HAC Communication
President's Message

Late last week, the American NTSB released its finding on the July 2017 incident at the airport in San Francisco, which identify shortcomings in the Canadian Reserve-related regulations as a contributory factor, among others factors unrelated to fatigue. The NTSB findings with respect to this incident may have the unfortunate effect of distorting the discourse on the proposed Canadian Flight & Duty time regulations. The final investigation report has yet to be released, so it is unclear what hours the captain (on reserve) was working; whether or not he attempted to rest before he was called to report for duty; or if his schedule was even in compliance with the proposed Canadian regulations. What’s more, the debate could have the effect of trigging a political kneejerk response affecting the entire commercial aviation community — including helicopter operators — to a very narrow issue relating principally to the scheduled airline community. At the very least, politicians and regulators need to determine exactly what occurred, before leaping to any conclusions. The commercial aviation community isn’t hiding from the facts leading up to the Air Canada accident — with facts being the operative word — but Transport Canada needs to put the circumstances and the other contributory factors in to an operational and regulatory context, before driving these misguided regulations in their current form, forward in the wake of a single incident.

For more details relating to the NTSB findings on the Air Canada incident, please READ MORE HERE.

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La semaine dernière, la National Transporation Safety Board (NTSB – États-Unis) a publié son rapport sur l’incident de juillet 2017 à l’aéroport de San Francisco. Le rapport a identifié des lacunes dans la réglementation canadienne relative aux pilotes réservistes comme facteur contribuant, entre autres facteurs non liés à la fatigue. Les conclusions de la NTSB sur cet incident peuvent avoir un effet négatif sur les discussions portant sur la réglementation canadienne proposée sur les temps de vol et de service en vol. Le rapport final de l’enquête n’ayant pas encore été déposé, il n’est pas clair si le commandant (réserviste) était en service, s’il s’était reposé avant d’être appelé à piloter, ou même si son horaire était conforme à la réglementation canadienne proposée sur les temps de vol et de service en vol. Ensuite, le débat pourrait avoir comme effet d’entraîner une réaction de réflexe politique qui toucherait toute l’industrie de l’aviation commerciale – incluant les hélicoptères – en traitant de la question très étroite des horaires de vol pour les vols réguliers. À tout le moins, les politiciens et les régulateurs doivent déterminer exactement ce qui s’est passé avant se sauter à toute conclusion. La communauté de l’aviation commerciale ne se cache pas des faits qui ont mené à l’accident d’Air Canada – les faits étant l’élément clé – mais Transports Canada doit mettre les circonstances et les facteurs contributifs dans un contexte opérationnel et réglementaire avant d’adopter la réglementation proposée mal avisée dans sa forme actuelle, surtout à la suite d’un incident isolé.  Pour plus d’information sur les constats de la NTSB sur l’incident d’Air Canada, allez Pour en savoir plus... (disponible en anglais seulement).

   
Skye Avionics Ltd.
      
Panterra Heli Support Ltd.
   
Industry News

If you have been following the HAC Newsletter, you will know that our program in Vancouver is already full-to-overflowing, however, there have been a few recent additions to the program that you should not miss.

Si vous avez suivi le bulletin de l’ACH, vous savez que le programme de Vancouver est déjà très rempli, mais nous avons déjà ajouté deux nouveaux éléments au programme que vous ne devriez pas manquer.

Please find HERE a consolidated list of comments received by Transport Canada so-far, and HERE the draft Advisory Circular.

The department is inviting comments on the second draft at your earliest convenience, but no later than October 10 2018. Please provide your comments to fred.jones@h-a-c.ca.

Cliquez ICI pour une liste des commentaires consolidés reçus par Transports Canada jusqu’ici, ainsi que la circulaire d’information provisoire.

Le ministère invite les commentaires sur la deuxième version au plus tard le 10 octobre 2018. Veuillez transmettre vos commentaires à fred.jones@h-a-c.ca.

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HAC and its members send their condolences to Essential Helicopters staff and to friends and family of Jim Armstrong who tragically perished in an accident near Stouffville, Ontario last week. The TSB is investigating, and the cause of the accident is not yet clear.

L’ACH et ses membres transmettent leurs condoléances à l’équipe d’Essential Helicopters ainsi qu’à la famille et aux amis de Jim Armstrong qui a péri dans un accident près de Stouffville, Ontario, la semaine dernière. Le BST enquête les causes possibles de l’accident qui ne sont pas encore claires.

Read the Focus Group’s Terms of Reference HERE. Operators with an interest in participating, should contact fred.jones@h-a-c.ca.

Pour lire le mandat du groupe de consultation, cliquez ICI (disponible en anglais seulement). Les exploitants qui voudraient participer à ce groupe sont invitez à communiquer avec Fred Jones, à fred.jones@h-a-c.ca.

   
Kaman Aerospace Corp.
      
Panterra Heli Support Ltd.
   
HAC Welcomes New Members & Associates

Operator Member
SKY Helicopters Inc.
Pitt Meadows, BC

Associate
Avio Design Group Inc.
Calgary, AB

Integrated Team Solutions Ltd.
Bristol, GBR

RBC Wealth Management
Surrey, BC

Aurora Aerotech Inc.
Vernon, BC

Huey Helicopters Inc.
Vernon, BC

Individual
Michael Welfare
Cornwall, VT

News From The Web

Source: AutoGuide.com
Helicopter cars? Maybe one day. Toyota has patented a car with wheels that could double as rotary wings.

Source: Global News
Rescuers were called in to help a woman who seriously injured her leg in a cycling incident in Penticton.

Source: The News (Portsmouth)
See the Royal Navy's Sea Kings take one final flight before retiring. 

Source: Offshore Wind Journal
Helicopters are increasingly becoming the chosen method of transportation for personnel as windfarms continue to move further offshore.

Source: Reuters
Boeing will build four helicopters for the U.S. Airforce in the first leg of a $2.4 billion deal to replace its aging fleet. The contract is worth $376 million.

Source: The Seattle Times
While the horse didn't survive in the end, a rescue team including a helicopter made a valiant effort to save its life. 

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