Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Emergency Features

705.203 If an air operator has selected, in respect of a model of aeroplane, the ratio set out in paragraph 705.201(2)(b), the air operator shall not operate an aeroplane of that model unless

• (a) the features that facilitate emergency evacuations meet the requirements set out in paragraphs 725.203(a) to (n) of Standard 725 — Airline Operations — Aeroplanes of the Commercial Air Service Standards;

• (b) the passenger seats and flight attendant seats meet the requirements set out in paragraph 725.203(o) of Standard 725 — Airline Operations — Aeroplanes of the Commercial Air Service Standards;

• (c) compartments occupied by passengers and crew members meet the requirements respecting flammability set out in paragraph 725.203(p), (q) or (r) of Standard 725 — Airline Operations — Aeroplanes of the Commercial Air Service Standards; and

• (d) the thermal insulation and acoustic insulation meet the requirements respecting flammability set out in paragraph 725.203(s) of Standard 725 — Airline Operations — Aeroplanes of the Commercial Air Service Standards.

Demonstration of Emergency Evacuation Procedures

• 705.204 (1) An air operator who decides to introduce a model of aeroplane into its fleet for the purpose of carrying passengers shall carry out a successful demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for that model of aeroplane before operating an aeroplane of that model to carry passengers.

• (1.1) Despite subsection (1), the demonstration of emergency evacuation procedures is not required if the air operator has

  • (a) carried out a successful demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for another model of aeroplane in its fleet;

  • (b) conducted a comparative analysis to ensure that there is no difference in any of the following items between the model of aeroplane for which a successful demonstration has been carried out and the model of aeroplane being introduced:

    • (i) the location of the flight attendants and their emergency evacuation duties and procedures,

    • (ii) the number, location and type of emergency exits, and

    • (iii) the number, location and type of opening mechanisms for the emergency exits;

  • (c) verified that no changes have been made to any of the items listed in subparagraphs (b)(i) to (iii), in respect of the model of aeroplane for which a successful demonstration has been carried out, between the time of the successful demonstration and the time the comparative analysis is conducted; and

  • (d) before operating an aeroplane of the model being introduced to carry passengers, informed the Minister of

    • (i) its decision to use the results of a successful demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for another model of aeroplane instead of carrying out a demonstration for the model of aeroplane it has decided to introduce, and

    • (ii) the model of aeroplane for which a successful demonstration has been carried out and the model of aeroplane it has decided to introduce.

• (2) If an air operator decides to introduce an aeroplane into its fleet and there is a difference in any of the following items between that aeroplane and other aeroplanes of the same model that are already in the fleet, the air operator shall treat the aeroplane as if it were a different model of aeroplane and carry out a successful demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for that model before operating the aeroplane to carry passengers:

  • (a) the location of the flight attendants or their emergency evacuation duties or procedures;

  • (b) the number, location or type of emergency exits; or

  • (c) the number, location or type of opening mechanisms for the emergency exits.

• (3) An air operator who decides to change any of the following items in respect of an aeroplane shall carry out a successful demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for the model of that aeroplane, as changed, before operating the aeroplane to carry passengers:

  • (a) the location of the flight attendants or their emergency evacuation duties or procedures;

  • (b) the number, location or type of emergency exits; or

  • (c) the number, location or type of opening mechanisms for the emergency exits.

• (4) If an air operator who has selected the ratio set out in paragraph 705.201(2)(b) in respect of a model of aeroplane decides to reconfigure an aeroplane of that model by adding or removing passenger seats, and if the reconfiguration will result in a change in the minimum number of flight attendants required on each deck, the air operator shall carry out a successful demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for the reconfigured model of that aeroplane before operating the reconfigured aeroplane to carry passengers.

• (5) Subsections (1) to (4) do not apply in respect of a model of aeroplane that is configured to carry fewer than 44 passengers.

Carrying Out a Demonstration of Emergency Evacuation Procedures

• 705.205 (1) An air operator who carries out a demonstration of its emergency evacuation procedures for a model of aeroplane shall

  • (a) do so in the presence of the Minister;

  • (b) do so without passengers;

  • (c) do so with flight attendants who have completed the air operator’s training program for that model of aeroplane; and

  • (d) begin the demonstration using the air operator’s normal procedures, then transition to its emergency procedures.

• (2) The demonstration is successful if the flight attendants can, within 15 seconds after the transition from the air operator’s normal procedures to its emergency procedures,

  • (a) open 50% of the floor-level emergency exits that are required by the certification basis established in respect of the model of aeroplane;

  • (b) open 50% of the non-floor-level emergency exits the opening of which is set out as an emergency evacuation duty in the air operator’s operations manual; and

  • (c) deploy 50% of the escape slides.

Extended Over-water Operations

705.206 If an air operator decides to operate an aeroplane to carry passengers in extended over-water operations and the aeroplane is required to have survival equipment under section 602.63, the air operator shall carry out a demonstration of its ditching emergency evacuation procedures for the model of that aeroplane before starting the extended over-water operations.

