Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Airport Operations Manual

• 302.08 (1) The operator of an airport shall

  • (a) on the issuance of an airport certificate, provide the Minister with a copy of the airport operations manual, as approved by the Minister pursuant to subsection 302.03(2), and distribute copies of the applicable portions to the persons and institutions referred to in the airport operations manual;

  • (b) maintain the airport operations manual; and

  • (c) submit to the Minister for approval any proposed amendment to the airport operations manual.

• (2) The provisions of this Subpart that apply in respect of the making of an airport operations manual also apply in respect of any amendment to an airport operations manual.

• (3) An airport operations manual shall set out the standards to be met and the services to be provided by an airport operator.

• (4) An airport operations manual shall contain

  • (a) a table of contents;

  • (b) any information relating to the administration of the airport, including

    • (i) a record of any amendments to the airport operations manual,

    • (ii) a list of holders of copies of the airport operations manual or of portions thereof,

    • (iii) a description of the procedure for amendment of the airport operations manual,

    • (iv) a description of the organizational structure and operational procedures of the airport management,

    • (v) an enumeration of the obligations of the operator referred to in section 302.07,

    • (vi) an undertaking, signed by the operator, in respect of the operator’s obligations under paragraphs 302.07(1)(c) and (d),

    • (vii) a statement, signed by the operator, certifying that the airport operations manual is complete and accurate, and that the operator agrees to comply with all of the conditions and specifications referred to therein,

    • (viii) a statement, signed by the Minister, that the Minister has approved the airport operations manual and any amendments thereto, and

    • (ix) a copy of any agreement or memorandum of understanding that affects the operation of the airport;

  • (c) all of the information necessary to verify that the airport meets the applicable standards set out in the aerodrome standards and recommended practices publications, as they read on the date on which the airport certificate was issued, and satisfies any conditions specified by the Minister pursuant to subsection 302.03(3) in respect of

    • (i) physical characteristics,

    • (ii) obstacle limitation surfaces,

    • (iii) declared distances,

    • (iv) lighting,

    • (v) markers,

    • (vi) markings,

    • (vii) signs,

    • (viii) emergency response measures,

    • (ix) airport safety measures,

    • (x) access to the movement area and control procedures, and

    • (xi) apron management plans and apron safety plans;

  • (d) an enumeration of the facilities and services provided and the measures in effect at the airport, including

    • (i) movement area maintenance services,

    • (ii) measures for the removal of disabled aircraft,

    • (iii) air traffic services and aeronautical information and communication services,

    • (iv) navigation aids, and

    • (v) aviation weather services;

  • (e) a description of movement area services and facilities provided at the discretion of the operator; and

  • (f) with respect to the safety management system required under section 107.02,

    • (i) a description of the system’s components specified in section 302.502, and

    • (ii) a list of the titles, dates and locations of any documents that are not in the airport operations manual and that describe how the operator is meeting its obligations with respect to the safety management system.

• (5) The operator of an airport shall operate the airport in accordance with the airport operations manual.

Warning Notices

302.09 Where low-flying or taxiing aircraft at or in the vicinity of an airport are likely to be hazardous to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, the operator of the airport shall immediately

• (a) post notices warning of the hazard on any public way that is adjacent to the manoeuvring area; or

• (b) where such a public way is not owned or controlled by the operator, inform the authorities responsible for posting notices on the public way that there is a hazard.

Prohibitions

302.10 No person shall

• (a) operate an aerodrome referred to in subsection 302.01(1) unless an airport certificate is issued in respect of that aerodrome;

• (b) knowingly use an airport in a manner contrary to a condition set out in the airport certificate;

• (c) walk, stand, drive a vehicle, park a vehicle or aircraft or cause an obstruction on the movement area of an airport, except in accordance with permission given

  • (i) by the operator of the airport, and

  • (ii) where applicable, by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station;

• (d) operate any vessel, or cause any obstruction, on the surface of any part of a water area of an airport that is to be kept clear of obstructions in the interest of aviation safety, when ordered, by signal or otherwise, to leave or not to approach that area by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station or by the operator of the airport;

• (e) tow an aircraft on an active movement area at night unless the aircraft displays operating wingtip, tail and anti-collision lights or is illuminated by lights mounted on the towing vehicle and directed at the aircraft being towed;

• (f) park or otherwise leave an aircraft on an active manoeuvring area at night unless the aircraft displays operating wingtip, tail and anti-collision lights or is illuminated by lanterns suspended from the wingtips, tail and nose of the aircraft;

