Canadian Aviation Regulations: Various Updates

Summary#

The final rule Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Various Subjects) (SOR/2020-253) updates several small but long-standing parts of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. It mainly turns long-used exemptions into permanent rules, clarifies safety items like survival kits, first aid, de-icing, and terrain-warning equipment, and came into force on publication — December 9, 2020.

What it does#

• Codifies a set of long-standing global exemptions into the CARs so operators no longer need individual exemptions for those issues.
• Changes survival‑equipment rules:
  • removes the mandatory radar reflector and fishing kit from required survival kits for many operators;
  • changes the water requirement to 500 mL per person calculated from life‑raft rated capacity;
  • requires survival manuals to explain how to use the equipment (not general “how to survive” content).
• Brings first‑aid kit rules into the CARs for commercial operators and:
  • requires the kits to contain the supplies listed in the Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations;
  • requires inspections at the intervals recommended by the equipment manufacturer.
• Aligns flight‑attendant first‑aid certification with the Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, removing duplicate training requirements.
• Lets infant life preservers be stowed in a bulk location accessible to a flight attendant on aircraft that have flight attendants, with procedures for distribution during ditching.
• Clarifies Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS) requirements to accept equipment meeting CAN‑TSO‑C151a (or later).
• Changes the definition of “critical surfaces” so manufacturers can identify additional critical surfaces in the aircraft flight manual (AFM). It also allows takeoff with certain cold‑soaked fuel frost conditions on wings if done per the AFM.
• Lets operators skip a repeat emergency‑evacuation demonstration for a new airplane model if a successful demonstration was already done on another model with the same configuration (after a comparative check and record‑keeping).
• Clarifies that a holder of a Flight Training Unit Operator Certificate may conduct sightseeing flights under specified conditions.
• Fixes a French translation inconsistency in subsection 101.01(2).
• Applies monetary penalties for non‑compliance in some of these areas; maximum amounts added or clarified include $1,000, $3,000, $5,000, and $15,000 depending on the breach and whether the offender is an individual or a corporation.

Who's affected#

• Commercial air operators: Subpart 705 (airlines), Subpart 704 (commuter operations), and Subpart 703 (air taxi) operators.
• Private operators: Subpart 604 operators (small charter and private commercial operators).
• Flight attendants and their employers (training and stowage procedures).
• Aircraft operators and pilots who follow aircraft flight manuals (de‑icing and cold‑soaked fuel rules).
• Transport Canada, which will no longer need to reissue the codified exemptions.
• Small businesses: Transport Canada estimated about 317 private operators would benefit, with an incremental small‑business savings of about $37,000 over 10 years.

Why it matters#

• It reduces uncertainty and paperwork by turning repeated temporary exemptions into permanent regulatory text. That saves time and money: total estimated present‑value savings of $239,000, including $197,000 for industry and $42,000 for the government.
• It clarifies practical safety rules so operators can follow manufacturer guidance (AFMs) on de‑icing and takeoff with certain frost conditions, and so TAWS and first‑aid rules align better with international practices.
• It removes duplicate training requirements for flight attendants, lowering training burden for operators.
• For passengers, the infant life‑preserver change means flight attendants will keep bulk stowage and hand out preservers during ditching preparation instead of each infant’s preserver being placed at their seat before every takeoff.
• It adds clearer inspection timing (manufacturer intervals) and measurable equipment lists, which can make enforcement and compliance easier to understand.