COVID FREEDOM HEROES — a Western Standard seven-part series — is recognizing individuals and groups from the legal, law enforcement and medical establishment, along with everyday people that stood up for Canadians' rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates..The second installment of the series is highlighting the efforts of Free to Fly, a hub created by two Canadian pilots for aviation professionals and passengers opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates for travel..Matt Sattler — a pilot with a major Canadian air carrier — realized his boyhood dream when he became a pilot 17 years ago. Matt and his wife — a flight attendant with the same airline — were both grounded in the fall and terminated on May 2 for choosing to remain unvaccinated.. Matt SattlerMatt Sattler, Canadian pilot .Greg Hill — a 30-year pilot — began flying in the military and moved on to a major Canadian airline before being grounded and eventually terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. . Greg HillGreg Hill, Canadian pilot .Sattler and Hill, after being put on leave without pay last fall, both worked tirelessly through Free to Fly to support tens of thousands of other Canadian aviation professionals and travellers. First, by tackling the court of public opinion, and now with legal action against airlines for damages caused by the mandatory vaccination policies and to ensure they are never reinstated again. . Here is a timeline of Free to Fly activities throughout the pandemic:.Oct 16, 2021 — Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, two Canadian pilots created Free to Fly — a hub for airline professionals and passengers opposed to vaccine mandates..Free to Fly cofounder Matt Sattler, at the time told the Western Standard the group consisted of more than 2,500 airline professionals and 18 to 20,000 passengers. The founders said they expected the group to grow to nearly 50,000 by the next month..READ MORE: UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Canadian pilot creates hub for airline professionals and passengers against forced jabs.November 2, 2021 — Thousands of Canadian aviation workers lost their jobs for not complying with industry-wide forced COVID-19 vaccinations.. Airline personnelAirline personnel .Free to Fly cofounder Sattler and his flight-attendant wife were both put on leave without pay, along with thousands of other airline personnel..At the time, Sattler said membership for Free to Fly had been growing daily and sat just under 40,000..READ MORE: Thousands of Canadian aviation workers lose their jobs.November 30, 2021 — Canadian travellers over the age of 12 were no longer permitted to fly or travel by train or boat in Canada without proof of vaccination..The policy was originally set to come into effect October 30, however the federal government announced a one-month grace period..READ MORE: Unvaxxed grounded in Canada. WestJet mock Christmas videoWestJet mock Christmas video .December 14, 2021 — Free to Fly member and an ex-employee with WestJet created and launched a WestJet Christmas video showing employees fired over the vaccine mandates gathered outside the company’s Calgary headquarters dropping off their uniforms and other WestJet-related items..Set to the Christmas carol Silent Night, the viral video mockingly resembled feel-good WestJet Christmas promotional videos from the past..READ MORE: WATCH: Fired WestJet staff make Christmas video of their own. Matt SattlerMatt Sattler, age 4 .March 10, 2022 — Free to Fly cofounder Sattler posted an emotional plea after his air carrier served him and several other unvaccinated union members notice their employment would be terminated May 2..READ MORE: WATCH: Pilot posts emotional plea after Air Canada confirms termination of unvaxxed employees May 2.May 27, 2022 — More than 100 plaintiffs launched a lawsuit against two US-based federal agencies and 18 major US airlines over the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies..Free to Fly cofounder Sattler said the group he represents hopes to see success with the lawsuits in the US and a shift in Canada’s “court of public opinion.”.READ MORE: 18 major US airlines, FAA, DOT being sued over COVID vaccine mandates.May 18, 2022 — The Global Aviation Advocacy Coalition released an open statement calling on airline regulators to publicly address the growing number of commercial pilots who are vaccine injured..The statement included a list of 20 airlines with pilots who suffered vaccine injuries, including those with Air Canada, Air Transat and WestJet who are also members of Free to Fly..READ MORE: Aviation coalition release open letter on growing concerns around pilot vaccine injury. Matt Sattler and Greg HillInterview with Canadian pilots Matt Sattler and Greg Hill .June 16, 2022 — Free to Fly said the lifting of travel restrictions by the federal government for unvaccinated Canadians is a step in the right direction, but the fight is not over yet..Co-founders Sattler and Hill spoke with the Western Standard about the group’s plans moving forward in light of the suspension of the proof of vaccination requirements for travel, including possible legal action to ensure the restrictions will never be brought back..READ MORE: WATCH: Free to Fly says 'battle is long from over' with suspension of travel restrictions.Free to Fly launched its legal campaign, retaining lawyer Umar Sheikh, to ensure the vaccine mandates never return to Canadian aviation..“The aviation sector was thrust to the pointy end of coercive, destructive vaccine mandates imposed by employers and government,” said a statement on the Free to Fly website..“Most unions have not only failed to represent members seeking health freedoms and bodily autonomy, but have been complicit in the imposition of mandates.”.The legal campaign in support of terminated airline employees and those coerced into vaccines against their will, will seek these restitutions:.reinstatement, back-pay and damages for employees placed on leave without pay;severance, back-pay and damages for employees placed on leave without pay who cannot or do not want to return to work;a remedy for employees who have felt compelled to retire early because of the proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate and have had their pensions reduced; anda remedy for employees who were coerced to comply with the proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate.The group is encouraging Canadians from the aviation sector affected by the mandates to join the legal action..Tune in Tuesday, August 2 @ 7 p.m. for part three of the Western Standard's COVID FREEDOM HEROES series. The series shines a light on the faith community, featuring Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church, and the fight in Alberta for the right to gather and worship.
