COVID-19: Continuing Health Guidance for Private and Commercial Air Operators and Crew Members (CASA) No. 2020-03

Attention:

All Canadian private and commercial air operators

File Classification No.:	Z 5000-35
RDIMS No.:	17694593
Document No.:	CASA 2020-03
Issue No.:	02
Effective Date:	2021-07-29

Purpose:

The purpose of this Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is to provide updated health guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Transport Canada (TC) for private and commercial air operators, their crew members and the general public regarding COVID-19. TC is providing this updated health guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on board aircraft, during operations, layovers, or through day-to-day operational requirements.

Background:

Since March of 2020, PHAC, TC, the aviation industry and international state partners have been responding to and assessing the outbreak of the COVID-19 illness as a result of the Novel Coronavirus. Issue 02 serves as an update to the guidance issued in March of 2020 to represent the changes in domestic and international guidance.

Air operators and crew members conducting flight operations both domestically and internationally should be aware of the guidance provided by PHAC and international health authorities.

Recommended action

All Canadian private and commercial air operators and their respective crew members should use the guidance in Appendix A regarding COVID-19 in collaboration with the most up-to-date guidance provided by PHAC.

PHAC General Information
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

PHAC Life After Vaccination
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html#after-vaccination

PHAC Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Prevention and Risks
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html

Additionally, with the easing of public health restrictions domestically, Canadian private and commercial air operators and their crew members should make themselves familiar with any local public health requirements or restrictions prior to arrival.

Alberta
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx

British Columbia
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

Manitoba
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html

New Brunswick
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/biling/coronavirus.html

Newfoundland and Labrador
https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/

Northwest Territories
https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/

Nova Scotia
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

Nunavut
https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Ontario
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/

Prince Edward Island
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/covid19

Quebec
https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/

Saskatchewan
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus

Yukon
https://yukon.ca/en/covid-19-information

International COVID-19 Guidance

Where available, the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories provides hyperlinks to international COVID-19 information websites. If crew members are assigned to a layover where no guidance is readily available, private and commercial air operators are encouraged to provide the crew members with the most up-to-date information for that country.

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has also published websites related to guidance and best practices related to COVID-19.

https://www.icao.int/covid/Pages/default.aspx

Contact office:

For more information concerning this issue, contact a Transport Canada Centre; or contact Commercial Flight Standards in Ottawa, by e-mail at AARTFInfo-InfoAARTF@tc.gc.ca

Original signed by

Andrew Larsen

For

Félix Meunier
Director
Standards

Appendix A
Guidance for air operators and crew members

1. Crew members on layovers both domestically and internationally are reminded of the health measures currently implemented. While the situation in Canada has improved since the start of the vaccine campaign, vaccine campaigns in other jurisdictions are still evolving. Crew members should be aware of public health restrictions that are greater in other jurisdictions in relation to Canada while on layovers such as: activities in public, the practice of physical distancing and wearing a non-medical mask.
2. Crew members are encouraged to pay close attention to their own health at all times and to remain in communication with their employer. If crew members develop symptoms associated with COVID-19 (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/symptoms.html) the crew member should follow public health guidance, which may result in self-isolation or being excluded from being assigned additional duties, including ground training, until deemed fit to be assigned to duty by local public health authorities.
3. Guidance issued by PHAC and TC related to COVID-19 is updated regularly. Private and commercial air operators and their crew members are encouraged to review the latest guidance on an ongoing basis:
   1. PHAC: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html;
   2. TC: https://tc.canada.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-issued-transport-canada.
4. COVID-19 vaccinations:
   1. Air operators should:
      1. Encourage crew members to get a COVID-19 vaccine;
      2. Provide crew members with the opportunity to access a COVID-19 vaccine.
5. Fully vaccinated crew members:
   1. Should follow the PHAC guidance for fully vaccinated persons while in Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html#after-vaccination); or
   2. Follow local guidance for fully vaccinated persons while in a specific country;
   3. Should continue to monitor their health for the symptoms of COVID-19 and report those symptoms to both their local health authorises and their employer; and
   4. Unless otherwise stated, are still subject to interim orders issued by either PHAC or TC.
6. Health monitoring:
   1. Air operator’s occupational health and safety departments and COVID-19 plans should include provisions for:
      1. How to remain in contact with all crew members to ensure they continue to monitor their health, avoid risk factors that could expose crew members to COVID-19, and report any symptoms to their employer prior to being assigned to duty;
      2. Educating crew members on what to do if they or their close contacts are diagnosed with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19;
      3. To the extent feasible, screen crew members for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to each duty period;
      4. Ensuring crew members who are symptomatic or known to have had COVID-19 have completed quarantine or isolation prior to being assigned to duty according to both PHAC and local health authorities;
      5. Air operators, should not schedule crew members for duty, including ground duty, where a COVID-19 test has been recommended or required but test results are pending;
      6. If applicable, air operators should be aware of the latest exemptions or interim orders as they pertain to crew members.
   2. Crew members should be excluded from work on an aircraft, including repositioning or accessing the jump seat, or completing any in-person training if they:
      1. Have a temperature equal to or greater than 38 degrees Celsius; or
      2. Have symptoms of COVID-19; and
      3. Unless otherwise updated, these recommendations apply regardless of a crew member’s vaccination status.
   3. When exposed to a person likely to have or confirm to have COVID-19:
      1. Crew members should not be assigned to duty and follow local health requirements, which may include one or multiple COVID-19 tests.
7. Minimizing crew member exposures:
   1. To minimize exposure to COVID-19 for crew members, air operators should:
      1. Arrange for private ground transport to move crew members to hotels which allows crew members to maintain physical distancing;
      2. Arrange to have crew members in hotels that are in close proximity to the airport and ensure that hotel rooms are sanitized in advance of a crew member’s arrival;
      3. Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol to crew members for their personal use;
      4. Provide crew members with cleaning and disinfectant products that are effective against COVID-19 and compatible with aircraft for use by crew members on high-touch surfaces;
      5. According to manufacturer recommendations, after each flight, clean and disinfect interior aircraft surfaces and high-touch surfaces in the flight deck;
      6. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) on board aircraft for crew member use;
      7. Ensure that any crew members who may have not been assigned to duty since March 2020, are trained in the correct use of PPE, including the correct procedures for donning and removing;
      8. Establish procedures for managing duties for crew members who develop symptoms of COVID-19 during a flight; and
      9. As applicable, ensure air operator personnel have been informed, and if required trained in accordance with any air operators procedures or policies associated with the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19.
8. For crew members on layovers:
   1. Travel as a crew in private transport provided by the air operator when transiting between the airport and the hotel;
   2. Adhere to local public health restrictions, including but not limited to, gathering limitations, curfews, and when required, the use of a face mask;
   3. Being aware of the local risk of COVID-19 transmission;
   4. Avoiding all contact with sick people;
   5. Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use at least 60% alcohol based hand sanitizer; and
   6. Follow guidance from provincial, territorial, federal or jurisdictional health authorities.
9. Crew members at their place of residence:
   1. Be aware of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the community;
   2. Follow guidance from provincial or territorial health authorities;
   3. If applicable, adherence to local COVID-19 restrictions;
   4. Avoiding contact with sick people or vulnerable populations;
   5. If a crew member becomes sick or is known to have had a high risk exposure to COVID-19, follow the guidance provided to the crew members based on the latest information by the local health authority;
   6. Monitor health before, during and after domestic and international travel.
10. Air operators may choose to exceed these recommendations based on their own policies and areas of operations.
11. Air operators with international operations should access and provide to crew members the guidance from the relevant public health authorities on an updated and regular basis.