Approved Check Pilot (ACP) / Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) Evaluator Bulletin No. 01/23

From: Transport Canada

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Applicability

ACP AQPE

X

X

Subject: New Online Pilot Proficiency Check (PPC)/ Line Operational Evaluation (LOE) Flight Test Reports

Purpose

  1. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform ACPs, AQPEs and air operators about new online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports being introduced. These reports will eventually replace paper-based reports (i.e., forms 26-0249 and 26-0279).
  2. Initial completion instructions are provided in this bulletin that differ from those found in the ACP Manual (TP6533).

Background

  1. Transport Canada currently uses paper-based PPC Flight Test Reports (i.e., forms 26-0249 and 26-0279) to collect pilot competency information applicable to Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part VII.
  2. New online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports will streamline the drafting, submitting and acceptance of this information. Additionally, a dedicated online LOE Flight Test Report is being introduced that meets the needs AQP.

Additional Details

  1. New online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports are now being trialed among 30-50 industry ACP/AQPE participants to assess functionality and accuracy. These reports are very similar to the online ACP/AQPE Monitor Report now in use by both Civil Aviation Safety Inspectors (CASIs) and ACP/AQPE (Type M) delegates.
  2. Online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports will be available to all qualified ACPs/AQPEs in the future. An individual registration process will be initiated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA).
  3. Air Operators - Administrative Processes
    1. Some air operator processes will need to be adjusted as online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports are submitted directly to TCCA by ACPs/AQPEs. This applies whether an air operator sponsors ACPs or utilizes independent ACPs. Some necessary process adjustments include the following:
      1. Existing PPC valid-to dates - When scheduling ACPs/AQPEs for checks and evaluations, an air operator will need to provide (to the ACP/AQPE) the candidate’s existing (i.e., present) PPC/LOE valid-to date (as applicable). This will enable the online report’s software to auto-calculate a subsequent valid-to date.
      2. Subsequent PPC valid-to dates - Upon TCCA acceptance of a PPC/LOE Flight Test Report submission from an ACP/AQPE, a notification email (that includes a PDF copy of the flight test report) will be provided to the submitting ACP/AQPE. ACPs/AQPEs will be responsible to provide a copy of the report to the applicable air operator. This report will contain the candidate’s new PPC/LOE valid-to date.
  4. There have been several modifications to the new online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports, some of which will support future competency-based (CARs Subparts 702-704) and evidence-based (CARs Subpart 705) training/checking programs.

Completion Blocks - Instructions (Preliminary)

  1. Initial completion block instructions are provided that differ from the paper-based PPC Flight Test Reports (e.g., forms 26-0249 and 26-0279). Titles below are as they appear in online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports.
  2. Step 2. Pilot candidate information / Medical
    1. Valid medical
      1. ACPs/AQPEs will need to select either ‘Verified’ or ‘Simulator only’. The ‘Simulator only’ option refers to those candidates identified in the ACP Manual (10th Ed.), TP6533, section 4.4, at this time.
  3. Step 3. Flight test details / General flight test information
    1. PPC Method

      1. ACPs will now select among the following PPC methods: Regular, Phased, EBT or Other/Standalone.

      2. Regular – Applicable to all PPCs other than those conducted under CARs Subparts 702-704 utilizing the Alternate Pilot Proficiency Check – Phased PPC method (see Advisory Circular (AC) 700-062).

      3. Phased – Applicable to all PPCs conducted under CARs Subparts 702-704 and the Alternate Pilot Proficiency Check – Phased PPC method (see Advisory Circular (AC) 700-062).

      4. EBT – Not to be selected at this time but will be available to CARs Subpart 705 in the future.

      5. Other/Standalone – Applies to infrequent checks that may (or must) be conducted by an ACP. ‘Other’ refers to checks established outside of the CARs/ Commercial Air Service Standards (CASS) while ‘Standalone’ refers to checks established within the CASS.

        Example 1: (Other) Base Aeroplane Transition Program - CARs Exemption

        Where a normal (i.e., Regular or Phased) PPC is not provided on the AJ25 aircraft, an ACP may provide another check under CARs Exemption No. ON-002-2022 as part of a base aeroplane transition program (i.e., G100 to AJ25).

        Example 2: (Standalone) Instrument Approaches – Global Positioning System (GPS) Check

        If not completed during a normal (i.e., Regular or Phased PPC), an ACP may conduct a standalone GPS check under CARs Standard (Helicopters) 724.08(3)(b)(iv).

        Example 3: (Standalone) Category II Operations

        If not completed during a Regular or Phased PPC, an ACP may conduct a standalone CAT II qualification flight check under CARs Standard (Aeroplane) 724 Schedule I, (2)(f)(vi).

    2. General flight test information / CARs Subpart

      1. Select the appropriate CARs Subpart and associated validity period.

      2. Specialty – Extended validity periods are available that utilize additional training (under CARs Subpart 704) or recurrent training (under CARs Subpart 705).

