No. H104/06
For release - September 8, 2006

Additional On-Board Safety Equipment Proposed for Aircraft

"Ensuring Canadian aircraft have the additional tools to improve safety will help us maintain our enviable aviation safety record," said Minister Cannon. "This amendment demonstrates our commitment to keeping Canadian skies safe."

The equipment, known as an airborne collision avoidance system, alerts flight crews when their aircraft is on course to collide with another aircraft. It includes aural and visual alerts, as well as cockpit displays of other air traffic.

There are two major classes of collision avoidance equipment.

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems I allows flight crews to know the approximate bearing and relative altitude of all aircraft within a selected range, and indicates which aircraft in the area pose a potential threat. The pilot then attempts to visually identify the other aircraft posing a threat and manoeuvres accordingly.

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems II is more comprehensive and advises the pilot to execute a vertical escape manoeuvre to avoid other aircraft. The system can also communicate with similar on-board systems of other aircraft to coordinate escape manoeuvres.

The proposed amendment to the Canadian Aviation Regulations would require the immediate installation of appropriate collision awareness equipment on all recently manufactured aircraft. Operators of large commercial aircraft would have two years to comply with the new requirement for all aircraft currently in operation.

The proposed amendment will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on September 9, 2006. A 30-day response period will follow, during which interested parties may comment on the amendment. After careful consideration of all comments received, Transport Canada will finalize the regulations and publish them in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

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