• (g) at an airport, knowingly remove, deface, extinguish or interfere with a marker, marking, light or signal that is used for the purpose of air navigation, except in accordance with permission given

  • (i) by the operator of the airport, and

  • (ii) where applicable, by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station;

• (h) at or in the vicinity of an airport, knowingly display a marker, marking, sign, light or signal that is likely to be hazardous to aviation safety by causing glare or by causing confusion with or preventing clear visual perception of a marker, marking, sign, light or signal that is required under this Subpart;

• (i) allow a bird or other animal that is owned by the person or that is in the person’s custody or control to be unrestrained within the boundaries of an airport, except for the purpose of controlling other birds or animals at the airport as permitted by the operator; or

• (j) discharge a firearm within or into an airport without the permission of the operator of the airport.

Fire Prevention

• 302.11 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), no person shall, at an airport, smoke or display an open flame

  • (a) on an apron;

  • (b) on an aircraft loading bridge or on a gallery or balcony that is contiguous to or that overhangs an apron; or

  • (c) in an area where smoking or an open flame is likely to create a fire hazard that could endanger persons or property.

• (2) The operator of an airport may display flare pots to provide temporary lighting for the take-off or landing of aircraft.

• (3) The operator of an airport may, in writing, authorize maintenance or servicing operations on an apron that involve the use, production or potential development of an open flame or that involve the production or potential development of a spark where the operations are conducted in a manner that is not likely to create a fire hazard that could endanger persons or property.

• (4) The operator of an airport may permit smoking in an enclosed building or shelter located on an apron where such smoking is not likely to create a fire hazard that could endanger persons or property.

[302.12 to 302.200 reserved]

Division II — Airport Emergency Planning

Interpretation

302.201 The following definitions apply in this Division.

community organization

community organization[Repealed, SOR/2022-267, s. 4]

emergency coordination centre

emergency coordination centre means a designated area to be used in supporting and coordinating emergency operations and whose location is specified under paragraph 302.203(1)(r). (centre de coordination des urgences)

full emergency standby

full emergency standby means attendance at an emergency scene and preparedness to respond at the necessary level when an aircraft has, or may have, an operational problem that affects flight operations to the extent that there is a possibility of an accident. (état d’alerte complet)

on-scene controller

on-scene controller means the person identified in an airport emergency plan as being responsible for the overall coordination of the response at an emergency scene. (coordonnateur sur place)

table top exercise

table top exercise means an exercise requiring the participation of the organizations and other resources identified in an airport emergency plan to review and coordinate their respective roles, responsibilities and response actions without actually activating the plan. (exercice en salle)

Airport Emergency Plan

General

• 302.202 (1) After consultation with a representative sample of the air operators that use the airport and with organizations that may be of assistance during emergency operations at the airport or in its vicinity, the operator of an airport shall have and maintain an emergency plan for the purpose of identifying

  • (a) the emergencies that are likely to occur at the airport or in its vicinity and that could be a threat to the safety of persons or the operation of the airport;

  • (b) the measures to activate the emergency plan for each type of emergency;

  • (c) the organizations capable of providing assistance in an emergency; and

  • (d) any additional resources available at the airport and in the surrounding area.

• (2) The operator of an airport shall have and maintain a system of supervision and control that allows the operator to be able to manage the size and complexity of the emergencies referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

• (3) The operator of an airport shall

  • (a) keep at the airport, in the format of a manual, a copy of an updated version of the emergency plan; and

  • (b) provide a copy to the Minister on request.

• (4) The operator of an airport shall

  • (a) review the emergency plan at least once a year after consultation with a representative sample of the air operators that use the airport and the organizations identified in the emergency plan; and

  • (b) update the emergency plan as necessary to ensure its effectiveness in emergency operations.

Content

• 302.203 (1) In an emergency plan, the operator of an airport shall, at a minimum,

  • (a) identify the potential emergencies, including

    • (i) an aircraft accident or incident

      • (A) within the airport boundaries, and

      • (B) within a critical rescue and fire-fighting access area that extends 1000 m beyond the ends of a runway and 150 m at 90° outwards from the centreline of the runway, including any part of that area outside the airport boundaries,

    • (ii) an aircraft emergency declared by either air traffic services or a pilot,

    • (iii) a fuel spill that spreads at least 1.5 m in any direction or exceeds 12 mm in depth,

    • (iv) a medical emergency,

    • (v) a fire in which airport operations or passenger safety is threatened,

    • (vi) an emergency that is related to a special aviation event and that might have an impact on airport operations,

