TORONTO — Air Canada's pilots has accused the airline of abandoning efforts to negotiate a new contract with the help of a federal conciliator in a move to foster a "fake crisis."

The Air Canada Pilot's Association, which represents about 3,000 pilots at Air Canada (TSX:AC.B), said Tuesday that the carrier is trying to engineer a conflict without a serious effort to negotiate a deal.

Association president Paul Strachan said the airline did not table a proposal within the 60-day deadline as called for in the conciliation process, then put down a last minute offer after the union agreed to extend the process.

Now, however, that Air Canada is refusing to continue the talks, Strachan said.

"It's obvious that the airline's executives want to run out the legislated time clock so they can foist a fake crisis on the federal government in the hope that Ottawa will impose arbitration," Strachan said.

"The federal government should be as angry as our pilots that Air Canada executives are playing these games. The Minister of Labour should tell Air Canada to get back to the bargaining table with a genuine proposal aimed at a fair settlement."

The airline could not be immediately reached for comment.

It has been a tense six months for Air Canada and its employees.

The pilots rejected an earlier tentative agreement last May and have continued to work under terms of the existing agreement, which expired in March.

Air Canada reached a tentative collective agreement with the union that represents its flight dispatchers and a tentative contract with 6,800 flight attendants in June.

The agreements followed a three-day strike by Air Canada's customer service workers in June, represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union, over key issues such as pensions and wages.

The two sides came to an agreement shortly after federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt prepared back to work legislation.

Under the Canada Labour Code, federal conciliation expires after 60 days unless both parties agree to its extension.

The two sides will now enter a 21-day "cooling off" period before either party can take action.

Strachan said the pilots will continue to be open to bargaining during the period.

"Air Canada pilots remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement. We are willing to meet with the company, with or without the assistance of the federal government, to continue working towards a new agreement," he said.

"We have been waiting more than a decade for this opportunity and have no intention of walking away from the bargaining table."

The union says the pilots have not been able to negotiate a contract since Air Canada underwent restructuring in 2003 and says they now earn less than they did 10 years ago.