Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)
Content last revised: 2021/09/21
Legacy sections
- 523.1301-1 - Aeroplane Operation After Ground Cold Soak
- 523.1457 - Cockpit Voice Recorders
- 523.1459 - Flight Data Recorders
- 523.1529 - Instructions for Continued Airworthiness
Subchapters
- A (523.2000-523.2010),
- B (523.2100-523.2165),
- C (523.2200-523.2270),
- D (523.2300-523.2335),
- E (523.2400-523.2440),
- F (523.2500-523.2550),
- G (523.2600-523.2620)
Appendices
523.1301-1 - Aeroplane Operation After Ground Cold Soak
For normal category level 4 aeroplanes, substantiation of satisfactory operation of the aeroplane as a total system, by cold weather testing or by documented evidence of satisfactory operation at low temperature, is required after the aeroplane has experienced a prolonged exposure to ground ambient temperatures equal to or less than -35°C unless an alternative minimum ground ambient temperature has been proposed by the applicant and accepted by the Minister.
14 CFR part 23: No corresponding section.
(effective 2021/09/21)
523.1457 - Cockpit Voice Recorders
- (a) Each cockpit voice recorder required by the applicable operating rules must be approved and must be installed so that it will record the following:
- (1) Voice communications transmitted from or received in the aeroplane by radio.
- (2) Voice communications of flight crew members on the flight deck.
- (3) Voice communications of flight crew members on the flight deck, using the aeroplane's interphone system.
- (4) Voice or audio signals identifying navigation or approach aids introduced into a headset or speaker.
- (5) Voice communications of flight crew members using the passenger loudspeaker system, if there is such a system and if the fourth channel is available in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section.
- (6) If datalink communication equipment is installed, all datalink communications, using an approved data message set. Datalink messages must be recorded as the output signal from the communications unit that translates the signal into usable data.
- (b) The recording requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section must be met by installing a cockpit-mounted area microphone, located in the best position for recording voice communications originating at the first and second pilot stations and voice communications of other crewmembers on the flight deck when directed to those stations. The microphone must be so located and, if necessary, the preamplifiers and filters of the recorder must be so adjusted or supplemented, so that the intelligibility of the recorded communications is as high as practicable when recorded under flight cockpit noise conditions and played back. Repeated aural or visual playback of the record may be used in evaluating intelligibility.
- (c) Each cockpit voice recorder must be installed so that the part of the communication or audio signals specified in paragraph (a) of this section obtained from each of the following sources is recorded on a separate channel:
- (1) For the first channel, from each boom, mask, or handheld microphone, headset, or speaker used at the first pilot station.
- (2) For the second channel from each boom, mask, or handheld microphone, headset, or speaker used at the second pilot station.
- (3) For the third channel from the cockpit-mounted area microphone.
- (4) For the fourth channel from:
- (i) Each boom, mask, or handheld microphone, headset, or speaker used at the station for the third and fourth crewmembers.
- (ii) If the stations specified in paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section are not required or if the signal at such a station is picked up by another channel, each microphone on the flight deck that is used with the passenger loudspeaker system, if its signals are not picked up by another channel.
- (5) And that as far as is practicable all sounds received by the microphone listed in paragraphs (c)(1),(2), and (4) of this section must be recorded without interruption irrespective of the position of the interphone-transmitter key switch. The design shall ensure that sidetone for the flight crew is produced only when the interphone, public address system, or radio transmitters are in use.
(effective 2021/09/21)
- (d) Each cockpit voice recorder must be installed so that:
- (1)
- (i) it receives its electrical power from the bus that provides the maximum reliability for operation of the cockpit voice recorder without jeopardizing service to essential or emergency loads.
(effective 2021/09/21) - (ii) it remains powered for as long as possible without jeopardizing emergency operation of the aeroplane.
(effective 2014/12/01)
- (i) it receives its electrical power from the bus that provides the maximum reliability for operation of the cockpit voice recorder without jeopardizing service to essential or emergency loads.
- (2) There is an automatic means to simultaneously stop the recorder and prevent each erasure feature from functioning, within 10 minutes after crash impact;
- (3) There is an aural or visual means for pre-flight checking of the recorder for proper operation;
- (4) Any single electrical failure external to the recorder does not disable both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder.
(amended 2009/05/11) - (5) It has an independent power source:
(amended 2009/05/11)- (i) That provides 10 ± 1 minutes of electrical power to operate both the cockpit voice recorder and cockpit-mounted area microphone;
(amended 2009/05/11) - (ii) That is located as close as practicable to the cockpit voice recorder; and
(amended 2009/05/11) - (iii) To which the cockpit voice recorder and cockpit-mounted area microphone are switched automatically in the event that all other power to the cockpit voice recorder is interrupted either by normal shutdown or by any other loss of power to the electrical power bus.
