Airworthiness Chapter 537 - Standards Appliances and Parts - Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)

Last amendment to chapter: 2022/08/28

Table of contents

• Interpretation Provision for Part V Standards
• Procurement Of Reference Publications
• Preamble
• Subchapter A - General
  • 537.1 - Applicability
  • 537.3 - Cross Reference
  • 537.5 - Canadian Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO) Design Approval
  • 537.7 - Identification
• Subchapter B - Canadian Technical Standard Orders
  • 537.101 - General
  • 537.103 - Canadian Technical Standard Orders
    • Appendix A – List of Canadian Technical Standard Orders (Index 1, Index 2 and Index 3)
• Subchapter C - Reserved
  • 537.201 - Reserved
  • 537.203 - Reserved
  • 537.205 - Reserved
  • 537.207 - Reserved

Interpretation Provision for Part V Standards

In these Standards:

1. (a) The passages giving the Minister the power to determine, approve, establish or authorise something without stating the criteria for the use of such power are to be construed as requiring that the power be used in consideration of two factors: the airworthiness of the appliance or part that is the subject of the determination, approval or authorisation, or of the aircraft on which the appliance or part that is the subject of the determination, approval or authorisation is to be installed, and the aircraft's level of safety;
   (amended 2009/12/01)
2. (b) the word "approved" or "authorised", when used without an indication of a method of approval or authorisation, is to be construed as referring to an approval or an authorisation granted under the Aeronautics Act.
   (amended 2009/12/01)

Procurement of Reference Publications

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Standard Orders (TSO) referenced in this Chapter of the Airworthiness Manual are available in English only and may be consulted free at:

1. Transport Canada (AARDHA)
   Aircraft Certification Technical Reference Centre
   Technical Reference Center
   Place de Ville, Tower C,
   330 Sparks Street, Room 465
   Ottawa, Ontario
   K1A 0N8
   or:

by Internet at:

1. https://drs.faa.gov/

(amended 2022/06/06)

This change contains the following:

1. (a) A revised list of Aviation Technical Standard Orders in Subchapter B, based on Advisory Circular AC 20-110J, Appendix 1, dated May 30, 1997, including TSO-C149 and TSO-C150 published by FAA after May 30, 1997 . This change was subjected to consultation with the aviation industry through NPA 1998-174, dated 19 August 1998, and has received general acceptance;
2. (b) Cross reference criteria between FAR and Canadian regulations, that were previously contained in AMA 537/1, and the AMA has been canceled. This change was subjected to consultation with the aviation industry through NPA 1994-16, dated 20 December 1994, and has received general acceptance; and
3. (c) The addition of an Information Note after paragraph 537.205 (c).

Information note:

Effective 1 December 1998 a new Chapter 551of the Airworthiness Manual, entitled "Aircraft Equipment and Installation Standards" has been published. This chapter contains the acceptable design standards as well as installation standards for use by installers and users of these items of equipment.

Chapter 537 "Appliances" of this manual remains valid; it specifies the current standards for issuance of a Type Certificate for new aviation appliances and is designer / manufacturer oriented.

1. General

This change introduces a new amendment format. This new amendment format is introduced in Chapter 537 of the Airworthiness Manual in order to be more consistent with the administrative procedures followed to amend the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).

The following changes to the amendment procedures are introduced in this Change 537-5:

• the preamble will become the focal point regarding the sections affected by this Change. The change number will no longer be provided at the end of an amended section. Rather, for the current change only, an amendment tag identifying the "coming into force date" of the provision will follow the amended text. (example: (amended 2003/06/01)).
• brackets "[ ]" will no longer be used to identify new or revised text. In the paper version, new or revised text will be highlighted. In the electronic version, new or revised text will not be highlighted but followed by an electronic link to the previous version of the modified text. (example: (amended 2003/06/01; previous version)).
• the preamble will include a table of change information. This table will include the Notices of Proposed Amendments (NPAs) with the corresponding amended sections.

2. Simplified Process for the Amendment of the Design Standards of Airworthiness by Adopting by Reference a Foreign Amendment

These proposed amendments adopt by reference recently amended and published Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Standard Orders (TSO) to harmonize section 537.103 with the FAA's list of TSOs.

