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Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Regulations are current to 2024-02-20 and last amended on 2023-06-21. Previous Versions

Part VI — General Operating and Flight Rules (continued)

Subpart 5 — Aircraft Requirements (continued)

Division II — Aircraft Equipment Requirements (continued)

Use of Oxygen
  •  (1) Where an aircraft is operated at cabin-pressure-altitudes above 10,000 feet ASL but not exceeding 13,000 feet ASL, each crew member shall wear an oxygen mask and use supplemental oxygen for any part of the flight at those altitudes that is more than 30 minutes in duration.

  • (2) Where an aircraft is operated at cabin-pressure-altitudes above 13,000 feet ASL, each person on board the aircraft shall wear an oxygen mask and use supplemental oxygen for the duration of the flight at those altitudes.

  • (3) The pilot at the flight controls of an aircraft shall use an oxygen mask if

    • (a) the aircraft is not equipped with quick-donning oxygen masks and is operated at or above flight level 250; or

    • (b) the aircraft is equipped with quick-donning oxygen masks and is operated above flight level 410.

Flight Data Recorder
  •  (1) This section applies in respect of the following multi-engined turbine-powered aircraft:

    • (a) an aircraft in respect of which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of 30 or fewer passengers, configured for 10 or more passenger seats and manufactured after October 11, 1991;

    • (b) an aeroplane in respect of which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of 30 or fewer passengers and configured for 20 to 30 passenger seats;

    • (c) an aircraft in respect of which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of more than 30 passengers; and

    • (d) an aircraft in respect of which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of cargo only and operated under Subpart 5 of Part VII.

  • (2) Subject to subsection (4), no person shall dispatch or conduct a take-off in an aircraft unless it is equipped with a flight data recorder that conforms to section 551.100 of Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual and section 625.33 of Standard 625 — Aircraft Equipment and Maintenance of the General Operating and Flight Rules Standards.

  • (3) Subject to subsection (4), no person shall operate an aircraft unless the flight data recorder is operated continuously from the start of the take-off until the completion of the landing.

  • (4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply in respect of an aircraft without a serviceable flight data recorder if

    • (a) a minimum equipment list has been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aircraft under subsection 605.07(3) and the aircraft is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list; or

    • (b) a minimum equipment list has not been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aircraft and the following conditions are met:

      • (i) the period during which the aircraft is operated without a serviceable flight data recorder does not exceed 90 days from the day on which the flight data recorder ceased to be serviceable,

      • (ii) aircraft technical records that indicate the date on which the flight data recorder ceased to be serviceable are carried on board the aircraft,

      • (iii) the aircraft is required to be equipped with a cockpit voice recorder under section 605.34, and

      • (iv) the cockpit voice recorder is serviceable.

Underwater Locating Device for Flight Data Recorder

 No person shall operate an aircraft that is required to be equipped with a flight data recorder under section 605.33 unless the aircraft is equipped with a serviceable underwater locating device for its flight data recorder that conforms to section 551.100 of Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual.

Cockpit Voice Recorder
  •  (1) This section applies in respect of the following aircraft:

    • (a) a multi-engined turbine-powered aircraft that is configured for six or more passenger seats and is operated by two flight crew members, regardless of the minimum crew requirements set out in the aircraft type certificate or the subpart under which the aircraft is operated;

    • (b) a turbine-powered aeroplane that was type-certificated on or after January 1, 2016 and for which more than one flight crew member is required by the aircraft type certificate or by the subpart under which the aeroplane is operated;

    • (c) a turbine-powered aeroplane with an MCTOW of more than 27 000 kg (59,525 pounds) that was type-certificated after September 30, 1969 and was manufactured before January 1, 1987;

    • (d) a large aeroplane that was manufactured on or after January 1, 1987; and

    • (e) a transport category helicopter with an MCTOW of more than 7 000 kg (15,400 pounds).

  • (2) Subject to subsection (4), no person shall dispatch or conduct a take-off in an aircraft unless the aircraft is equipped with a cockpit voice recorder that conforms to section 551.101 of Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual and section 625.34 of Standard 625 — Aircraft Equipment and Maintenance of the General Operating and Flight Rules Standards.

  • (3) Subject to subsection (4), no person shall operate an aircraft unless the cockpit voice recorder is operated continuously from the time at which electrical power is first provided to the recorder before the flight to the time at which electrical power is removed from the recorder after the flight.

