The Canadian federal police are investigating reports that former pilots in the Royal Canadian Air Force are training military personnel in China.

A spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement to CTVNews.ca: "The police are aware of the report of former RCAF pilots involved in training pilots of the People's Liberation Army Air Force." They added: "As the RCMP investigates these incidents, there will be no further comment on this matter at this time."

The Globe and Mail previously reported that three former fighter pilots from the RCAF trained Chinese military pilots through the Test Flying Academy in South Africa (TFASA). By offering lucrative six-figure salaries, it is alleged that the flight school in Western Cape, South Africa, has attracted former military pilots from the UK, Canada, and other NATO countries. TFASA reportedly signed contracts to train both military and civilian pilots in China and South Africa.

In a statement to CTVNews.ca, the flight school in South Africa confirmed that Canadian authorities have reached out to its staff. The school stated that its training does not cover sensitive or classified information such as NATO tactics and frontline equipment.

A spokesperson for the flight school said in an email to CTVNews.ca: "The Canadian Public Safety Agency made contact with several TFASA staff on Thursday, August 24, and these discussions are ongoing." "TFASA confirms that any suggestion that the company or its staff provide assistance in supplying foreign powers with advanced tactics, techniques, procedures, or advanced technology is simply untrue."

In June, the TFASA Academy and other foreign flight schools were targeted by U.S. export sanctions due to "providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO-affiliated resources."

The U.S. Department of Commerce stated in its decision issued on June 12 that "this activity is contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests."

Despite the sanctions, the flight school insists that it has not done anything illegal.

The spokesperson also told CTVNews.ca: "TFASA has strict protocols and a code of conduct in place designed to prevent any TFASA staff from sharing any information or training that is, or may be considered, sensitive from a legal or operational standpoint, or classified." "Recent communications between the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (USAF) and the Experimental Test Pilots Association indicate that TFASA has not violated any laws, as did communications from the UK Ministry of Defence." It is unclear whether the Canadian pilots have violated laws such as the Security of Information Act, which includes penalties of up to 14 years in prison for "unauthorized communication of special operational information."

The Canadian Department of National Defence stated it has referred the matter to the RCMP, with a spokesperson telling CTVNews.ca: "The Security of Information Act applies to current and former members, and non-compliance with the law can have serious consequences." "Any behavior that could harm Canadian national interests constitutes a breach of this trust and will be dealt with accordingly."