Approved Check Pilot (ACP) / Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) Evaluator Bulletin No. 01/26

Applicability

Subject

Cancellation of Exemption NCR 048a-2007 - 24-month Pilot Proficiency Check (PPC) Validity Periods applicable to Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR), Subpart 704

Purpose

1. This bulletin is to advise TC Inspectors and ACPs that the no end-date exemption allowing 704 operators to conduct recurrent PPC at 24-month intervals is being cancelled and superseded by NCR-018-2026 with an expiry of 1 November 2028. The applicability of NCR-018-2026 is such that new PPCs may still be issued with a 24-month validity until 1 November 2026. After 1 November 2026, no new PPC may be issued with the 24-month PPC validity. A CARAC notice was issued to advise of this change.

Background

2. The 24-month PPC validity puts Canadian 704 operators significantly out of alignment with ICAO and other international standards. While 12-month PPCs are generally declared as an ICAO difference in state Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP), there has been no declared difference with respect to 24-month PPCs by Canada. 24- month PPCs also reduce the opportunity for an Approved Check Pilot (ACP) to verify that the candidate meets the knowledge and skill requirements to operate an aircraft, its systems and components under normal, abnormal and emergency conditions in a safe and competent manner.

Policy Update

3. Effective 1 November 2026, ACPs shall no longer issue, and TC Inspectors shall no longer accept new PPCs conducted with a 24-month validity period. Any new PPC issued after 1 November 2026, must be issued with the standard 12-month validity period.
4. As exemption NCR-018-2026 is valid until 1 November 2028, any PPCs that were issued under the 24-month exemption with an expiry prior to the issuance of NCR 018-2026 remain valid to the first day of the twenty-fifth month following the date the PPC was conducted.
5. Efforts are ongoing to update the Online PPC Flight Test Report to remove the CAR Subpart 704 , 24-month PPC validity period option. Until this has been completed, after 1 November 2026, when filling in the Online Flight Test Report, ACPs and TC inspectors are not to select the specialty CAR Subpart 704, 24-month PPC validity period option.

Summary

6. There is confidence that most CAR Subpart 704 operators are already conducting PPC’s at 12- month intervals and that this policy update formalizes best practices already being followed in the Canadian aviation industry consistent with international requirements.

Effective Date

7. This bulletin is effective immediately.

Approval

Deborah Kominko
Acting Chief, Commercial Flight Standards
AARTFInfo-InfoAARTF@tc.gc.ca