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Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2023-06-21. Previous Versions

Part VII — Commercial Air Services (continued)

Subpart 2 — Aerial Work (continued)

Division III — Flight Operations (continued)

Operational Control System

 No air operator shall operate an aircraft unless the air operator has an operational control system that meets the Commercial Air Service Standards and is under the control of its operations manager.

Flight Authorization

 No person shall commence a flight unless the flight has been authorized in accordance with the procedures specified in the air operator’s company operations manual.

Operational Flight Plan

 No air operator shall permit a person to commence a flight unless an operational flight plan that meets the Commercial Air Service Standards has been prepared in accordance with the procedures specified in the air operator’s company operations manual.

Maintenance of Aircraft

 No air operator shall permit a person to conduct a take-off in an aircraft that has not been maintained in accordance with the air operator’s maintenance control system.

Carriage of Persons

 No air operator shall allow a person who is not a flight crew member to be carried on board an aircraft unless

  • (a) the person’s presence on board is essential during the flight;

  • (b) the air operator is authorized in its air operator certificate to permit parachute descents and the person is a parachutist; or

  • (c) the air operator

    • (i) is authorized in its air operator certificate to carry a person, and

    • (ii) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • SOR/99-158, s. 5
VFR Flight Minimum Flight Visibility — Uncontrolled Airspace
  •  (1) Where an aeroplane is operated in day VFR flight within uncontrolled airspace at less than 1,000 feet AGL, a person may, for the purposes of subparagraph 602.115(c)(i), operate the aeroplane when flight visibility is less than two miles if the person

    • (a) is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (2) Where a helicopter is operated in day VFR flight within uncontrolled airspace at less than 1,000 feet AGL, a person may, for the purposes of subparagraph 602.115(d)(i), operate the helicopter when flight visibility is less than one mile if the person

    • (a) is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

Night, VFR OTT and IFR Operations
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), no air operator shall operate an aircraft at night, in VFR OTT flight or in IFR flight

    • (a) while towing;

    • (b) while carrying a helicopter Class B, C or D external load;

    • (c) while dispersing products; or

    • (d) where the aircraft is a single-engined aircraft.

  • (2) An air operator may operate an aircraft at night, in VFR OTT flight or in IFR flight in any of the cases referred to in subsection (1), if the air operator

    • (a) is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (3) No air operator shall operate an aircraft at night with persons other than flight crew members on board unless

    • (a) the pilot-in-command has an instrument rating;

    • (b) the air operator is authorized in its air operator certificate to permit parachute descents and night VFR flight and

      • (i) the persons are parachutists,

      • (ii) the flight takes place within 10 nautical miles of the aerodrome of departure, and

      • (iii) the flight takes place at night; or

    • (c) the air operator is authorized in its air operator certificate to carry persons, other than parachutists, and the air operator complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • SOR/99-158, s. 6
Entering or Leaving a Helicopter in Flight

 For the purposes of paragraph 602.25(2)(b), the pilot-in-command of a helicopter may permit a person to enter or leave the helicopter in flight

  • (a) where

    • (i) the helicopter is operated at a low hover,

    • (ii) the person is able to enter directly from or alight directly onto the supporting surface,

    • (iii) the air operator is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate, and

    • (iv) the air operator complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards; or

  • (b) where

    • (i) the helicopter is operated to enable hoisting or rappelling, and

    • (ii) the air operator complies with section 702.21.

Aircraft Operating over Water

 No air operator shall, except when conducting a take-off or landing, operate a land aircraft over water, beyond a point where the land aircraft could reach shore in the event of an engine failure, unless the air operator

  • (a) is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate; and

  • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

Helicopter Class D External Loads
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), no air operator shall operate a helicopter to carry a helicopter Class D external load unless

    • (a) the helicopter is a multi-engined helicopter that meets the transport category engine-isolation requirements of Chapter 529 of the Airworthiness Manual and that is capable of hovering with one engine inoperative at the existing weight and altitude;

    • (b) the air operator is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate; and

    • (c) the air operator complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (2) An air operator may operate a helicopter other than a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(a) to carry a helicopter Class D external load if the air operator

    • (a) is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

Built-up Area and Aerial Work Zone
  •  (1) For the purposes of subsection 602.13(1), a person may conduct a take-off, approach or landing in an aircraft within a built-up area of a city or town at a place other than an airport, heliport or a military aerodrome, if the person

    • (a) has an authorization from the Minister or is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (2) For the purposes of paragraph 602.15(2)(a), a person may operate an aircraft over a built-up area at altitudes and distances less than those specified in paragraph 602.14(2)(a), if the person

    • (a) has an authorization from the Minister or is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (3) For the purposes of subsection 602.16(2), a person may operate a helicopter that is carrying a helicopter Class B, C or D external load over a built-up area or in an aerial work zone, if the person

    • (a) has an authorization from the Minister or is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 13
Briefing of Persons Other Than Flight Crew Members

 The pilot-in-command shall ensure that persons, other than flight crew members, who are on board the aircraft are given a safety briefing that meets the Commercial Air Service Standards.

