Transport Canada is developing proposed rules to require lightweight, lower-cost flight data recorders (FDRs) on all commercial and private business aircraft not currently required to carry them. The agency’s promise came in response to the country’s latest Transportation Safety Board (TSB) recommendation issued earlier this year. This is the latest of similar recommendations by the TSB going back nearly 30 years
According to the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA), three categories of regulations are under consideration: retrofit of the current fleet to record to devices such as cellphones; require all newly built aircraft to have lightweight FDRs; or require all newly certified aircraft to have lightweight FDRs. The CBAA says a focus group meeting with TC on the retrofit proposal is scheduled for early next year.
Despite this promise from TC, the TSB said, “Because of the constant delays in addressing the original recommendation, the Board believes that, after 27 years, TC is no longer in a position to either address or fulfill the intent of [that] recommendation, which was to expedite legislation with regards to the flight recorder requirements.”
The Board further said, “Since the safety deficiency is also documented in more recent recommendations, the TSB will continue to monitor the progress of TC’s proposed regulatory amendments…and will reassess the deficiency on an annual basis or when otherwise warranted through those same recommendations.” In the meantime, “This deficiency file is closed.”
In Canada, FDRs and CVRs are currently required on business, commercial, and private operations involving multi-engine turbine-powered aircraft configured with 10 or more passenger seats, as well as multi-engine turbine-powered aircraft with six or more passenger seats and for which two pilots are required. This is basically the same requirement as the FAA. Under both TC and FAA rules, single-pilot turbine- and piston-powered aircraft are exempt.