Canada Expected To Extend Rules Exemption

The current June 1, 2016 exemption for Canadian-registered turbine private airplane operators to comply with the most onerous parts of new Section 604 Transport Canada aviation regulations is expected to be extended. As the result of a February 17 meeting between the Canadian Business Aviation Association and Transport Canada, an association official told AIN, "We received a reaffirmation that the current [two-year] exemption will be extended, and that there will be an exemption to permit a form of training to proficiency to continue.”

 

Under the new rules, applicable to most corporate flight departments, but which also capture private individuals who own a small turbine airplane, operators would need to meet enhanced training, qualification and maintenance requirements. These mandates include having a safety management system, operations and maintenance managers, dispatcher and flight follower, as well as operations and maintenance manuals.

 

According to Section 604.03, the new rules cover all “large airplanes; jet-powered airplanes; or turbine-powered pressurized airplanes certified for more than six passenger seats.” Additional requirements apply to airplanes of 19 or more passenger seats. Transport Canada has a question and answer page about the new regulations.