Transport Canada Issues Regulations for Equipage of Aircraft with Terrain Awareness Warning Systems

SUMMARY: 
On July 4, 2012, Transport Canada Civil Aviation issued amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations for equipage of aircraft with a terrain awareness warning system.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
The TAWS regulations will apply to commercial air taxi, commuter and airline operations (Subparts 703, 704 and 705 of the CARs) and certain private operators (Subpart 604 of the CARs). They are effective immediately for airplanes manufactured on or after July 4, 2012. This also applies to newly manufactured aircraft that enter Canada on a lease-back arrangement. Affected airplanes manufactured before this date will be required to be in compliance within two years or by July 4, 2014. Additionally, those airplanes required to have TAWS must be in compliance with the TAWS enhanced altitude accuracy requirements within five years or by July 4, 2017.

TAWS is required for airplanes conducting the following types of operations:

  • CAR 604 - Private turbine-powered airplanes configured with six or more seats, excluding pilot seats. Class B TAWS minimum, Class A TAWS acceptable.
  • CAR 703 - Airplanes configured with six or more seats, excluding pilot seats. Class B TAWS minimum, Class A TAWS acceptable.
  • CAR 704 - Airplanes configured with six to nine passenger seats, excluding pilot seats. Class B TAWS minimum, Class A TAWS acceptable.
  • CAR 704 - Airplanes configured with 10 or more passenger seats, excluding pilot seats. Class A TAWS required, with display.
  • CAR 705 - All airplanes. Class A TAWS required, with display.

For all operations except CAR 705, there is provision for relief from TAWS for day visual flight rules operations. Equipage of airplanes with a ground proximity warning system will no longer be acceptable after July 4, 2014.

The TAWS regulations may be viewed online at
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2012/2012-07-04/html/sor-dors136-eng.html.

AEA POSITION:

The Aircraft Electronics Association is pleased to see that TCCA has finally adopted TAWS regulations and that there is additional time allowed for compliance with the enhanced altitude accuracy requirements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, by email at ricp@aea.net or by phone at 202-589-1144.

Regulatory