3. CARAC Proposed Amendment Recommendations

This change implements the following amendments to the standard recommended by the CARAC Technical Committee Part V- Aircraft Certification

With the publication of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) in 1996 and the revocation of the Engineering and Inspection Manual (E&I Manual), some information contained in Part II, Chapter III, section 3.12 of the E&I Manual regarding emergency locator transmitters (ELT), especially ELT batteries, would be lost. The CARAC Equipment Standards – Airworthiness Manual 551/537 Working Group studied the above problem and recommended that a new section be added to Chapter 537 of the Airworthiness Manual to capture information that will be left out as a result of the revocation of the E&I Manual.

The CARAC Technical Committee Part V - Aircraft Certification, 551/537 Working Group recommended in its final report that the revised CGSB standards for helicopter passenger transportation suit systems be reviewed for adoption when it comes into effect. The revision to this CGSB standard is an attempt to harmonize the CAN/CGSB 65.16 standard for marine abandonment immersion suit systems so as to achieve possible dual role certification. The Aircraft Certification Branch of Transport Canada was involved in the development of this revision to the CGSB standards.

This proposed amendment adopts the FAA TSO for Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS) harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's list of TSOs.

1. Simplified Process for the Amendment of the Design Standards of Airworthiness by Adopting by Reference a Foreign Amendment

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada approved TSOs from the FAA list of recently amended and published Technical Standard Orders (TSO). The adoption of these FAA TSOs harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's list of TSOs.

2. CARAC Proposed Amendment Recommendations

This change implements the following amendments to the standard recommended by the CARAC Technical Committee Part V:

This amendment deletes the requirements for aircraft passenger transportation suit systems and emergency locator transmitters. These requirements are deleted from Chapter 537 in order to transfer these requirements into the more appropriate location of Chapter 551.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada approved TSOs from the FAA list of recently amended and published Technical Standard Orders (TSO). The adoption of these FAA TSOs harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's list of TSOs.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) with those recently amended and published TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between 30 September 2003 and 2 May 2005. The adoption of these FAA TSOs is in order to harmonize section 537.103 with the FAA's current list of TSOs.

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) with those recently amended and published TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between 3 May 2005 and 26 August 2005. The adoption of these FAA TSOs harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's current list of TSOs.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) with those recently amended and published TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between 17 May 2004 and 22 August 2006.

TSO-C31d and TSO-C32d are deleted from AWM 537.103 because TSO-170 High Frequency (HF) Radio Communications Transceiver Equipment Operating Within the Radio Frequency combines the requirements of the cancelled TSO-C31d, High Frequency Radio Communications Transmitting Equipment Operating Within the Radio Frequency Range of 1.5 to 30 Megahertz and TSO-C32d, High Frequency Radio Communications Receiving Equipment Operating Within the Radio Frequency Range of 1.5 to 30 Megahertz.

TSO-C37d and TSO-C38d are deleted from the AWM 537.103 because TSO-169 VHF Radio Communications Transceiver Equipment Operating Within the Radio Frequency Range 117.975 combines the requirements of TSO-C37d, VHF Radio Communications Transmitting Equipment Operating within the Radio Frequency Range 117.975 – 136.000 Megahertz and TSO-C38d, VHF Radio Communications Receiving Equipment Operating within the Radio Frequency Range 117.975 – 136.000 Megahertz, as well as updates the requirements to include 8.33 Kilohertz (kHz) channel spacing capability.

TSO-C50c, TSO-C57a and TSO-C58a are deleted from the AWM 537.103 because TSO-C139 Aircraft Audio Systems and Equipment affects new applications submitted after its effective date. The FAA cancelled TSO-C50c, Audio Selector Panels and Amplifiers, TSO-C57a, Headsets and Speakers, and TSO-C58a, Aircraft Microphones, after publishing TSO-C139.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) with those recently amended and published TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between 23 August 2006 and 17 April 2007. The adoption of these FAA TSOs harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's current list of TSOs.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) with those recently amended and published TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between May 17, 2007 and February 6, 2009. The adoption of these FAA TSOs is in order to harmonize section 537.103 with the FAA's current list of TSOs.

