Canadian Aviation Regulations — Various Amendments

Summary#

The final rule titled Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Various Amendments, 2023) makes a number of technical and “housekeeping” changes to the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The changes clarify wording, update definitions, reduce some record-keeping, allow a simpler medical check for some student helicopter pilots, and turn two temporary exemptions into permanent rules. These amendments came into force on publication day, February 26, 2025.

What it does#

• Clarifies who publishes aeronautical data and updates the list of documents treated as aeronautical information (so what NAV CANADA publishes is clearly listed).
  • First use in this section: NAV CANADA.
• Updates the definition and wording of several terms to remove ambiguity and make the English and French versions consistent.
  • Changes the NOTAM wording so it is no longer expanded as “Notice to Airmen.”
  • Adds a definition of “smoke” aligned with the Non-smokers’ Health Act.
• Reduces and harmonizes record-keeping for pilot assignments.
  • Requires operators to keep the names of the pilot-in-command (and second-in-command, if used) for 180 days in several parts of the rules.
  • Aligns administrative penalty levels for some breaches at $3,000 for individuals and $15,000 for corporations.
• Lets some student helicopter pilots use a simpler medical exam.
  • Student helicopter applicants can now get a category 4 medical in some cases (a less-complex exam that can be done by a family doctor).
  • Expected to affect about 300 examinations per year.
• Removes an outdated “signed in ink” requirement for airport certificate applications and formalizes acceptance of electronic submissions.
• Codifies two previously temporary exemptions:
  • Keeps the flexibility for some flight crew to remove shoulder harnesses in cruise at higher altitudes (consistent with earlier practice).
  • Allows airlines, under strict conditions, to operate a flight with one fewer flight attendant in some incapacitation situations; operators must notify the regulator after each flight when they use this flexibility.
• Clarifies that certain maintenance-control responsibilities must be assigned to a member of an operator’s permanent staff.
• Makes numerous small fixes: cross-reference corrections, wording alignment between English and French, and removal of redundant references to company manuals.

Who's affected#

• Air operators and airlines that hold certificates under Parts 702–706 of the CARs.
  • First use in this section: Transport Canada (regulator).
• Pilots and flight crew (record-keeping and some flight-safety wording affects them).
• Student helicopter pilots and the doctors who examine them (some will be able to see a family doctor instead of a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner).
• Aerodrome and airport operators who submit information for publication.
• NAV CANADA, as the provider of aeronautical information and NOTAMs.
• Passengers may notice indirect effects when operators use the new provisions on flight-attendant shortfalls (the rules require safety procedures and, in some cases, reduced passenger numbers).
  If it matters to small businesses: the government’s small-business review said the package is not expected to adversely affect Canadian small businesses.

Why it matters#

• Simpler rules and clearer wording mean fewer questions and less back-and-forth with the regulator. That can save time for operators and improve predictable enforcement.
• Allowing a category 4 medical for some student helicopter applicants can speed up access to training and reduce wait times, since family doctors can do that exam in many cases.
• Codifying the two exemptions removes repeated renewals and uncertainty. Operators that relied on those temporary permissions now have a clear, permanent path — but must follow the new reporting and safety conditions.
• There is a small, estimated administrative cost to industry tied to the new reporting rule when operating with fewer flight attendants. The regulatory analysis estimates a total cost of $1,746 over ten years for those notifications. It also estimates the flexibility will be used about 104.5 times annually in current practice.
• The changes reduce language inconsistencies (including English–French differences) and align some terms with international practice. That lowers the chance of misunderstandings and helps Canada match international partners on aviation terminology.