(effective 2021/09/21)
- (i) That provides 10 ± 1 minutes of electrical power to operate both the cockpit voice recorder and cockpit-mounted area microphone;
- (6) It is in a separate container from the flight data recorder when both are required. If used to comply with only the cockpit voice recorder requirements, a combination unit may be installed.
(amended 2009/05/11)
- (1)
- (e) The recorder container must be located and mounted to minimize the probability of rupture of the container as a result of crash impact and consequent heat damage to the recorder from fire.
(amended 2009/05/11)- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, the recorder container must be located as far aft as practicable, but need not be outside of the pressurised compartment, and may not be located where aft-mounted engines may crush the container during impact;
(amended 2009/05/11) - (2) If two separate combination digital flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder units are installed instead of one cockpit voice recorder and one digital flight data recorder, the combination unit that is installed to comply with the cockpit voice recorder requirements may be located near the cockpit.
(amended 2009/05/11)
- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, the recorder container must be located as far aft as practicable, but need not be outside of the pressurised compartment, and may not be located where aft-mounted engines may crush the container during impact;
- (f) If the cockpit voice recorder has a bulk erasure device, the installation must be designed to minimise the probability of inadvertent operation and actuation of the device during crash impact.
- (g) Each recorder container must:
- (1) Be either bright orange or bright yellow;
- (2) Have reflective tape affixed to its external surface to facilitate its location under water; and
- (3) Have an underwater locating device, when required by the applicable operating rules, on or adjacent to the container which is secured in such a manner that they are not likely to be separated during crash impact.
(effective 2021/09/21)
523.1459 - Flight Data Recorders
- (a) Each flight recorder required by the applicable operating rules must be installed so that:
- (1) It is supplied with airspeed, altitude, and directional data obtained from sources that meet the aircraft level system requirements and the functionality specified in 523.2500;
- (2) The vertical acceleration sensor is rigidly attached, and located longitudinally either within the approved centre of gravity limits of the aeroplane, or at a distance forward or aft of these limits that does not exceed 25 percent of the aeroplane's mean aerodynamic chord;
- (3)
- (i) it receives its electrical power from the bus that provides the maximum reliability for operation of the flight data recorder without jeopardizing service to essential or emergency loads; and
- (ii) it remains powered for as long as possible without jeopardizing emergency operation of the aeroplane;
(effective 2014/12/01)
- (4) There is an aural or visual means for pre-flight checking of the recorder for proper recording of data in the storage medium;
- (5) Except for recorders powered solely by the engine-driven electrical generator system, there is an automatic means to simultaneously stop a recorder that has a data erasure feature and prevent each erasure feature from functioning, within 10 minutes after crash impact;
- (6) Any single electrical failure external to the recorder does not disable both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder; and
(amended 2009/05/11) - (7) It is in a separate container from the cockpit voice recorder when both are required. If used to comply with only the flight data recorder requirements, a combination unit may be installed. If a combination unit is installed as a cockpit voice recorder to comply with 523.1457(e)(2), a combination unit must be used to comply with this flight data recorder requirement.
(amended 2009/05/11)
- (b) Each non-ejectable record container must be located and mounted so as to minimise the probability of container rupture resulting from crash impact and subsequent damage to the record from fire. In meeting this requirement the record container must be located as far aft as practicable, but need not be aft of the pressurised compartment, and may not be where aft-mounted engines may crush the container upon impact.
- (c) A correlation must be established between the flight recorder readings of airspeed, altitude, and heading and the corresponding readings (taking into account correction factors) of the first pilot's instruments. The correlation must cover the airspeed range over which the aeroplane is to be operated, the range of altitude to which the aeroplane is limited, and 360 degrees of heading. Correlation may be established on the ground as appropriate.
- (d) Each recorder container must:
- (1) Be either bright orange or bright yellow;
- (2) Have reflective tape affixed to its external surface to facilitate its location under water; and
- (3) Have an underwater locating device, when required by any applicable operating rules, on or adjacent to the container which is secured in such a manner that they are not likely to be separated during crash impact.
- (e) Any novel or unique design or operational characteristics of the aircraft shall be evaluated to determine if any dedicated parameters must be recorded on flight records in addition to or in place of existing requirements.
523.1529 - Instructions for Continued Airworthiness
The applicant must prepare Instructions for Continued Airworthiness in accordance with Appendix A to this chapter that are acceptable to the Minister. The instructions may be incomplete at type certificate if a program exists to ensure their completion prior to delivery of the first aeroplane or issuance of a standard certificate of airworthiness, whichever occurs later.
(effective 2021/09/21)