On December 1, 2009, Part V Subpart 21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR 521) came into force. CAR 521 replaces the following Regulations in Part V - Airworthiness:

Subpart 11 - Approval of the Type Design of an Aeronautical Product
Subpart 13 - Approval of Modification and Repair Designs
Subpart 16 - Aircraft Emissions
Subpart 22 - Gliders and Powered Gliders
Subpart 23 - Normal, Utility, Aerobatic and Commuter Category Aeroplanes
Subpart 25 - Transport Category Aeroplanes
Subpart 27 - Normal Category Rotorcraft
Subpart 29 - Transport Category Rotorcraft
Subpart 31 - Manned Free Balloons
Subpart 33 - Aircraft Engines
Subpart 35 - Aircraft Propellers
Subpart 37 - Aircraft Appliances and Other Aeronautical Products
Subpart 41 - Airships
Subpart 51 - Aircraft Equipment
Subpart 91 - Service Difficulty Reporting
Subpart 93 - Airworthiness Directives

In addition, with publication of CAR 521, the following Chapters of the Airworthiness Manual have been withdrawn:

Chapter 511 - Approval of the Type Design of an Aeronautical Product
Chapter 513 - Approval of Modification and Repair Designs
Standard 591 - Service Difficulty Reporting
Standard 593 - Airworthiness Directives

This change amends Chapter 537 of the AWM to reflect changes in legal drafting style, in terminology and in references required because of the introduction of CAR 521.

Subchapter A is amended to refer to the new Canadian Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO) design approval and to make related changes.
The general provisions of Subchapter B have been modified to reflect our new CAN-TSO and to add a new column to the table to provide the CAN-TSO number that corresponds to the adopted FAA TSO.

Subchapter C is amended to delete section 537.203 on child restraint systems, which is now part of Chapter 551 of the AWM.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Canadian Technical Standard Orders (CAN-TSOs) with those recently amended and published CAN-TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between February 7, 2009 and December 17, 2009. The adoption of these FAA TSOs harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's current list of TSOs.

In addition, editorial revisions to the section and paragraph numbering of 537.101 and 537.103 are made to restore the location of adopted FAA TSOs to section 537.103. Continued use of section 537.103 to identify those adopted FAA TSOs will simplify and therefore better enable ongoing determination of historical and current effective dates of FAA TSOs in Canada, through the use of the CARAC Notice of Proposed Amendments System database search function, allowing the use of the single search criteria of "537.103" to obtain an appropriate listing.

This change contains the following:

This amendment updates the list of adopted Canadian Technical Standard Orders (CAN-TSOs) in Chapter 537 of the Airworthiness Manual with those recently amended and published TSOs identified from the FAA list, as modified between December 18, 2009 and May 3, 2012.

CAN-TSOs removed from the current list are no longer eligible to be used by an applicant for a new design approval, but designs approved under historical CAN-TSOs may continue to be manufactured by an appropriately authorized manufacturer, subject to the conditions of their manufacturer approval.

(amended 2009/12/01)

This amendment updates the list of Transport Canada adopted Canadian Technical Standard Orders (CAN-TSOs) with those recently amended and published CAN-TSOs identified from the FAA list of current TSOs, as modified between December 17, 2020 and April 1st 2022. The adoption of these FAA TSOs harmonizes section 537.103 with the FAA's current list of TSOs.

CAN-TSOs removed from the current list are no longer eligible for use by an applicant for a new CAN-TSO design approval, but designs approved under historical CAN-TSOs may continue to be manufactured by an appropriately authorized manufacturer, subject to the conditions of their manufacturer approval.

Subchapter A - General

537.1 Applicability

1. (a) Pursuant to section 521.106 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, this Chapter sets out the standards of airworthiness for appliances and parts.
   (amended 2009/12/01)

2. (b) For each appliance or part to which these standards apply, “standard of airworthiness” means, for the design, manufacture or maintenance of that appliance or part, the description, in terms of a minimum standard, of the properties and attributes of the configuration, material, performance or physical characteristics of that appliance or part and includes the procedures to ascertain compliance with or to maintain that minimum standard.
   (amended 2009/12/01)

   (Change 537-1 (89-03-01))
   (Change 537-2 (92-02-03))
   (Change 537-4 (98-10-29))