Carrying Out a Demonstration of Emergency Evacuation Procedures — Ditching

• 705.207 (1) An air operator who carries out a demonstration of its ditching emergency evacuation procedures for a model of aeroplane shall

  • (a) do so in the presence of the Minister;

  • (b) use an aeroplane of that model, a life-sized mock-up of that model of aeroplane or a floating device;

  • (c) assume that the ditching occurs during daylight hours and that all required crew members are available;

  • (d) ensure that passengers are on board and participate in the demonstration if the air operator’s operations manual requires passengers to assist in the launching of life rafts;

  • (e) ensure that, after the ditching signal has been received, each evacuee dons a life preserver;

  • (f) ensure that each life raft is removed from its stowage compartment;

  • (g) ensure that, as applicable, one life raft or one slide raft is inflated; and

  • (h) ensure that each evacuee boards the life raft or slide raft and that a crew member assigned to the life raft or slide raft indicates the location of the required survival equipment and describes the use of that equipment.

• (2) A life-sized mock-up of a model of aeroplane or floating device must

  • (a) be representative of the passenger cabin of the model of aeroplane;

  • (b) contain seats for all of the evacuees participating in the demonstration;

  • (c) be equipped with the same survival equipment that is installed on the model of aeroplane, including a life preserver for each evacuee participating in the demonstration;

  • (d) have emergency exits and doors that simulate those on the model of aeroplane; and

  • (e) have enough wing area installed outside the window emergency exits to simulate the portions of the wings of the model of aeroplane that would be used in a ditching situation.

[705.208 to 705.219 reserved]

In-charge Flight Attendant

• 705.220 (1) An air operator who operates an aeroplane with more than one flight attendant shall designate an in-charge flight attendant for each flight and keep a record of that designation for at least 90 days after the day on which the flight is completed.

• (2) Subject to subsection (3), an air operator shall not allow an individual to act as an in-charge flight attendant and no individual shall act as an in-charge flight attendant unless the individual has successfully completed in-charge training as part of the air operator’s training program.

• (3) An air operator shall set out procedures in its company operations manual for the selection of an acting in-charge flight attendant if the designated in-charge flight attendant becomes incapacitated after take-off.

• (4) In the case of a flight with scheduled stops, an air operator shall replace an acting in-charge flight attendant with a new designated in-charge flight attendant at the first scheduled stop where the replacement can be made.

Incapacitated Flight Attendant

• 705.221 (1) An air operator who has selected, in respect of a model of aeroplane, the ratio set out in paragraph 705.201(2)(a) and who has assigned two or more flight attendants to a flight using an aeroplane of that model may operate the aeroplane for that flight without one of the flight attendants if

  • (a) one of the flight attendants is incapacitated;

  • (b) no other flight attendant who is qualified for the model of aeroplane is available at the point of departure;

  • (c) the pilot-in-command authorizes an employee of the air operator to occupy a flight attendant station until the aeroplane reaches the nearest airport at which the employee can be replaced by a flight attendant who is qualified for the model of aeroplane;

  • (d) before the movement of the aeroplane on the surface, the employee is briefed under the supervision of the pilot-in-command on the operation of the emergency exits and on emergency procedures, including those related to the flight attendant station to be occupied by the employee; and

  • (e) the pilot-in-command is of the opinion that the employee understood the briefing.

• (2) The air operator shall keep a record of the replacement for at least two years after the day on which the flight is completed.

Embarking and Disembarking of Passengers

• 705.222 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an air operator who operates an aeroplane to carry passengers shall ensure that all flight attendants assigned to a flight using that aeroplane are on board during passenger embarkation and disembarkation.

• (2) In the case of a flight to which more than one flight attendant is assigned, the air operator may reduce the number of flight attendants by one during passenger embarkation if

  • (a) the flight attendant who leaves the aeroplane remains within the immediate vicinity of the door through which passengers are embarking and carries out safety-related duties for the flight;

  • (b) the engines used for the propulsion of the aeroplane are not running; and

  • (c) at least one floor-level exit remains open to provide for passenger egress.

• (3) In the case of a flight to which more than one flight attendant is assigned, the air operator may reduce the number of flight attendants during passenger disembarkation if

  • (a) the engines used for the propulsion of the aeroplane are not running;

  • (b) at least one floor-level exit remains open to provide for passenger egress; and

  • (c) half of the required number of flight attendants — rounded down to the next lower number in the case of fractions, but never less than one — remain on board.

• (4) Paragraphs (2)(b) and (3)(a) do not apply in respect of an engine on a propeller-driven aeroplane if

  • (a) the engine has a propeller brake;

  • (b) the propeller brake is set; and

  • (c) the aeroplane flight manual indicates that the engine may be used as an auxiliary power unit.

• (5) The air operator shall ensure that, during passenger embarkation and disembarkation,

  • (a) if only one flight attendant is on board, he or she remains in the vicinity of the door through which passengers are embarking or disembarking; and

  • (b) if more than one flight attendant is on board, they are evenly distributed in the passenger cabin and are in the vicinity of the floor-level exits.