        Important Note: When selecting Specialty validity periods, a General Comment must be provided that indicates the date beyond which evidence of training is required to validate the PPC’s calculated valid-to date (see also Step 4 – Evaluation / Complete Check Evaluation, General Comments below). See examples below.

        Example 1: ‘704 with additional training – 24 months’

        A candidate’s existing (i.e., present) PPC valid-to date is 1 August 2023. The candidate undergoes a CARs Subpart 704 PPC (Recurrent) on 15 July 2023 that makes use of CARs 704.111 Exemption No. 048a-2007. The report’s CARs Subpart Specialty option titled “704 with additional training – 24 months” is selected. A new valid-to date is auto-calculated that is 1 August 2025.

        A General Comment is added to the report that states “PPC Valid-to Date: Evidence of additional training required beyond 1 August 2024 in accordance with Exemption No. 048a-2007 and CARs 704.111.”

        Example 2: ‘705 with recurrency training – 12 months’

        A candidate’s existing (i.e., present) PPC valid-to date is 1 August 2023. The candidate undergoes a CARs Subpart 705 PPC (Recurrent) on 15 July 2023 that makes use of CARs 705.113(2)(b) and ‘six-month recurrency training’. The report’s CARs Subpart Specialty option titled “705 with recurrency training – 12 months” is selected. A new valid-to date is auto-calculated that is 1 August 2024.

        A General Comment is added to the report that states “PPC Valid-to Date: Evidence of recurrency training required beyond 1 February 2024 in accordance with CARs 705.113(2)(b).”

  4. Step 4. Evaluation / Standard exercises

    1. 15a, 15b, 15c (etc.,) Approach (APR)

      1. Approach information is now collected under item 15 with more than two approach data fields available (e.g., 15a, 15b, 15c, etc.,). Approaches are added or removed using dedicated software buttons.

      2. Additional information is requested regarding approaches demonstrated including, for example, approaches under VFR conditions (e.g., helicopter operations).

    2. (Standard exercise) Comments

      1. Individual comments blocks are now provided for each flight test exercise. These are separate and apart from the General Comments section provided later.

      2. Where a Performance Mistake (i.e., Error) Repeat is exercised, add the required comment in this section. For example, “Flight test exercise repeated due to a performance mistake during first demonstration attempt”.

        Note: The word ‘error’ is being replaced by ‘mistake’ in policy to avoid confusion with how ‘Error’ is used in the 4-Point Marking Scale.

  5. Step 4. Evaluation / Abnormal/Emergency exercises - Aeroplane Only
    1. Within the CARs Standards (i.e., CASS), PPC Schedules (Takeoff Flight Phase) require both a rejected take-off and an engine failure during or after take-off. Within the PPC Schedules (Abnormal and Emergency Procedures Flight Phase) there is a requirement for two engine failures during the check.
    2. While the online PPC Flight Test Report provides a dedicated Rejected Take-off (RTO) flight test exercise (see item 7.), there are no dedicated engine failure flight test exercises other than item 22.
    3. 22 - Engine Failure
      1. Item 22 is used to document a required engine failure not associated with take-off.
    4. 23 - PPC Emergency
      1. Item 23 is used to document a required engine failure associated with take-off (as required).
    5. Flight Test Exercise Comments

      1. To distinguish the engine failures captured in items 22 and 23, ACPs are instructed to add an additional brief statement to the description / substantiation.

        Example 1: 22 – Engine Failure [79 – Engine oil]

        “Technical Skills and Knowledge – Poor following of SOPs – Engine Failure During Cruise. Upon noticing low engine oil pressure, the PF retarded the engine’s power lever prior to and without confirmation by the PM.”

        Example 2: 23 – PPC Emergency [73 – Engine fuel & control]

        “Aircraft Handling – Safety of flight reduced – Engine Failure During Takeoff (Speed Above V1). Once airborne, the PF allowed a momentary wing drop while compensating for asymmetric thrust.”

  6. Step 4. Evaluation / Complete Check Evaluation
    1. Performance Mistake Repeat

      1. This is a new data field – select Yes or No consistent with ACP Manual (TP 6533) policy regarding Performance Error.

        Note: The word ‘error’ is being replaced by ‘mistake’ in policy to avoid confusion with how ‘Error’ is used in the 4-Point Marking Scale.

    2. General Comments
      1. A general comment block is now provided which is separate from Flight Test Exercise Comments. Enter general comments in accordance with the ACP Manual.

Bulletin Updates

  1. With the deployment of the new Online PPC/LOE Flight Test Reports beyond an initial group of 30-50 participants, this bulletin will be revised in order to provide additional completion instructions for ACPs/AQPEs and sponsoring air operators.

Effective Date

  1. The above changes take effect immediately.

Approval

Deborah Martin
Chief
Commercial Flight Standards (AARTF)
613-990-1055
deborah.martin@tc.gc.ca

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