537.3 Cross Reference

1. (a) Where a reference is made in an adopted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Standard Order (TSO), as set out in Subchapter B, Canadian Technical Standard Orders, to Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) or Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), the following text must be substituted respectively:
   (effective 2015/08/04)
   1. (1) Parts 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35, as Chapters 523, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533 and 535 of the Airworthiness Manual.
      (effective 2015/08/04)
   2. (2) Procedures, of FAR Part 21, and data requirements, such as FAR 37.5 or FAR 21.605 as Part V, Subpart 21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
      (amended 2009/12/01)
   3. (3) Marking requirements, such as FAR 37.7, FAR 21.607 or 14 CFR Part 45 as Part II, Subpart 1 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
      (amended 2009/12/01)
2. (b) Where a reference is made in an adopted European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) European Technical Standard Order (ETSO), as set out in Subchapter B Canadian Technical Standard Orders, to Part 21 of the EASA implementing regulations, the following text must be substituted respectively:
   (effective 2015/08/04)
   1. (1) Certification Specifications CS-VLA, CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, CS-29, CS-31, CS-E and CS-P, as Chapters 523-VLA, 523, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533 and 535 of the Airworthiness Manual.
   2. (2) Procedures and data requirements, such as Part 21, Section A, Subpart O, as Part V, Subpart 21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
   3. (3) Marking requirements, such as Part 21, Section A, Subpart Q, as Part II, Subpart 1 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

3. (c) Unless stated otherwise in this Chapter, internationally recognized standards referenced in a Canadian Technical Standard Order are also incorporated by reference as part of the Canadian Technical Standard Order.
   (amended 2009/12/01)

   (Change 537-1 (89-03-01))
   (Change 537-2 (92-02-03))
   (Change 537-4 (98-10-29))

Subchapter B - Canadian Technical Standard Orders

(amended 2009/12/01)

537.101 General

This subchapter specifies the Canadian Technical Standard Orders (CAN-TSOs) that are the minimum performance standards (MPS) for the issuance of, or a change to, a Canadian Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO) design approval in respect of an appliance or a part.
(effective 2015/08/04)

537.103 Canadian Technical Standard Orders

(effective 2015/08/04)

1. (a) The Canadian Technical Standard Orders (CAN-TSOs) consist of those Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Standard Orders (FAA-TSOs), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) European Technical Standard Orders (ETSOs) and those unique Canadian CAN-TSOs that are adopted by the Minister, using the simplified process for the amendment of the design standards of airworthiness, as set out in the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council Management Charter, and are identified with a corresponding CAN-TSO number as follows:
   (effective 2020/01/23)
   1. (1) Index 1 of Appendix A to this Chapter consists of those CAN-TSOs identical to those used by the FAA and using the same numbering.
      (effective 2015/08/04)
   2. (2) Index 2 of Appendix A to this Chapter consists of those CAN-TSOs identical to those used by EASA, as listed in CS-ETSO Subpart B Index 2, only for those Index 2 ETSOs where an FAA-TSO does not exist for a particular application (i.e. ETSO-2C5XX series), and using the same numbering.
      (effective 2015/08/04)

      Information Note: The applicant for and user of an Index 2 CAN-TSO is encouraged to confirm its suitability for use in meeting any applicable design, installation and/or operating rules.
      (effective 2017/11/25)

   3. (3) Index 3 of Appendix A to this Chapter consists of those CAN-TSOs that have been developed by the Minister and issued pursuant to paragraph 521.106(b) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, where these CAN-TSOs are not technically similar to either FAA-TSOs or ETSOs and will be numbered as follows:
      (effective 2015/08/04)
      1. (i) CAN-TSO-3CXXX, in which the 3 denotes that it is from Index 3.

         Information Note: CAN-TSO-3C7XX series denotes CAN-TSOs for which neither an FAA-TSO nor an ETSO exists for a particular application.

2. (b) Where a CAN-TSO is identified with an end-of-effectivity date, applications for CAN-TSO design approvals with respect to these standards will no longer be accepted after that date.
   (effective 2015/08/04)

   Information Note: CAN-TSO design approvals issued with respect to previous CAN-TSO standards may still be manufactured under the provisions, and subject to the continued validity, of their existing CAR 561 manufacturer approval.

