Aircraft CO2 Emissions Standard Adopted

Summary#

These final regulations, Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CO2 Emissions), add an international carbon-dioxide emissions standard into Canada’s aircraft rules. The change came into force when published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on December 9, 2020 and requires certain new aircraft and design changes to meet the CO2 standards set out in the Airworthiness Manual (which adopts Annex 16, Volume III from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)).

What it does#

• Adds a requirement that a new aircraft type design must meet the CO2 emissions standards in Subchapter C of Chapter 516 — Aircraft Emissions of the Airworthiness Manual.
• Requires applicants who seek approval for changes to an aircraft’s type design to show the aircraft meets those same CO2 standards.
• Takes effect on publication (December 9, 2020).
• Sets who and when the ICAO standard applies to, including these key thresholds and dates:
  • Applies to new aeroplane type designs greater than 60,000 kg for subsonic jets and greater than 8,168 kg for propeller-driven aeroplanes as of January 1, 2020.
  • For subsonic jets greater than 5,700 kg but less than or equal to 60,000 kg with up to 19 seats, the applicability date is January 1, 2023.
  • Changes to existing type designs apply to aeroplanes greater than 5,700 kg (jets) or greater than 8,168 kg (propeller) as of January 1, 2023.
  • Individual in‑production aeroplanes above those thresholds must meet the standard by January 1, 2028.

Who's affected#

• Aircraft manufacturers, especially the three Canadian manufacturers identified as likely affected, because their type designs must be certified to the CO2 standard.
• Transport Canada, which will review and approve certifications and handle the additional certification work.
• Air operators and buyers, who will prefer aircraft that meet the standard because it affects where they can fly internationally and the resale value of aircraft.
• Other stakeholders include foreign certification bodies and international aviation regulators, since this aligns Canada with global rules. If it is unclear whether a particular small manufacturer or specific aircraft model is affected, check the weight and seating thresholds above.

Why it matters#

• It aligns Canada with the international CO2 standard set by ICAO, so Canadian-built aircraft can be certified at home rather than needing foreign certification. That avoids extra fees and travel and helps keep Canadian planes competitive.
• The government’s cost analysis found adopting the standard in Canada saves money versus the baseline where manufacturers must go abroad to certify (baseline costs $1.56 million vs regulatory costs $1.20 million over ten years, a net saving of about $0.37 million or $366,196 in present value; benefit‑cost ratio about 1.31).
• The standard encourages more fuel-efficient aeroplane designs, which lowers fuel use and operating costs for airlines.
• On a global scale, ICAO estimated the Carbon Dioxide Standard could reduce up to 650 million tonnes of CO2 between 2020 and 2040 — roughly equivalent to taking 140 million cars off the road — though those are international estimates and not a direct projection for Canada alone.