    • (vii) a natural disaster, and

    • (viii) any other emergency that is a threat or is likely to be a threat to the safety of persons or to the operation of the airport;

  • (b) identify the organizations capable of providing assistance during an emergency at an airport or in its vicinity, provide the telephone numbers and other contact information for each organization and describe the type of assistance each can provide;

  • (c) identify the other resources available at the airport and in the surrounding communities for use during emergency response or recovery operations and provide their telephone numbers and other contact information;

  • (d) describe for emergency situations the lines of authority and the relationships between the organizations identified in the emergency plan and describe how actions will be coordinated among all and within each of the organizations;

  • (e) identify for emergency situations the supervisors and describe the responsibilities of each;

  • (f) specify the positions occupied by the airport personnel who will respond to an emergency and describe the specific emergency response duties of each;

  • (g) identify the on-scene controller and describe the controller’s emergency response duties;

  • (h) provide authorization for a person to act as an on-scene controller or a supervisor if they are not airport personnel;

  • (i) set out the criteria to be used for positioning the on-scene controller within visual range of an emergency scene;

  • (j) set out the measures to be taken to make the on-scene controller easily identifiable and reachable at all times by all persons responding to an emergency;

  • (k) if initial on-scene control has been assumed by a person from a responding organization, describe the procedure for transferring control to the on-scene controller;

  • (l) describe any training and qualifications required for the on-scene controller and the airport personnel identified in the emergency plan;

  • (m) describe the method for recording any training provided to the on-scene controller and airport personnel;

  • (n) describe the communication procedures and specify the radio frequencies to be used to link the operator of the airport with

    • (i) the on-scene controller, and

    • (ii) the providers of ground traffic control services and air traffic control services at the airport;

  • (o) describe the communication procedures allowing the on-scene controller to communicate with the organizations identified in the emergency plan;

  • (p) identify the alerting procedures that

    • (i) activate the emergency plan,

    • (ii) establish the necessary level of response,

    • (iii) allow immediate communication with the organizations identified in the emergency plan in accordance with the required level of response,

    • (iv) if applicable, confirm the dispatch of each responding organization,

    • (v) establish the use of standard terminology in communications, and

    • (vi) establish the use of the appropriate radio frequencies as set out in the emergency plan;

  • (q) specify

    • (i) the airport communication equipment testing procedures,

    • (ii) a schedule for the testing, and

    • (iii) the method of keeping records of the tests;

  • (r) for airports designated under Subpart 3, specify the location of the emergency coordination centre used to provide support to the on-scene controller;

  • (s) describe the measures for dealing with adverse climatic conditions and darkness for each potential emergency set out in paragraph (a);

  • (t) describe the procedures to assist persons who have been evacuated if their safety is threatened or airside operations are affected;

  • (u) describe the procedures respecting the review and confirmation of the following to permit the return of the airport to operational status after an emergency situation:

    • (i) emergency status reports,

    • (ii) coordination with the coroner and the investigator designated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada regarding the accident site conditions,

    • (iii) disabled aircraft removal,

    • (iv) airside inspection results,

    • (v) accident or incident site conditions, and

    • (vi) air traffic services and NOTAM coordination;

  • (v) describe the procedures for controlling vehicular flow during an emergency to ensure the safety of vehicles, aircraft and persons;

  • (w) specify the procedures for issuing a NOTAM in the event of

    • (i) an emergency affecting the critical category for fire fighting required under section 303.07, or

    • (ii) changes or restrictions in facilities or services at the airport during and after an emergency;

  • (x) describe the procedures for preserving evidence as it relates to the removal of an aircraft or part of an aircraft;

  • (y) describe the procedures to be followed, after any exercise set out in section 302.208 or the activation of the plan for an emergency that requires a full emergency standby, in the following cases:

    • (i) a post-emergency debriefing session with all participating organizations,

    • (ii) the recording of the minutes of the debriefing session,

    • (iii) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the emergency plan to identify deficiencies,

    • (iv) changes, if any, to be made in the emergency plan, and

    • (v) partial testing subsequent to the modification of an emergency plan;

  • (z) describe

    • (i) the process for an annual review and update of the emergency plan, and

    • (ii) the administrative procedure for the distribution of copies of an updated version of the emergency plan to the airport personnel who require them and to the organizations identified in the plan; and

  • (z.1) describe the procedures to assist in locating an aircraft when the airport receives notification that an ELT has been activated.

• (2) The operator of an airport shall include a copy of the following documents in the emergency plan:

  • (a) the signed agreements, if any, between the airport operator and the resources referred to in paragraph (1)(c); and

  • (b) an airport grid map.