Approved check dispatcher bulletin no. 01/21 revision 2

Applicability

Subject

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Measures

Purpose

1. To provide temporary measures in the public interest in response to travel restrictions, reduced flight schedules and other impediments that air operators are encountering in the checking of dispatchers, following the declaration of a pandemic outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11^th, 2020.
2. Measures are considered temporary and do not represent permanent policy changes.
3. This Bulletin may be revised periodically in response to the evolving situation.
4. Please subscribe to the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) E-Bulletin service to receive an immediate e-mail alert when revisions to this Approved Check Dispatch (ACD) Bulletin are released.
   https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/e-bulletin.html

Background

1. While self-isolating and quarantine measures are being implemented, the necessity of air transport to our domestic and international communities remains vital to Canada’s transportation infrastructure.
2. With the seriousness of COVID-19, the threat posed to the operational control system of an air operator by a COVID-19 outbreak within a System Operational Control (SOC) Centre is high. Therefore in the interest of overall system safety and integrity, the necessity of mitigating the likelihood of the above described occurrence by limiting the possible entry vectors of COVID-19 into a SOC Centre is paramount.

Application

1. This bulletin provides guidance for conducting Dispatch Competency Checks (DCCs) using physical distancing protocols (see Appendix A). The guidance provided is a means of conducting DCCs under the COVID-19 pandemic but not the only means.
2. This Bulletin allows the extension of the validity period of an ACD monitor, as per TP 14114 Approved Check Dispatcher Manual 11.1 for an additional (twelve) 12 months. This extension will only be applied to those who have not yet taken advantage of bulletin 01/20 and must be requested by the operator to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA).
3. TP14114 2^nd Edition “Approved Check Dispatcher Manual”, section 11.1.3 shall be temporarily superseded by the following text:
   
   “Transport Canada may extend the validity period of an ACD monitor by up to twelve (12) months where, in Transport Canada’s opinion, aviation safety is not likely to be affected. Subject to section 11.1.2, where the validity period of an ACD monitor has been extended and subsequently renewed after the original valid-to date, a new valid-to date will be calculated in accordance with section 11.1.1.”
4. The intent of this temporary change is to permit ACDs at air operators to maintain their validity and continue carrying out their duties and responsibilities per TP 14114 in conducting Dispatcher Competency Checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also limiting potential entry vectors of COVID-19 into an operator’s SOC Centre.
5. Due to ongoing protocols dealing with COVID-19, there could be delays in the processing and the generation of new and replacement dispatcher certificates. To mitigate this please have all completed and successful Dispatcher Competency Check (DCC) forms and current training records including current familiarization flight records readily available and contained in training files as proof that candidates have met the qualifications to be a flight dispatcher. If delays occur in the processing and generation of dispatch certificates they will be sent out as soon as practicable, however until then the individual training records will be accepted as proof of certification. Form 26-0732 “Flight Dispatcher Training and Proficiency Record” can be used to consolidate the training records.

Conditions

1. ACD validity and currency for all ACDs and contracted ACDs at Canadian Operators shall be maintained in accordance with TP14114, Section 3.3, as well as any other requirement written in either TP14114 or the conditions of issuance of the ACD Delegation of Authority letter as issued by Transport Canada.

Please consider employing hygiene measures and guidance by Transport Canada found here:
https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-tc.html

Effective date

February 1, 2021

1. The measures in this bulletin are in effect until the earliest of the following:
   1. 30 June 2021, to be interpreted as the last day any measure contained in this bulletin can be granted for an ACD monitor or
   2. The date on which these measures are cancelled in writing by the Minister where he is of the opinion that it is no longer in the public interest or is likely to adversely affect aviation safety or security.

Release Date and Controlled Document.

For immediate release.

A controlled copy of this document will be available on Transport Canada’s website:

Approved by

DH Martin

Deborah Martin
Chief, Commercial Flight Standards (AARTF)
Transport Canada Civil Aviation

Appendix A

Conducting a DCC with the below measures in place is in keeping with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s physical distancing recommendations. Operators that do not employ ACDs can expect Transport Canada inspectors, conducting DCCs, to observe the stricter of operators established protocols and Transport Canada’s established protocols.

Below is guidance under which a DCC can be conducted using physical distancing:

1. Briefings and debriefings can be accomplished remotely either via phone or video conference or maintaining a 2m distance (using whatever measures the operator has already in place i.e. face masks).
   1. All required items specified in TP 14114 ACD Manual must be covered during briefings and debriefings.
   2. Additional items addressing how the DCC will be conducted with physical distancing should also be covered in the briefing.
   3. Hardcopy or electronic copies of the DCC report can be used for debriefings, having copies for both the ACD and candidate and, if hardcopies are used, a protocol for printing a copy for each person should be used i.e. either sending a PDF to the candidate for printing on their own or allowing the candidate to pick it up off the printer.
2. The same protocols the operator has for desk handover briefings should be used by the ACD to observe the handover as the handover is required to be assessed, this could include the following:
   1. If the handover is accomplished electronically i.e. digital briefing notes, blogs, online chat or by hardcopy briefing notes they all should be made available to the ACD.
   2. If the handover is live the ACD can either witness this live at a 2m distance or by phone conference i.e. speaker phone.
3. While the candidate is in control of the desk the following procedures could be used:
   1. The ACD can observe the desk from a 2m distance that still allows for verbal questioning and observation by direct sight.
   2. The ACD can log into their own or the candidates flight planning software at a distance, to have more direct observation over flight planning and decision making
   3. The ACD could remotely access the desktop of the candidate to have a full view of the candidates work and management of the desk and flights under their control.
      1. If this is used the ACD must not interfere with the remote desktop in any way and allow full candidate autonomy.
   4. Questions and scenarios could be asked and answered either verbally, by phone, by email or by use of live online secure chat room.
4. If a failure occurs while the candidate is in control of the desk, the ACD or other qualified dispatcher must take over the desk using the same protocols as the original desk handover.