No. H142/05
For release - June 15, 2005

Regulatory Amendments to Improve Aviation Safety Finalized

The goals of safety management systems are to increase industry accountability, to instill a consistent and positive safety culture, and to help improve the safety performance of air operators. This approach represents a systematic, explicit and comprehensive process for managing risks to safety.

"Transport Canada's safety oversight program is among the most stringent in the world and has contributed to Canada's enviable aviation transportation safety record, " said Mr. Lapierre. "Safety management systems complement the strong oversight program of inspections and audits already in place."

Amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations require air operators to implement safety management systems in their organizations and appoint executives who are accountable for safety. These systems will make organizations more accountable for day-to-day operations and permit them to use the most appropriate system to improve their safety performance.

Each system is based on an operator's in-depth knowledge of the company and integrates safety into policies, management and employee practices, as well as operating procedures throughout the organization. No two safety management systems are alike. As each organization integrates safety into daily operations, management and employees can continuously work to identify and overcome potential safety hazards that could cause accidents.

Canada is among world leaders in safety management systems. The amendments build on the work of leading safety experts and international bodies, who have been advocating that greater attention be paid to aviation safety at an organizational level and emphasizing the importance of working with the industry to achieve a higher level of safety. This means not only that problems, hazards, incidents and accidents are reported, but the associated risks are analyzed and appropriate action is taken.

The amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on March 5, 2005. A 30 day response period followed, during which interested parties commented on the proposed amendments. After careful consideration of all comments received, Transport Canada finalized the regulations and published them in the Canada Gazette, Part II on June 15, 2005.

For more information on safety management systems please visit the Civil Aviation website.

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BACKGROUNDER

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

In 1999, Transport Canada launched Flight 2005, an initiative developed to continually improve on the already high level of aviation safety in Canada and to maintain the equally high level of public confidence in Transport Canada's aviation program. In Flight 2005, Transport Canada committed to the implementation of safety management systems in aviation organizations.

Safety management systems are methods a company can use to integrate safety throughout its organization. They are based on the operator's in-depth knowledge of its organization and integrate safety into policies, management and employee practices and procedures. As each organization integrates safety into daily operations, management and employees can continuously work to identify and overcome potential safety hazards.

To be effective, these systems require strong commitments from all levels of an organization, including top management, to continually improve safety standards. Currently, safety is the responsibility of a safety officer who reports to management but who is ultimately not accountable for safety performance. The amendments require aviation organizations to appoint executives who are accountable for safety and implementing safety management systems. These executives would impose, implement, lead and manage new policies and be directly accountable for the safety performance of their operations.

Currently, Transport Canada is active at the operational level with audits and inspections of actual activities. With the introduction of safety management systems, the focus will be at the systems level. This means that inspectors will assess the effectiveness of safety management systems within an organization. Therefore, safety management systems add a layer of safety and enhance the work Transport Canada continues to do through its oversight program of inspections and audits.

Transport Canada will continue to develop, implement, and enforce safety standards and regulations under the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The department has a comprehensive safety oversight program consisting of certification, licensing, inspections, audits, education and awareness, as well as enforcement activities to monitor compliance with Canadian safety regulations. Within this safety oversight program, the department uses risk-threat analysis to adjust its priorities and continuously refocuses its resources to protect the travelling public.

Some air operators have already begun implementing these systems and have had positive results. The broader implementation of safety management systems by aviation organizations is part of an effort to reduce the already low aircraft accident rate in Canada.

For more information on safety management systems please visit the Civil Aviation website.

June 2005