  • (4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply in respect of an aircraft without a serviceable cockpit voice recorder if

    • (a) a minimum equipment list has been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aircraft under subsection 605.07(3) and the aircraft is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list;

    • (b) a minimum equipment list has not been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aircraft and the following conditions are met:

      • (i) the period during which the aircraft is operated without a serviceable cockpit voice recorder does not exceed 90 days from the day on which the cockpit voice recorder ceased to be serviceable,

      • (ii) aircraft technical records that indicate the date on which the cockpit voice recorder ceased to be serviceable are carried on board the aircraft,

      • (iii) the aircraft is required to be equipped with a flight data recorder under section 605.33, and

      • (iv) the flight data recorder is serviceable; or

    • (c) the aircraft is described in paragraph (1)(a), its operator is authorized to conduct single-pilot operations in an air operator certificate issued under Subpart 3 of Part VII and the following conditions are met:

      • (i) the period during which the aircraft is operated without a serviceable cockpit voice recorder does not exceed 45 days from the day on which the cockpit voice recorder ceased to be serviceable,

      • (ii) the requirements of paragraph 703.66(a) cannot be met because the auto-pilot is not serviceable,

      • (iii) the aircraft is operated by two pilots who meet the requirements of section 703.88, and

      • (iv) aircraft technical records that indicate the dates on which the cockpit voice recorder and the auto-pilot ceased to be serviceable are carried on board the aircraft.

  • (5) No person shall erase any communications that have been recorded by a cockpit voice recorder.

Underwater Locating Device for Cockpit Voice Recorder
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate an aircraft in respect of which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of more than 30 passengers unless the aircraft is equipped with a serviceable underwater locating device for its cockpit voice recorder that conforms to section 551.101 of Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual and subsection 625.34(5) of Standard 625 — Aircraft Equipment and Maintenance of the General Operating and Flight Rules Standards.

  • (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an aircraft that is equipped with a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder that are installed adjacent to each other and are not likely to be separated during a crash impact.

Use of Microphones

 If an aircraft is equipped to continuously record audio signals by means of a boom microphone or mask microphones, each flight crew member shall use the boom microphone or his or her mask microphone while the aircraft is operated below 10,000 feet ASL.

Data Link Communications

 If an aircraft is equipped with a cockpit voice recorder and data-link communications equipment, no person shall dispatch or conduct a take-off in the aircraft unless the aircraft is equipped with a data-link recorder that conforms to section 551.101 of Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual and section 625.34 of Standard 625 — Aircraft Equipment and Maintenance of the General Operating and Flight Rules Standards.

Transponder and Automatic Pressure-Altitude Reporting Equipment
  •  (1) No person shall operate an aircraft, other than a balloon or glider, in transponder airspace, unless the aircraft is equipped with a transponder and automatic pressure-altitude reporting equipment.

  • (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an aircraft without a serviceable transponder and automatic pressure-altitude reporting equipment if

    • (a) a minimum equipment list has been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aircraft under subsection 605.07(3) and the aircraft is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list; or

    • (b) a minimum equipment list has not been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aircraft and the aircraft is operated

      • (i) to the next aerodrome of intended landing, and

      • (ii) after that landing, in accordance with an air traffic control clearance, to complete a planned flight schedule or to proceed to a maintenance facility.

  • (3) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an aircraft without a serviceable transponder and automatic pressure-altitude reporting equipment if

    • (a) the aircraft is within airspace referred to in section 601.03;

    • (b) an air traffic control unit provides an air traffic control service in respect of that airspace;

    • (c) the air traffic control unit received a request from a person to operate the aircraft within that airspace before the aircraft entered the airspace;

    • (d) the air traffic control unit authorized the person to operate the aircraft; and

    • (e) aviation safety is not likely to be affected.

  • (4) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an aircraft that is operated as part of a special aviation event without a serviceable transponder and automatic pressure-altitude reporting equipment if

    • (a) the aircraft is within class A, B, C, D or E airspace; and

    • (b) an air traffic control unit provides an air traffic control service in respect of that airspace.

Altitude Alerting System or Device
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall conduct a take-off in a turbo-jet-powered aeroplane unless it is equipped with an altitude alerting system or device that conforms to the Aircraft Equipment and Maintenance Standards.

