Attention:
Current or prospective operators of aircraft with a Special Certificate of Airworthiness - Limited (SCOA-L) in CAR Subpart 702 Aerial Work
| File Classification No.: | Z 5000-35 |
|---|---|
| RDIMS No.: | 20317270 |
| Document No.: | CASA 2024-06 |
| Issue No.: | 01 |
| Effective Date: | 2024-05-29 |
Purpose:
The purpose of this Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is to inform operators and prospective operators that as of the issue date of this CASA, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) will cease to accept or consider new applications for issue of a Special Certificate of Airworthiness – Limited (SCOA-L) for any helicopter that is intended for operation under CAR Subpart 702 Aerial Work, or for any fixed wing aircraft intended for aerial fire-fighting.
TCCA will continue to process applications for SCOA-L regarding helicopters that have been submitted to TCCA before the issue date of this CASA.
This cessation will continue until further notice.
Background:
CAR paragraph 700.05(3)(a) states that TCCA may authorize the operation of an aircraft in aerial work under CAR Part VII Subpart 2 (i.e: “CAR 702” Aerial Work) if a special certificate of airworthiness in the restricted or limited classification has been issued in respect of the aircraft.
There has been an increase in interest among Canadian commercial operators in using aircraft with a Special Certificate of Airworthiness – Limited in aerial work. This may represent a significant change in the risk environment.
TCCA will be performing a regulatory review of the current requirements and considerations when exercising Ministerial discretion to authorize, or to refuse to authorize, in accordance with CAR 700.05(3)(a), the operation in CAR Subpart 702 Aerial Work of aircraft that have Special Certificates of Airworthiness – Limited.
TCCA will continue to process applications for SCOA-L regarding helicopters that have been submitted to TCCA before the issue date of this CASA.
All other SCOA-L applications will be processed in accordance with the existing regulatory requirements but will be subject to the new SCOA-L operating conditions. (A fixed wing aircraft will not be allowed to operate for fire fighting.)
Operating Conditions
TCCA has developed additional interim role-specific Operating Conditions for attachment to currently valid SCOA-Ls for commercially operated aircraft, and for attachment to SCOA-Ls that might be issued as a result of active applications.
These Operating Conditions are more restrictive than the Operating Conditions currently published in TCCA exemption NCR-002-2022 and TCCA AC 507-001.
Until the TCCA regulatory review has been completed, additional Operating Conditions may be imposed.
Current commercial operators will be advised of the imposition of replacement Operating Condition as and when those Conditions are determined to be required in accordance with CAR section 507.09.
NCR-002-2022 and TCCA AC 507-001 will be amended in due course.
Recommended Action:
Prospective operators of aircraft with a Special Certificate of Airworthiness – Limited in actual or proposed CAR 702 Aerial Work should be aware of the risk that an aircraft they own or purchase may not be authorized to conduct Aerial Work, even if a Special Certificate of Airworthiness – Limited is eventually issued.
Contact Office:
For more information concerning this issue, or to comment, contact Standards Branch Documentation Services
E-mail:
AARTDocServices-ServicesdocAART@tc.gc.ca
Original signed by
Charles Lanning
For
Stacey Mason
Director
Standards Branch
The Transport Canada Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is used to convey important safety information and contains recommended action items. The CASA strives to assist the aviation industry's efforts to provide a service with the highest possible degree of safety. The information contained herein is often critical and must be conveyed to the appropriate office in a timely manner. The CASA may be changed or amended should new information become available.