Kathy Fox Retires from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada

After more than a decade as Chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), Kathy Fox, a proud member of COPA, has officially retired from her position. Her departure marks the end of a remarkable career in public service, where she tirelessly advocated for transportation safety across Canada. Fox has been a TSB board member since 2007 and has served as Chair since 2014, where she spearheaded efforts to improve aviation safety and address critical transportation challenges.​​​​

Fox’s aviation career spans over four decades, beginning in 1974 when she started as an air traffic controller. Fox earned her Private Pilot’s License in 1978, followed by Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot Licenses, with multi-engine, instrument, and instructor ratings. She achieved her Class 1 Instructor rating in 1988 and became a Designated Flight Test Examiner for Transport Canada in 1989.​​

Over the years, Fox served in multiple senior leadership roles at Nav Canada, where she served as Vice-President of Operations. After retiring from Nav Canada in 2007, Fox joined the TSB, where her leadership brought about transformative changes, including pushing for safer non-precision approaches in aviation and advocating for comprehensive safety policies across the transportation sector. Kathy’s personal commitment to aviation is reflected in her work. “For nearly 25 years, the TSB has sought to advance transportation safety by investigating incidents and accidents, and then reporting publicly on what we find,” Fox noted during her tenure. “Whether we’re interviewing witnesses, sifting through wreckage, or analyzing data from ‘black box’ recorders, Canadians can be sure that we are always pushing for a safer transportation network for everyone.”

Throughout her career in aviation safety, Fox remained an active pilot logging over 5,000 flight hours. She represented Canada three times as a member of the Canadian Precision Flying Team at world championships in 1996, 1999, and 2000.

Her dedication to aviation safety has earned her numerous accolades, including the Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Award in 2010, the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award, the David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award, and her induction to the Quebec Air and Space Hall of Fame, the Women in Aviation International (WAI) Pioneer Hall of Fame, and Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

As Yoan Marier assumes the role of TSB Chair as of August 21, 2024, the aviation community reflects on the enduring impact of Kathy Fox’s leadership. COPA extends its heartfelt thanks to Kathy for her unparalleled dedication and tireless efforts to ensure a safer Canadian airspace. Her legacy will continue to inspire the aviation community for years to come.