A17-01 – “The Department of Transport require all commercially operated DHC-2 aircraft in Canada to be equipped with a stall warning system.”
Transport Canada Response to Recommendation A17-01
Transport Canada (TC) agrees in principle with the recommendation.
TC agrees that stalls encountered during critical phases of flight often lead to disastrous consequences. Although the historical accident rate does not indicate that there is any particular stall-related problem with the DHC-2 Beaver when it is flown within its certified envelope, the installation of an Artificial Stall Warning System can enhance operational safety. TC acknowledged this fact with the publication of Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) 2014-02Footnote 1 recommending installation of Viking Air’s artificial stall warning system.
Mandating the installation of a stall warning system on all commercially operated DHC-2 aircraft in Canada will require further study, evaluation, and justification by TC. In 2018, the department will initiate an in-depth examination of the issue, particularly to determine how many accidents would have been prevented by a functioning artificial stall warning system. Following this evaluation the department will determine the most effective means of addressing the risks underpinning this recommendation and then outline its plan and consult industry stakeholders.
TC will continue to participate in and support international efforts to improve passenger safety, particularly through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) passenger Safety Working Group and follow-on activities with a view to harmonization with international partners.
A17-02 – “The Department of Transport, in collaboration with the Canadian aviation industry and employee representatives, develop and implement requirements for a comprehensive substance abuse program, including drug and alcohol testing, to reduce the risk of impairment of persons while engaged in safety-sensitive functions. These requirements should consider and balance the need to incorporate human rights principles in the Canadian Human Rights Act with the responsibility to protect public safety.”
Transport Canada Response to Recommendation A17-02
Transport Canada (TC) agrees in principle with the aviation safety recommendation (A17-02).
Aviation safety is of paramount importance to TC. To that end, the department is committed to continuing to strengthen aviation safety by working in consultation with its stakeholders from industry as well as its international partners to prevent and remedy impairment in the aviation sector.
TC is committed to building upon its established medical substance abuse program and work is currently underway to examine ways to enhance measures to detect, prevent and treat impairment in the transportation sector. In addition to this program, TC will further examine the development of additional mechanisms to protect the travelling public from impaired individuals performing safety-sensitive functions.
Pursuant to the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), Canada has strict rules, regulations, and medical standards in place governing the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
TC will address this recommendation under the following separate action streams:
- 1. TC’s Civil Aviation Medical Substance Abuse Protocol
TC has a robust medical protocol in place for substance abuse disorders. This protocol is underpinned by a strict medical assessment and certification process.
To obtain a pilot license, all candidates must first obtain a Medical Certificate issued by the Minister of Transport. The process begins with an examination by a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME). The CAME conducts a medical examination and prepares a medical examination report, including a recommendation regarding medical fitness. This is submitted to the Minister’s medical advisors in the Transport Canada Civil Aviation Medicine Branch (TC CAM). Once received, TC CAM assesses all required medical reports submitted regarding the applicant. Should the candidate meet the medical standards for the category of medical certificate requested, a Medical Certificate will be issued.
Identifying Substance Use and Abuse Issues:
The Aeronautics Act requires all physicians to report medical conditions that may constitute a hazard to aviation safety to TC. This mandatory disclosure to the regulator is one of the most robust medical reporting systems among member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
These disclosure requirements allow all medical professionals to alert TC CAM of identified medical concerns or conditions. Once TC CAM has been made aware, either through a CAME examination, a treating medical professional, or the applicant, the following process is initiated:
- The individual is advised and TC CAM requests the medical assessment to determine whether the individual has a diagnosable condition of a substance use disorder or that a pattern of substance use presents as a high enough concern to warrant medical attention.
- When a diagnosis is made or the concern is high enough, TC CAM requires appropriate treatment from an addictionologist, and follow-up which often involves a thirty-day, in-patient session.
- TC CAM will then assess the success of the treatment according to the expert addictionologists associated with the in-patient facility.
- If treatment is judged to be successful, TC CAM arranges for follow-up within the local medical community which involves ongoing medical assessment and monitoring (initially monthly) and attendance (initially daily, then weekly) at a program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
- Following successful compliance with these steps, a favourable assessment by the medical treatment team, and acceptance by the treated pilot that he or she will continue with long-term treatment as well as a monitoring plan, an application for a re-instatement of the medical certificate can then be made.
- Once TC CAM is satisfied that treatment has been successful, the monitoring program is sufficiently rigorous, and that the pilot is complying with this monitoring program, CAM may recommend a “with or as” medical certificate (i.e., the treated individual must always fly with another pilot fully qualified on the aircraft type) with additional conditions which include compliance with treatment, attendance at AA or a similar program, no-notice drug and alcohol testing (initially quarterly), and total abstinence for a minimum of two years. If the clinical situation warrants, the testing may go on for a longer duration of time.
Pilots employed by the larger air carriers, may have access to a Tri-partite program which is an oversight management committee consisting of a medical treatment physician, union representation, and an employer representative. These programs treat pilots with substance abuse issues to reduce the risk of impairment within the aviation sector. TC has participated and supported Tri-partite programs since 1980, since which time the model has evolved into a comprehensive substance abuse management protocol which addresses the needs and concerns of all interested parties.
The Tri-partite approach is oriented to the three-fold process to:
- Identify those with a substance abuse disorder;
- Refer those with a disorder for treatment and rehabilitation through an EAP; and
- Provide continuous monitoring and follow-up.
