Aviation Law Lawyers
Getting into the air comes with its own set of rules. FH&P supports passengers, aircraft owners, operators, and businesses across the Okanagan and beyond, whether you've been hurt on a flight, you're responding to a claim, or you're working through a dispute with a regulator. We act for people who fly commercially, who operate a small aircraft, and who run a maintenance business, and we know the legal ground each of those groups stands on.
Aviation matters move fast. Flight data gets overwritten, maintenance logs age out, memories fade, and regulators work on their own clock. Getting advice early is often the difference between a strong claim and a weak one, whether you're pursuing it or defending against it.
Passengers and travellers with an injury, baggage, or cargo claim
Aircraft owners and private pilots
General aviation and small commercial operators, including charter services
Fixed Base Operators (FBOs)
Aircraft maintenance and repair organizations
Businesses and individuals facing a Transport Canada or other federal regulatory matter
Bodily Injury, Baggage and Cargo Claims: Injuries sustained during a flight, turbulence incidents, lost or damaged baggage, and cargo disputes each have their own rules regarding notice, documentation, and liability limits.
Product Liability Claims: Claims involving defective aircraft parts, faulty equipment, or design and manufacturing issues that led to an incident or injury.
General Aviation, Private and Small Commercial Claims: Disputes involving private pilots, small commercial operators, charter services, and claims against Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organizations.
Regulatory and Administrative Matters: Matters before Transport Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Transportation Safety Board, including licensing issues, complaints, investigations, and compliance concerns.
FH&P is here, in the Okanagan, where general aviation and small commercial operators are a regular part of the community. We represent clients on both sides of an aviation matter, whether that means bringing a claim after an injury or defending an operator, manufacturer, or maintenance organization.
As a full-service firm, we are also equipped to handle the legal issues that often accompany aviation matters, including insurance disputes, contract disputes, and dealings with federal regulators.
If Something Went Wrong On A Flight, Read This First
Not every issue means a lawsuit. Some matters are resolved through a regulator, a complaint process, or a conversation with the operator or carrier. Start by understanding your options.
Time and evidence matter. Flight data, maintenance records, and witness accounts can be difficult to recover once time has passed. Acting early protects your claim or your defence.
Regulatory bodies are not courts. A complaint to Transport Canada, the CTA, the CHRT, the CBSA, or the TSB follows a different process than a civil claim, and the two can overlap. Knowing which path applies to your situation matters.
Not Sure Where To Start? That Is What We Are Here For.
Aviation law covers a wide range of situations, from a delayed bag to a serious injury to a regulatory investigation. A conversation with our lawyer, Scott Ashbourne, can help you understand where you stand and what to do next.