Exemption from Paragraphs 722.21(1)(B) and 722.21(2)(B)(Ii) of the Commercial Air Service Standards made pursuant to SECTION 702.21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations

From: Transport Canada

NCR-029-2016

Pursuant to subsection 5.9(2) of the Aeronautics Act, and after taking into account that the exemption is both in the public interest and is not likely to adversely affect aviation safety, I hereby exempt air operators providing helicopter Class D external load services to Alberta Environment and Parks, 201 – 800 Railway Ave, Canmore, Alberta, Canada from the requirements set out in paragraphs 722.21(1)(b) and 722.21(2)(b)(ii) of the Commercial Air Service Standards made pursuant to section 702.21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), subject to the conditions set out below.

The requirements of paragraph 702.21(2)(b) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations and paragraphs 722.21(1)(b) and 722.21(2)(b)(ii) of the Commercial Air Service Standards are reproduced in Appendix A.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this exemption is to allow an air operator, providing contract air services to Alberta Environment and Parks for the purpose of search and rescue operations, as well as associated training, to operate a helicopter to carry a Class D external load where the personnel carrying device does not have an airworthiness approval for the carriage of human external loads.  This exemption is intended to allow continuation of search and rescue services for a period necessary to formally obtain airworthiness approval of the appropriate harnesses.

APPLICATION

This exemption applies to an air operator providing helicopter Class D external load services to Alberta Environment and Parks for the purposes of search and rescue operations, as well as associated training, using personnel carrying devices provided and maintained by Alberta Environment and Parks.

CONDITIONS

This exemption is subject to the following conditions:

  1. The air operator shall ensure that the helicopter providing contract air services for the purpose of search and rescue operations, as well as associated training, to Alberta Environment and Parks be configured with a Class D Human External Load system approved for that helicopter under a supplemental type certificate or its aircraft type certificate.
  2. Only the following personnel carrying devices (harnesses) may be connected to the Class D Human External Load system:
    1. a) Petzl Adjama Sit Harness CE-EN 12277 Type C Harness, used in combination with
    2. b) Petzl Chest’Air Chest Harness CE-EN 12277 Type D Harness.
  3. The air operator shall ensure the harnesses are stored, maintained, and retired based on the manufacturer’s recommendations for each harness.

VALIDITY

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

  1. a) March 31, 2018 at 23:59 (EST);
  2. b) the date on which any condition set out in this exemption is breached; or
  3. c) the date on which this exemption is cancelled in writing by the Minister where she is of the opinion that it is no longer in the public interest or it is likely to adversely affect aviation safety.

DATED at Ottawa, Ontario, this 28th day of June, 2016 on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

"Original signed by"

Aaron McCrorie
Director General, Aviation Safety Regulatory Framework
Civil Aviation

APPENDIX A

CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS

Chapter VII – Commercial Air Services
Subpart 2 - Division III – Flight Operations
Section 702.21 – Helicopter Class D External Loads

[…]

  1. (2) An air operator may operate a helicopter other than a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(a) to carry a helicopter Class D external load if the air operator

[…]

  1. (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE STANDARD

Standard 722 – Aerial Work
Division III – Flight Operations
Section 722.21 – Helicopter Class D External Loads

  1. (1) The standards for authorization to operate a helicopter to carry a Class D helicopter external load are:

[…]

  1. (b) the personnel carrying device is airworthiness approved for the carriage of human external loads;

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  1. (2) The standards for authorization to operate a helicopter to carry a Class D helicopter external load using a single-engine helicopter or a multi-engine helicopter unable to comply with one engine inoperative requirements are:

[…]

  1. (b) where the load extends below the landing gear:

[…]

  1. (ii) the personnel carrying device is airworthiness approved for the carriage of human external loads;

[…]

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