most recently served as Chief Pilot for Canada Jetlines,overseeing all flight operations and contributing to the strategic growth and operational safety of the airline. Before this, Colin was an A320 simulator instructor for Airbus in Jakarta, where he provided advanced training to the pilots of Batik Airlines, focusing on Airbus aircraft systems and operational procedures.

Colin’s international aviation career includes more than a decade as an A330 Captain with Air China and China Eastern, where he gained extensive experience operating in one of the world’s busiest airspaces. His career also includes 11 years with Dragonair (now Cathay Dragon) in Hong Kong, where he flew a variety of aircraft, including the Airbus A320/321, A330, and Boeing 747-400. During three of those years, he served as a Line Training Captain (LTC), guiding new pilots and ensuring operational excellence on both short- and long-haul routes.

A passionate mentor, Colin is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of airline pilots. He provides expert guidance on airline start-ups, training requirements, simulator instructing as a career, and navigating international career paths, including the EB2-NIW visa process for U.S.-bound pilots. (See Mentorship Program tab)

Colin is dedicated to fostering a culture of safety, professionalism, and excellence in aviation. Through his involvement with the CPPC, he continues to support the development of aviation standards in Canada, ensuring that pilots are equipped to handle the evolving challenges of the industry while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

Paul Jeeves

Coming soon…

Michael Graham

Michael has been a steadfast advocate for pilots and flight safety in the 703 world. Michael‘s journey in aviation extends over five decades, with a brief intermission for a degree in education. Over the last 4 decades, he has held positions with numerous 703 operators, starting with Elair & Lens, Bearskin, CalmAir, and others, culminating in working as the Accountable Executive at Missionair. Michael’s dedication and care for safety is evidenced by his time at TC Enforcement. He has championed PA31-350 pilot ground school syllabus, the use of the fight simulator for honing SOP training and safety in 703 operations and more lately, with the CPPC, participating in the Air Taxi Ops Pressures Study Group initiative with TC.

Michael is passionate about fostering professionalism among pilots and has proposed initiating talks and seminars at flight schools to bridge the gap between aspiring and seasoned pilots cited in the College Op-Ed “Training Bonds “.

Michael brings with him in-depth and 1st person experience related to the Mark Tayfel criminal case (a pivotal element in the foundation of the College), and remains motivated to protect and improve the our profession, in particular for newer pilots, and pilots of the 702-703 world.

Richard Kohlmann

Richard Kohlmann is a seasoned Pilot with Air Partners currently flying the Super King Air 350i. Bringing over 15 years of aviation experience across diverse roles and settings, his passion for aviation began with skydiving, where he swiftly progressed from recreational jumping to earning instructor ratings in Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. A native of St. John’s, NL, Richard attended Memorial University before spending a decade with the Canadian Forces as a Medical Technician, where he developed a strong foundation in safety and service and also proudly served on the Canadian Army Parachute Demonstration Team, The SkyHawks, where he performed at Airshows across North America during the centennial of flight (2009), along legends such as Astronaut Chris Hadfield, The CF SnowBirds and the US Navy Blue Angels.

Upon completing his training at the Calgary Aviation College, Richard excelled in commercial aviation, taking on roles as a flight instructor, Chief Pilot, and Training Captain with Alberta Skydive Central of which this experience led him to become a Captain on the Metroliner for Carson Air.

Richard has volunteered on board positions for multiple organizations such as the Open Aerial Imagery Association where he served as Safety Officer and Director of Operations. In 2021 he took part in an ICAO Training and Development Standards course, a skillset that certified him to create standardized programs in Aviation under ICAO’s approved methodology Known for his technical acumen and professional demeanor, he now exemplifies a strong commitment to exceptional service and operational excellence which he aims to share with the general aviation community in the pursuit of enhancing the safety, culture and standards of the industry.

When not flying, Richard enjoys mountain retreats for hiking, skiing, and paragliding. He and his wife also run a non-profit rescue, caring for animals in need and sharing their home with several pets, adding a compassionate dimension to his life of adventure.