Transport Canada establishes airworthiness requirements and standards for recreational aircraft including certified and non-certified aircraft, and amateur-built aircraft.
Some of the airworthiness services include: construction and maintenance of amateur-built aircraft; maintenance requirements for small certified aircraft; flight authorities and maintenance schedules; importation and operation of non-type certified and ex-military aircraft; owner maintenance; IFR flight for amateur-built aircraft; aerobatics by amateur-built aircraft; external delegation of ministerial authority with respect to amateur-built aircraft inspection; and validation of foreign flight authorities.
General Information
- STD 549 - Amateur-Built Aircraft
- Airworthiness Manual Advisories (AMAs)
- Eligible Amateur-Built Kits
- Ultra-light Aeroplanes and the Ultra-light Aeroplane Transition Strategy
- Links to Recreational Aircraft Web Sites
Special Flight Authorization (FAA) / Standardized Validation (TC)
- FAA - Special Flight Authorization (SFA) for Canadian Registered Amateur-Built Aircraft and Basic and Advanced Ultralight Aeroplanes Operating in the United States (Revised)
- Standardized Validation of a Special Air Worthiness Certificate - Experimental for the Purpose of Operating a United States Registered Amateur-Built Aircraft in Canadian Airspace
- Standardised Validation of a Special Airworthiness Certificate – Light-Sport or a Special Airworthiness Certificate – Experimental – Light-Sport, for the Purpose of Operating a United States-Registered Light-Sport Aircraft in Canadian Airspace
Exemptions
The purpose of this exemption is to permit persons who apply for a special certificate of airworthiness in the amateur-built classification:
- to contract for professional assistance in the construction or assembly of parts of the aircraft, provided the work is subject to the builder's overall control;
- to import, register and operate in Canada foreign-built amateur-aircraft, subject to a Transport Canada inspection of the aircraft; and
- to not have to comply with the maximum permissible take-off mass (weight) and the maximum number of passenger seats requirements.