Operation of Aircraft in Icing Conditions

 When icing conditions are reported to exist or are forecast to be encountered along the route of flight, no person shall authorize a flight or its continuation or conduct a take-off or continue a flight in an aircraft, even if the pilot-in-command determines that the aircraft is adequately equipped to operate in icing conditions in accordance with paragraph 605.30(a), if, in the opinion of the pilot-in-command, the safety of the flight might be adversely affected.

  • SOR/2009-152, s. 4

[702.25 to 702.31 reserved]

Division IV — Aircraft Performance Operating Limitations

[702.32 to 702.41 reserved]

Division V — Aircraft Equipment Requirements

Night and IMC Flights
  •  (1) No person shall operate an aircraft at night unless the aircraft is equipped with

    • (a) at least one landing light; and

    • (b) if the aircraft is operated in icing conditions, a means of illumination or other means to detect the formation of ice.

  • (2) No person shall operate a multi-engined aircraft in IMC unless the aircraft is equipped with

    • (a) two generators or two alternators, each of which is driven by a separate engine or by a rotor drive train; and

    • (b) two independent sources of energy, at least one of which is not a battery, and each of which is able to drive all flight instruments requiring a source of energy and is installed so that the failure of one instrument or one source of energy will affect neither the energy supply to the remaining instruments nor the other source of energy.

  • SOR/2009-152, s. 5
Additional Equipment for Single-pilot Operations

 No air operator shall operate an aircraft on a single-pilot operation in IFR flight unless the aircraft is equipped with

  • (a) an auto-pilot that is capable of operating the aircraft controls to maintain flight and manoeuvre the aircraft about the lateral and longitudinal axes;

  • (b) a headset with a boom microphone or equivalent and a transmit button on the control column; and

  • (c) a chart holder that is equipped with a light and that is placed in an easily readable position.

Shoulder Harnesses

 No air operator shall operate an aircraft unless the pilot seat and any seat beside the pilot seat are equipped with a safety belt that includes a shoulder harness.

External Load Equipment

 No air operator shall operate an aircraft carrying an external load unless the attachment device is authorized in a supplemental type certificate or in an airworthiness approval relating to the operational configuration of the aircraft.

ACAS
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (3), no air operator shall operate a turbine-powered aeroplane having an MCTOW greater than 15 000 kg (33,069 pounds) in RVSM airspace unless the aeroplane is equipped with an operative ACAS that

    • (a) meets the requirements of CAN-TSO-C119b or a more recent version of it or other requirements that the Minister has accepted as providing a level of safety that is at least equivalent to the level that that CAN-TSO provides; and

    • (b) is equipped with a Mode S transponder that meets the requirements of CAN-TSO-C112 or a more recent version of it.

  • (2) Subject to subsection (3), no air operator shall operate a turbine-powered aeroplane having an MCTOW greater than 15 000 kg (33,069 pounds) in airspace outside RVSM airspace unless the aeroplane is equipped with an operative ACAS that

    • (a) meets the requirements of CAN-TSO-C119a or a more recent version of it or other requirements that the Minister has accepted as providing a level of safety that is at least equivalent to the level that that CAN-TSO provides; and

    • (b) is equipped with a Mode S transponder that meets the requirements of CAN-TSO-C112 or a more recent version of it.

  • (3) The air operator may operate the aeroplane without its being equipped with an operative ACAS if

    • (a) where a minimum equipment list has not been approved by the Minister and subject to subsection 605.08(1), the operation takes place within the three days after the date of failure of the ACAS;

    • (b) it is necessary for the pilot-in-command to deactivate, in the interests of aviation safety, the ACAS or any of its modes and the pilot-in-command does so in accordance with the aircraft flight manual, aircraft operating manual, flight manual supplement or minimum equipment list; or

    • (c) the aeroplane is engaged in or configured for use in fire fighting, aerial spraying services or aerial surveying and operates only in low level airspace.

  • (4) This section does not apply in respect of aeroplanes manufactured on or before the day on which this section comes into force until two years after that day.

  • SOR/2007-133, s. 6
  • SOR/2009-280, ss. 37, 39, 41, 42
 

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