No. H 249/07
For release - December 21, 2007

New Aviation Safety Regulations for Airports and Air Traffic Services

"A systematic, explicit and comprehensive process for managing safety hazards adds an additional layer of safety to our aviation system," said Minister Cannon. "Making the industry more accountable instills a positive safety culture to help improve the safety performance of operators."

These amendments require airports and organizations providing air traffic services 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 while allowing them flexibility to determine the most effective means of improving safety performance within the regulatory framework.

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. As each organization integrates safety into daily operations, management and employees can continuously work to identify and overcome potential 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 and demonstrate the need for attention to aviation safety at an organizational level. They also emphasize the importance of working with industry to achieve a higher level of safety. These measures ensure that problems, hazards, incidents and accidents will be reported, that the associated risks will be analyzed and that appropriate action is taken.

The first notice of these regulations was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on July 7, 2007. A 30-day consultation period followed, during which Transport Canada took into account comments from stakeholders and interested parties in the finalization of these regulations. The regulatory changes will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on December 26, 2007.

For more information on safety management systems, please visit the Civil Aviation website at www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/sms/menu.htm. A backgrounder with further information is attached.

–30–

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

---

BACKGROUNDER

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

In 1999, 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 commitment from all levels of an organization, including senior management, to continually improve safety standards.

Until recently, safety was the responsibility of a safety officer who reported to management but who was ultimately not accountable for safety performance. Recent amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations require aviation organizations to appoint executives who are accountable for safety and implementing safety management systems. These executives must impose, implement, lead and manage new policies and be directly accountable for the safety performance of their operations.

Transport Canada is always active at the operational level with audits and inspections of actual activities as part of a comprehensive approach. With safety management systems, the focus is at the systems level. This means that inspectors 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, audits, validations and assessments.

Transport Canada continues 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, validations, assessments, 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.

Aviation organizations that have already begun implementing these systems 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 at www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/sms/menu.htm.

December 2007