(Change 537-1 (89-03-01))
(Change 537-2 (92-02-03))
(Change 537-3 (93-12-30))
(Change 537-4 (98-10-29))

Appendix A

List of Canadian Technical Standard Orders (Index 1, Index 2 and Index 3)

(effective 2022/08/28)

Index 1

Index 2

Index 3

CAN-TSO-3C503

Effective Date: 2015-01-23

RDIMS No.: 8690342 v4

Canadian Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO)

Subject: Helicopter Passenger Transportation Suit Systems (HPTSS)

1. 1.0 APPLICABILITY

   This Canadian Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO) specifies the minimum performance standards (MPS) that Helicopter Passenger Transportation Suit Systems (HPTSS) shall meet for issuance of a design approval and in order to be identified with the applicable CAN-TSO marking.

   This CAN-TSO applies to suit systems intended to be worn by helicopter passengers during transportation over water where thermal protection may be required. The primary function of a suit system meeting this standard is to provide the helicopter passenger protection from the effects of cold water during the initial hours of immersion. Additionally, the suit system provides the wearer with floatation buoyancy in water, where the pertinent requirements of CAN-TSO-C13f have been incorporated into the standard specified in section 4 of this CAN-TSO.

2. 2.0 AUTHORITY

   CAN-TSO standards in respect of aeronautical appliances or parts are issued pursuant to subsection 521.106(b) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR). Once issued, CAN-TSO standards may be listed in Airworthiness Manual (AWM) Chapter 537, Subchapter B, Canadian Technical Standard Orders.

3. 3.0 REGULATORY

   Applicable regulations governing issuance of a CAN-TSO design approval for aeronautical appliances or parts are contained in Part V, Subpart 21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR 521), Division III — Canadian Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO) Design Approvals.

4. 4.0 REQUIREMENTS

   (a) Helicopter Passenger Transportation Suit Systems approved under this CAN-TSO shall meet the MPS qualification and documentation requirements of the National Standard of Canada CAN/CGSB-65.17-2012 – Helicopter Passenger Transportation Suit Systems, published April 2012 by the Canadian General Standards Board, and the supplementary Identification and Marking requirements of Section 5 of this CAN-TSO.

   (b) The Flame Exposure requirements of par. 5.3.1 of CAN/CGSB-65.17-2012 shall only be considered applicable to the materials from which the Inflatable Buoyancy Element (as described in section 6 of this CAN-TSO) of the suit system is constructed.

5. 5.0 IDENTIFICATION AND MARKING
   1. 5.1 General

      Each suit systems shall have identification and marking as specified in Part II, Subpart 1, section 201.10 of the CAR.

   2. 5.2 Specific
      1. (a) Each suit system shall be labelled, marked and placarded in accordance with the requirements of CAN/CGSB-65.17-2012.
      2. (b) For each component of a suit system that is easily removable (without hand tools) and for each subassembly of the suit system that may be interchangeable, the following identification information shall be individually labelled on each such component or subassembly:
         1. (1) the name, trademark or symbol identifying the manufacturer and, if the manufacturer is an entity, its legal name;
         2. (2) the manufacturer's approval number;
         3. (3) the component or subassembly part number;
         4. (4) the component or subassembly serial number or the date of manufacture; and
         5. (5) the lettering, "CAN-TSO-3C503".

6. 6.0 HOW TO OBTAIN REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

   1. (a) Order CGSB documents from the Canadian General Standards Board, Sales Centre, Gatineau, Canada K1A 1G6. Telephone 819-956-0425 or 1-800-665-2472. Fax 819-956-5644. E-mail at ncr.CGSB-ONGC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Web site http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ongc-cgsb/index-eng.html.
   2. (b) Part II, Subpart 1 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR 201.10) can be found at the following link: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-433/page-23.html#h-73
   3. (c) Part V, Subpart 21 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR 521) can be found at the following link: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-433/page-124.html#h-541
   4. (d) Chapter 537 of the Airworthiness Manual - Airworthiness Standards Appliances and Parts can be found at the following link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-services/acts-regulations/list-regulations/canadian-aviation-regulations-sor-96-433/standards/part-v-airworthiness-chapter-537-standards-appliances-parts

<Original signed by>

Blake Cheney
Chief, Aircraft Certification Standards
Civil Aviation

Content last revised: 2009/12/01

Subchapter C - Reserved

(amended 2009/12/01)

537.201 Reserved
(amended 2005/12/01)

537.203 Reserved
(amended 2009/12/01)

 537.205 Reserved
(amended 2005/12/01)

537.207Reserved
(amended 2005/12/01)