EXEMPTION FROM PARAGRAPH 325.46(2)(a) of THE HELIPORT STANDARDS MADE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION 305.46(2) OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS

Pursuant to subsection 5.9(2) of the Aeronautics Act, and after taking into account that the exemption is in the public interest and is not likely to affect adversely aviation safety, I hereby exempt all Canadian heliport operators, from the requirements of paragraph 325.46(2)(a) of the Heliport Standards made pursuant to subsection 305.46(2) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, subject to the following conditions.

Paragraph 325.46(2)(a) of the Heliport Standards stipulates that for the purposes of subsection 305.46(2) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, the requirement in respect of fire protection for a rooftop heliport, is that the (a) main structural support beams that could be exposed to a fuel spill must have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.

INTERPRETATION

For the purposes of this exemption, landing pad edge means the outer edge of Final Approach and Take-off Area (FATO) when the FATO and the Touchdown and Lift-off Area (TLOF) are coincidental.

For the purposes of this exemption, Class A rating means a 2 hour fire resistance rating.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this exemption is to permit Canadian heliport operators to use an alternate means of meeting the intent of the 2 hour fire resistance rating for rooftop heliports, in accordance with the provisions of the National Fire Protection Association publication NFPA 418 – Standards for Heliports – 2011 Edition, and Section 412(b), Chapter 4 – Hospital Heliports of the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Aviation Administration – Advisory Circular AC150-5390-2B dated September 30, 2004, pending formal amendment of CAR 325 - Heliport Standards.

APPLICATION

This exemption applies to all Canadian heliport operators. 

CONDITIONS

The exemption must be subject to the following conditions:

  1. Where the landing pad is nonporous, fuel-tight, and provided with a proper drainage system, and fuel cannot flow to main structural support members, the main structural support members would not need to be fire rated, provided that;
    1. the rooftop landing pad surface is constructed of approved non-combustible, nonporous materials; and
    2. the contiguous building roof covering within 50 ft (15.2 m) of the landing pad edge has a Class A rating.
  2. A copy of this exemption must be inserted into the Heliport Operations Manual.

VALIDITY

This exemption is in effect until the earliest of the following:

  1. June 15th, 2013 at 23:59 EDT;
  2. the date on which any of the condition set out in this exemption is breached;
  3. the date on which the exemption is cancelled by the Minister, in writing, where he is of the opinion that it is no longer in the public interest, or that it is likely to affect adversely aviation safety.

Dated at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, this ___22____day of ____December_____ 2011, on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

[original signed by Nicole Girard for]

Martin J. Eley
Director General
Civil Aviation

Date de modification :