  • (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an aeroplane without a serviceable altitude alerting system or device if

    • (a) a minimum equipment list has been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aeroplane pursuant to subsection 605.07(3) and the aeroplane is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list; or

    • (b) a minimum equipment list has not been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aeroplane and the aeroplane is operated

      • (i) from the place where the operator or pilot-in-command takes possession of the aeroplane to a place where the aeroplane can be equipped with such a system or device,

      • (ii) for the sole purpose of conducting a flight test, a competency check, a pilot proficiency check or flight crew member training, or

      • (iii) where the system or device becomes unserviceable after take-off, until it reaches an aerodrome at which the system or device can be repaired or replaced.

GPWS
  •  (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), no person operating under Subpart 4 or 5 of Part VII shall conduct a take-off in a turbo-jet-powered aeroplane that has a MCTOW of more than 15 000 kg (33,069 pounds) and for which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of 10 or more passengers, unless the aeroplane is equipped with a GPWS.

  • (2) An aeroplane referred to in subsection (1) may be operated without a serviceable GPWS if a minimum equipment list has been approved by the Minister in respect of the operator of the aeroplane pursuant to subsection 605.07(3) and the aeroplane is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list.

  • (3) Where, in the interests of aviation safety, it is necessary during a flight to deactivate any mode of a GPWS, the pilot-in-command of the aeroplane may deactivate that mode if the deactivation is performed in accordance with the aircraft flight manual, aircraft operating manual, flight manual supplement or minimum equipment list.

  • (4) This section

    • (a) applies only in respect of aeroplanes manufactured on or before the day on which this subsection comes into force; and

    • (b) shall cease to apply on the expiry of two years after that day.

  • SOR/2012-136, s. 9
ELT
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (3), no person shall operate an aircraft unless it is equipped with one or more ELTs in accordance with subsection (2).

  • (2) An aircraft set out in column I of an item of the table to this subsection shall, for the area of operation set out in column II of the item, be equipped with the quantity and type of ELTs referred to in column III of that item, which ELTs shall be armed, if so specified in the aircraft flight manual, aircraft operating manual, pilot operating handbook or equivalent document provided by the manufacturer.

    TABLE

    ELT Requirements

    Column 1Column 2Column 3
    ItemAircraftArea of OperationMinimum Equipment
    1All aircraftOver landOne ELT of type AD, AF or AP, as referred to in section 551.104 of Chapter 551 — Aircraft Equipment and Installation of the Airworthiness Manual
    2Large multi-engined turbo-jet aeroplanes engaged in an air transport service carrying passengersOver water at a distance from land that requires the carriage of life rafts under section 602.63Two ELTs of Type S, as referred to in section 551.104 of chapter 551 — Aircraft Equipment and Installation of the Airworthiness Manual
    3All aircraft that require an ELT other than those set out in item 2Over water at a distance from land that requires the carriage of life rafts under section 602.63One ELT of Type S, as referred to in section 551.104 of chapter 551 — Aircraft Equipment and Installation of the Airworthiness Manual
  • (3) An aircraft may be operated without an ELT on board if the aircraft

    • (a) is a glider, balloon, airship, ultra-light aeroplane or gyroplane;

    • (b) is registered under the laws of a contracting state or a state that is a party to an agreement entered into with Canada relating to interstate flying, is equipped with a serviceable emergency beacon that transmits on the 406 MHz frequency with a tested life of at least 24 hours and

      • (i) has a Class 1 or Class 2 Type Approval Certificate issued by the international search and rescue Cospas-Sarsat Council, and

      • (ii) is registered with the appropriate authority of the country identified in the coded message transmitted by the emergency beacon;

    • (c) is operated by the holder of a flight training unit operating certificate, engaged in flight training and operated within 25 nautical miles of the aerodrome of departure;

    • (d) is engaged in a flight test;

    • (e) is a new aircraft engaged in flight operations related to manufacture, preparation or delivery of the aircraft;

    • (f) is operated for the purpose of permitting a person to conduct a parachute descent within 25 nautical miles of the aerodrome of departure; or

    • (g) is operated in accordance with section 605.39.

  • (4) If an aircraft is equipped with one or more ELTs that transmit on the 406 MHz frequency, the owner shall register each ELT with

    • (a) the Canadian Beacon Registry; or

    • (b) the appropriate authority of the country identified in the coded message transmitted by the ELT.

 

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