New Flight and Duty Time regulations being proposed by Transport Canada are still waiting to be tabled at Treasury Board – the last step before they are brought in to force. If they are approved by Treasury Board, the new rules would be applicable to the helicopter industry four years later.
Recently, the addition of Fatigue to the TSB’s Watchlist has intensified the pressure on Transport Canada to find a solution and move regulations forward in some form. Furthermore, the final report of the NTSB on the Air Canada incident in San Francisco last Fall was recently released. The report identified fatigue as one factor contributing to the incident and one of its recommendations was directed at Transport Canada – urging the department to move forward with fatigue-related amendments to the Canadian regulations.
The Minister is under pressure to find a solution sooner rather than later, as next year’s Federal election is less than a year away. The regulatory process on this subject could be halted altogether. Too close to call.
Recently, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce passed the following resolution:
“54. Air Crew-Duty Hours: Ensuring the availability of safe, affordable and accessible air travel
That the federal government:
1. delay implementation of the regulatory changes to air crew duty hours until:
a. Meaningful consultation is held between Transport Canada and industry to assess the impact the proposed changes on short-haul, cargo and regional air service providers;
b. The government is able to conduct an analysis of the impact of these changes on rural and northern communities; and,
c. Air service providers have had sufficient time to develop and implement policies and procedures to address regulatory changes.
SUBMITTED BY THUNDER BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CO-SPONSORED BY FREDERICTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GREATER SUDBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, NORTH BAY & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SAULT STE MARIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TIMMINS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Adopted as amended”
If you have not already contacted your local MP on this important subject, please contact them immediately by phone to urge them to oppose these misguided regulations.
HAC and other like-minded aviation associations continue to work collaboratively to see that the new draft regulations to not move forward in their current form.