Following the identification of a substance abuse disorder case, the requirements listed above must be met; however, whenever available, this is accomplished through the Tri-partite program.
Approximately 90 percent of pilots found with a substance use disorder have returned to flight deck duties after successful treatment and management of their disorder. TC’s comprehensive substance abuse protocol is effectively finding, treating, and returning pilots with substance use disorders to flying duty.
TC CAM also continues to participate in, and support, international efforts to promote and raise awareness to reduce the risk of impairment in aviation. More specifically, this work takes place through ICAO and other international working groups, as well as follow up on any noted activities with a view to harmonizing standards and practices.
- 2. TC’s continuing engagement and collaboration with the Canadian aviation industry and employee representatives
To ensure that safeguards and safety standards continue to be effective, in early January 2017, the Minister of Transport wrote to all airlines operating in Canada requesting that they confirm that their safety protocols are up-to-date, including measures intended to confirm pilots are fit to fly. The top eight major Canadian airlines confirmed that they have the safety protocols in place to deal with alcohol and drug abuse. Some of the tools and practices adopted by the airlines include: internal workplace drug and alcohol policies, education materials and operating manuals.
In addition, as part of TC’s ongoing approach to engage stakeholders on safety issues, the department held a Fit to Fly Workshop in early June 2017, which brought together over 200 stakeholders from across the aviation industry, including pilot unions, Nav Canada, aviation associations, aviation personnel, other federal departments, and health professionals. The aim of the Workshop was to promote aviation safety culture within the aviation community, raise awareness about mental health and substance abuse, provide information about best practices and programs, as well as share practical methods of promoting a healthy workforce.
At the Fit to Fly Workshop, TC also heard about the proactive role that industry and pilot unions are taking to address substance abuse, including Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and peer-to-peer support programs in the workplace. For example, larger Canadian airlines have implemented EAP to help their employees treat alcohol, drugs, and mental health issues. These programs provide referrals to health professionals for counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation. In addition, establishing peer-to-peer support networks (i.e., a collection of smaller operators) and/or programs administered by industry associations could assist smaller air carriers in aiding their pilots and employees in addressing substance abuse. Since EAPs are not mandatory and are industry-led initiatives, there are no government regulatory standards or guidelines.
In fall 2018, TC will launch an awareness campaign on substance abuse in aviation. The campaign will promote the concept that the well-being of employees and peers is a shared responsibility. The TSB’s report indicates that some co-workers suspected that the Captain had an alcohol problem, but no one reported their concerns. The campaign will educate the aviation community in recognizing substance abuse related symptoms and provide guidance in addressing possible problems.
- 3. Current Testing Practices in Aviation
Currently, operators may administer alcohol and drug testing on flight crew members based on reasonable grounds of suspicion of impairment (“for cause” testing), as well as following an accident or incident.
At this time, Canadian medical certificate holders (i.e. pilots) with a known diagnosis of substance abuse may be subject to no-notice drug and alcohol testing to ensure compliance with the abstinence provisions of their certificate. However, TC does not have the legislative authority to mandate random testing of flight crews as a screening measure. Mandating random drug and alcohol testing will require further study, evaluation and justification to determine the most effective means to address the recommendation while at the same time taking into account privacy and human rights issues, as well as legislation and principles, including the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- 4. TC’s Further Policy Analysis Work
Recognizing that substance abuse is an issue that can affect all modes of transportation, Transport Canada is proactively engaging in policy work on impairment across all modes – air, marine and rail, as well as motor vehicle safety. Prompted in part by Bill C-45 and Bill C-46, this policy analysis will consider the prevalence and impact of impairment while on duty, approaches employed by other nations, privacy issues, human right issues under the Canadian Charter of Human Rights (and associated legislation), employer-employee occupational health and safety standards for impairment under the purview of Employment and Social Development Canada, and the capacity of sectors of the transportation system to bear the costs of new obligations. Any potential new requirements for a comprehensive substance abuse program would be based on a balance of considerations, as well as the overarching safety of the Canadian transportation system, in the policy analysis.
Specifically for the aviation sector, TC is currently reviewing policy, regulatory, and enforcement approaches to enhance the deterrence and prevention measures for flight crew reporting to duty impaired. The approaches being considered include: reviewing alcohol limits; performing pre-employment testing for substance use; performing mandatory random substance use testing accompanied by a comprehensive EAP; and increasing the minimum time between consuming alcohol and beginning duty for safety-sensitive positions. Furthermore, as a result of the Fit to Fly workshop and TC’s initial policy work, the department envisions employers taking on a greater role in establishing testing regimes and developing EAP programs for employees conducting safety-sensitive functions. TC understands that these are complex issues and will therefore engage with stakeholders to better understand the challenges for the aviation safety sector and to develop effective programs.
TC is also examining whether the current regulations are adequate to prevent flight crew from reporting to duty while under the influence. Furthermore, TC is working to enhance deterrent measures by:
- Amending the current 8 hour “bottle to throttle” regulation to 12 hours, prohibiting flight crew from working within this extended timeframe after consuming an alcoholic beverage (this initiative is currently proceeding as part of the actions being undertaken to address the issue of fatigue);
- Prescribing an actual blood-alcohol limit to align with international counterparts; and
- Implementing stricter approaches to punitive and enforcement actions for those individuals who try to purposely deceive the system.
This in-depth analysis, expected to be completed by fall 2018, will help inform development of an impairment policy to reduce the risk of flight crew in safety sensitive positions reporting to duty impaired.