by ATSC Team, Technical Program and Evaluations, Safety Promotion and Education, Transport Canada, Civil Aviation
In response to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB)’s report "Raising the Bar on Safety: Reducing the Risks Associated with Air-Taxi Operations in Canada," Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation Branch (TCCA) launched a targeted air taxi safety campaign to directly address the TSB’s recommendation A19-02.
The TSB emphasized the need to shift the mindset across the air-taxi industry—among clients, passengers, crews and operators—toward actively rejecting unsafe practices, even when operations appear to be within acceptable margins. Achieving this shift requires sector-specific strategies and educational efforts that promote behavioral and cultural change, ultimately fostering an environment where unsafe actions are no longer tolerated.
In light of this, TCCA created three working groups: human factors, clients and operational pressures. These working groups provide a platform for active engagement between TCCA and the aviation community. By collaborating on best practices and shared challenges, they contribute to reducing operational risks and advancing safety across the air-taxi industry.
Human factors working group update
CRM training content development
The working group is currently developing PowerPoint training modules to address core crew resource management (CRM) topics, such as the acceptance/normalization of unsafe practices, where pilots may become desensitized to risk due to pressure or routine exposure. Emphasis is also placed on professionalism, particularly in leadership, communication and team coordination.
Additional topics address the five human performance principles, which include managing fatigue, effective use of automation and technology and sound decision-making under operational stress. Threat and error management (TEM) will provide frameworks for identifying and managing operational hazards. Finally, specific strategies are presented for single-pilot crew resource management, focusing on properly managing workload, fatigue and pressure.
Case study catalogue (CRM learning support)
To support scenario-based learning, a catalogue of real-world case studies is being developed. These include a runway excursion, a MEDEVAC flight, a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) during a helicopter passenger operation, a loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) during a sightseeing flight, and a collision during takeoff involving a floatplane on a passenger flight. Each case is selected to illustrate specific human factors challenges, as well as human performance issues, linked directly to the CRM principles being taught, encouraging applied learning and critical thinking.
Clients working group update
Client education and awareness content
Content is also being tailored for two distinct audiences: company executives (such as CEOs and owners) and customer passengers.
For executives, the material focuses on how organizational decisions and culture influence safety outcomes. Topics include the normalization of unsafe practices, the challenges of single-pilot CRM, compliance with pilot duty time regulations, and understanding aircraft operational limitations such as weight and balance, maintenance requirements and weather-related risks.
For customers, the goal is to raise awareness around operational decisions without causing alarm. Educational materials will help passengers understand why delays, cancellations and operational limits are necessary safety measures rather than inconveniences.
Operational pressures working group update
Operational pressures—Risk identification and mitigation
A separate presentation is being developed to help operators identify and mitigate key operational pressures that can compromise safety. These include weather-related go/no-go decisions, limitations in aerodrome infrastructure (such as availability of de-icing or weather reporting), and challenges in maintaining accurate weight and balance with cargo, baggage and passengers.
Additional pressures include fatigue management in relation to flight duty time limits, handling of unserviceable aircraft and maintenance delays, and staffing shortages that impact both flight crews and maintenance teams. Each of these pressure points will be addressed with suggested mitigation strategies to support safe operational decision-making.
For more information on the ATSC or to view educational products that were developed, please visit the campaign’s Web page.