Uniformed Air Canada Pilot Sets Calgary Half Marathon Record

Capt. John Bird (Air Canada) competed in this year’s Servus Calgary Half Marathon in a truly unconventional “fashion.” Among the more than 4,000 participants who ran in this year’s race, he covered the course’s 21.1 kilometers while wearing his airline pilot uniform and toting a rolling flight bag. With a completion time of one hour, 43 minutes, and 42 seconds, the B-787 pilot set a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon dressed as a pilot (male).

“I’m just a touch sweaty,” said Bird shortly after achieving this amazing feat. Amid the cheers he received during the marathon, the Air Canada pilot did something more. He raised $15,000 for Dreams Take Flight Canada, a charity that flies children with medical, physical, and emotional challenges on what it describes as a “single-day trip of a lifetime.” Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., is among the organization’s previous destinations, and all expenses for these trips are covered.

Although there was no prior record for the Calgary, Alb., event in this special category, to make it a challenge, Guinness required that Bird complete the race in faster than two hours and that his finish time be validated.

Bird and his wife have been long-distance runners for the last 15 years, and he’s participated in 24 marathons, including four Boston Marathons. Along the way, Bird earned the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal for his efforts. In addition to running, he’s a trainer for We Run the World Coaching, a Calgary running club, and he mentors pilots and other employees of Air Canada UBY (Unlock the Best in You) Run Club.

The Calgary native grew up on a farm just north of the city. His father owned a Stinson aircraft, which sparked Bird’s early interest in flying. He soon joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, a national program designed to expose flying to individuals between the ages of 12 and 18. Bird learned to fly as a cadet, thanks to a scholarship from the organization, and later attended Mount Royal University, where he earned his commercial ratings.

A pilot for Central Mountain Air beginning in 2000, Bird left in 2006 to fly for Air Canada, where he’s been for the last 19 years. He currently serves as an ALPA airport safety liaison for Calgary International Airport and is a member of his Master Executive Council’s Expense Committee.

The Calgary Half Marathon, which took place on May 25, ran participants through the city’s eclectic neighborhoods and featured musical and visual entertainment at different points in the race. Bird described the morning as “clear skies with light winds” but noted it became noticeably warmer as the day progressed. While he wore running shoes, Bird donned the Air Canada black trousers and blazer along with a shirt, tie, and hat. “These uniforms aren’t exactly known for their sports tech wear,” he quipped.

The flight bag Bird pulled was empty and included wheels with steel bearings. “I was able to run with it almost at my side,” he remarked.

Bird noted that Dream Takes Flight volunteers attended the event, positioning themselves at high-profile spots throughout the course. They wore the charity’s distinctive t-shirts to make themselves more easily recognizable and to promote the organization. These volunteers cheered Bird on and rang cowbells as he passed.

While his decision to participate in his pilot uniform was a first for the Calgary Half Marathon, Bird wasn’t the first aviator to come up with the idea. He cited James Applegarth, an airline pilot from the UK, as his initial inspiration. On April 21, 2024, Applegarth completed the TCS London Marathon in a pilot uniform as a novel way to raise funds for a UK charity.

Of the Calgary race, Bird commented, “We set out to break a record and lift some spirits, and we did both. I’m beyond grateful for the incredible support—friends, family, colleagues, teammates, and strangers who believed in this wild idea and donated so generously.”

This article was originally published in the June 2025 issue of Air Line Pilot.