Aviation Security – Oversight Program Description and Delivery - Fiscal Year 2023-24

Table of Contents

• 1. Overview of the program, operating context and environment
• 2. Considerations and drivers for oversight activities priorities
• 3. Oversight delivery in 2022-23
• 4. Organizational contact information

1. Overview of the program, operating context and environment

1.1 Executive summary

Transport Canada is responsible for aviation security in Canada. The department develops, implements, and oversees Canada’s civil Aviation Security Program. The program manages risks to the aviation system using a set of policies, regulations, and security measures to protect air travel and trade.

The program’s goal is “better security”, we meet this goal by:

• teaching stakeholders about their security requirements and environment
• promoting a strong security culture within the industry
• identifying and encouraging the use of proactive security behaviours, practices, and innovations
• building trust and sharing best practices, information, and experiences with partners
• promoting and validating the industry’s compliance with regulations
• getting feedback from the industry and inspectors to improve the program

1.2 Oversight activities

Transport Canada’s Aviation Security Oversight Program makes sure that these entities comply with Canadian regulations:

• designated aerodromes
• primary security line partners
• commercial air carriers and air cargo carriers
• Explosive Detection Dog and Handler Teams
• secure cargo supply chain participants, and
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)

Transportation Security Inspectors inspect these entities across the country. These inspections confirm that security requirements, processes and procedures exist, are implemented and effective. This includes:

• making sure aerodrome operators have procedures to prevent prohibited items from entering restricted areas, or being used as weapons
• confirming processes and procedures to respond to threats and incidents
• confirming security awareness programs exist and security personnel are trained to deal with security issues
• making sure that passengers, baggage, and aircraft are kept secure
• checking procedures to keep people on the Secure Air Travel Act List from boarding a plane
• examining and testing methods to screen people, baggage, and goods
• visiting and assessing the security of air cargo facilities, security personnel and training to make sure they meet Transport Canada’s standards

Transportation Security Inspectors observe, interview, document, review, test and enforce Canada’s aviation security regulations. Transport Canada also oversees foreign air carriers for on-site compliance and to assess their vulnerability at last points of departure to Canada.

The Aviation Security Technology Division sets performance standards for the security equipment that aerodromes use to check passengers and their belongings. They test and review equipment to check that they comply with Canadian standards.

1.3 Operating context

Canada is home to approximately 1775 aerodromes and thousands of additional airstrips in both urban and rural areas. Of these aerodromes, a total of 545 are certified for commercial purposes, and of those 89 are designated to receive security screening services. Canada receives international flights from 236 airports from 77 countries around the world. The aviation industry is critical not only to the movement of people to, from and within Canada but also to the operations of countless other industries that rely on aviation to transport over $125 billion worth of goods in international trade each year.

The aviation industry is heavily regulated. The Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 sets most of these security requirements.

The Aviation Security Program has implemented and is in the process of initiating some strategic initiatives to strengthen the oversight program including development of new program areas to mitigate emerging risks, enhancing data collection and reporting, and promoting continuous improvement and oversight modernization.

2. Considerations and drivers for oversight activities priorities

2.1 Risks and planning

Managing risks is at the core of aviation security. It helps the program set priorities, allocate resources, develop policies and regulations, and oversee the sector.

Aviation is still an attractive target for terrorists, but the threats have become more complex since Transport Canada first established the Oversight Program. Over time, the program has grown to include new regulations and oversight for areas like the Passenger Protect Program, Airport Security Programs, and the Air Cargo Security Program.

As the threat and security landscape evolves, Transport Canada will review and adapt to manage new and emerging threats, and risks to the security of aviation.

The Aviation Security Program oversees the security of the aviation sector using a risk-based process to prioritize inspections over a 3-year cycle. This process uses threats, vulnerabilities and impacts to assess the risks. From this, around 100 inspection types are planned (over 8000 actual planned inspections) to make sure the most attention is given to the areas of most concern.

Oversight plans are made up of both planned and unplanned (reactive) activities. Unplanned activities are done based on risks, or in response to issues that come up. The program continues to adjust priorities based on the operational risk context.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the oversight program to evolve for 2023-2024. Over the next year, the program will continue to include remote inspections and desktop-based inspections when on-site inspections aren’t possible.

2.2 Other oversight activities

2.2.1 Regulatory authorizations

In addition to the planned, risk-based inspections, the program does other oversight-related work, such as issuing regulatory authorizations of Canadian Aviation Documents for secure supply chain program participants.

Transport Canada also issues security exemptions. Headquarters works with staff in the regional offices to develop exemptions based on requests from industry.

2.2.2 Quality control

Every quarter (3 months) Regional Managers check the quality of the inspection reports recorded in the Regulatory Oversight Module (ROM). Once done, these reports are sent to headquarters for another review.

Afterward, the Quality and Risk Management Team reviews each Regional Manager’s submission and follows up on any issues that needed to be corrected.

3. Oversight delivery in 2022-23

The delivery of oversight activities, such as planned risk-based inspections and reactive inspections, will be reported through the Canadian Center on Transportation Data (CCTD).

4. Organizational contact information

Transport Canada welcomes your comments on this report.

Email: aviationsecurity-sureteaerienne@tc.gc.ca.

Annex A: Definitions

Required field	Description
Oversight	How Transport Canada promotes, monitors, or enforces compliance with our safety and security requirements.
Regulatory authorizations	Given when a regulated party (for example, a railway company or vehicle manufacturer) applies for permission to do a regulated activity or be exempt from it. We may give permission in various forms, including a permit, licence, or certification. Transport Canada does not control the number of regulatory authorizations per planning cycle.
Inspection	A documented, formal examination of industry compliance with Canadian transportation safety and security rules, regulations, and requirements. Authorized Transport Canada officials record the results of each inspection. For the purposes of this document, audits are a type of inspection. *Includes pre-site, onsite, and post-site inspection and oversight activities. Is complete when the inspector submits an approved inspection or oversight activities report. Does not include follow-up action, quality control checks, or outreach activities.
Remote inspection	The conduct of an inspection by means of telecommunications. Note: an inspector is considered to have entered a place when they access it remotely by means of telecommunication for the purpose of verifying compliance.
Remote Inspection Activity	Where a particular inspection activity is conducted by means of telecommunications.
Planned, risk-based inspections	All inspections Transport Canada initially commits to doing in each planning cycle. *Include inspections that are announced (and expected) and those that are unannounced. Does not include: estimated numbers of demand-driven activities, such as regulatory authorizations "reactive” or “opportunity” inspections that happen because of a change in oversight
Follow-up activities	Arise from findings of an initial inspection. May include an on-site inspection, requests for more information, or enhanced monitoring. *Do not include enforcement.
Other activities	Oversight activities that Transport Canada did not initially commit to in a planning cycle and are not a follow-up to an inspection or audit.
Enforcement	Measures we use to enforce requirements and compel compliance. For example: letters of non-compliance directions or orders ticketing notices of violation administrative monetary penalties prosecutions suspensions or cancellations of certificates or authorizations
Education, outreach, and awareness	How we educate the public and encourage people and companies to comply with the law (for example industry conferences, air shows, training, web portal)