COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance for aviation issued by Transport Canada

From: Transport Canada

On this page

Canada’s Flight Plan for Navigating COVID-19

Canada’s Flight Plan for Navigating COVID-19 (Canada’s Flight Plan) is intended to serve as the foundation for aligning Canada’s current and future health and safety efforts to address the impacts of COVID-19 on the aviation industry.

News releases

2020

Guidance for aviation industry

Guidance for managing air travellers

Communique and other guidance

Past communique and guidance

Interim Orders

Posters for informing air travellers

Regulatory exemptions

Updates to aviation exemptions in response to the evolving novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). For all aviation exemptions, please visit our Exemptions Search database.

COVID-19 exemptions to the Canadian Aviation Regulations

Date Title
2021-05-05 - NAV CANADA - submit for publication and distribution an instrument flight procedure when all other review and ground validation activities are completed except for the flight check, for the August 12th, October 7th, and December 2nd 2021 effective date cycles
2021-04-30 - Candidates for the Pilot Permit – Gyroplane, Pilot Permit – Recreational - Aeroplane and the Private Pilot Licence to attempt the written examinations with at least 5 hours of total flight experience, as well as to allow all other candidates to attempt the written examinations with only 25% of the total flight experience for the issuance of a permit, licence or rating until January 31, 2022, as a temporary measure.
2021-04-16 - Canadian airport operators, defer the requirement to conduct a full-scale emergency planning exercise as required by section 302.208 of the CARs by a maximum of 33 months
2021-04-16 - Canadian airport operators, extend the period in which recurrent live-fire drill training is to be provided to all fire-fighting personnel from every 12 months to a maximum of 45 months
2021-04-09 - Bradley Air Services Limited, provide an approved initial training program that has been modified for the Canadian North Inc. flight crew members identified in the application of this exemption
2021-03-30 - persons who hold a Category 3 or Category 4 medical certificate, taking the written exam to obtain, upgrade or renew their pilot permits, licences or ratings
2021-03-25 - to permit Air Canada to use alternative means to conduct the verification of skills for certain emergency equipment that must be placed on or over the head, including protective breathing equipment during annual training and the erection of a raft canopy during requalification training.
2021-03-23 - all licensing applicants who have applied for a permit, licence or rating after March 11th, 2020, extend the skill requirements by 10 months
2021-03-17 - all holders of valid Canadian Aviation Document Booklets, continue exercising the privileges stated in their booklet until December 31, 2021
2021-02-25 - enables the renewal of medical certificates by telemedicine consultation to holders of medical certificates Category 1, 2, 3, or 4 with a validity period ending on or after March 17, 2020, who wish to avoid a face-to-face medical consultation.
2021-02-25 - to permit CAMEs to renew existing MCs via telemedicine consultation when the Civil Aviation Medical Examiner deems it sufficient.
2021-02-19 - applies only to a holder of an AME licence whose licence expires between March 1, 2020 and December 1, 2021
2021-02-02 - person with an air traffic controller licence who cease to hold a valid provisional air traffic controller licence or rating, validity date from February 1, 2021 up to and including September 30, 2021, continue exercising the licence until December 31, 2021
2021-01-29 - Air Saint-Pierre, any person that is boarding the aircraft, operating international medical evacuation flights without having to meet the requirements in the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19
2021-01-29 - Canadian air operator, grants seven additional months to global exemption NCR-095-2020, operate aeroplanes when not all flight attendants are occupying a certified flight station equipped with a shoulder harness or dual upper torso straps
2021-01-29 - Canadian private operators, grants seven additional months to global exemption NCR-096-2020, operate its aeroplanes when not all flight attendants are occupying a certified flight attendant station equipped with a shoulder harness
2021-02-01 - licensing applicants who received successful results after completing the Transport Canada written licensing examinations between August 01, 2018 and June 1, 2019
2021-01-22 - NAV CANADA, applicants for an air traffic controller licence, minimum duration to be reduced from 3 months to 20 days for flight service specialists currently providing services at the Mirabel International Airport
2021-01-13 - all candidates attempting a flight test for the issuance of an Instrument Rating or any of the Flight Instructor Ratings, allow candidates that have not yet written the requisite written examination to be accepted to attempt the flight test required until June 01, 2021, as a temporary measure
2021-01-12 - all licensing applicants for a permit, licence or rating having successful-flight test results between March 11, 2020 and June 01, 2021, extension of up to 5 additional months to submit an application
2020-12-23 - Canadian Air Carriers operating international medical evacuation flights, allow to board persons without having to meet the requirements in the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19 when operating international medical evacuation flights (MEDEVAC) as defined in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)
2020-12-22 - all holders of permits or licences, allow the certification of additional privileges endorsed on a permit or licence to only expire upon receipt of a new permit or licence granting those privileges, instead of the normally prescribed period of 90 days for a temporary endorsement
2020-12-22 - Canadian private and air operators, defer the requirement for flight attendants and cabin crew members to perform hands-on, practical drills during annual training only
2020-12-18 - Pivot Airlines, extend its interim approval of the Operational Control System for an additional 6 months to be able to complete the approved Dispatcher On-The-Job Training Programs and get their Dispatch Personnel properly qualified
2020-12-18 - any person, mitigate the financial pressures for persons requesting an exemption to the CARs as a result of the economic environment
2020-12-18 - NAV CANADA, permit to submit for publication and distribution their instrument flight procedures when all other review and ground validation activities are completed except for the flight check
2020-12-15 - Cargojet Airways Ltd., operate their B757 and B767 aircraft without meeting the full requirements of subsection 700.60(1) and paragraph 700.60(2)(b) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)
2020-12-02 - helicopter air operators and flight crew, conduct offshore flight operations over Canadian waters with persons on board that have received the EUBA training
2020-11-30 - private operators, conduct training and checking on their pilots in cases where a person different from the instructor is not available to conduct the pilot competency check
2020-11-27 - all candidates attempting a flight test for the issuance of a Commercial Pilot Licence, allow candidates to be accepted for their flight test prior to completing the licensing written examination
2020-11-27 - all examiners conducting flight tests for the issuance of Commercial Pilot Licences - Aeroplane or Helicopter, extend temporary measures to reduce the potential of person to person transmission in Canada following the declaration of a pandemic outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
2020-11-25 - Canadian private and air operators, defer the requirement for flight crew members to perform hands-on, aircraft servicing training and practical drills during annual training only
2020-11-24 - all applicants for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence, extend the validity period of the Pilot-in-command-Under-Supervision
2020-08-26 - Air Canada, use alternative means to conduct the verification of skills for certain emergency equipment that must be placed on or over the head
2020-09-22 - Air Canada Rouge, provide an approved modified flight attendant initial training program to flight attendants
2020-11-18 - Canadian air operators, substitute the requirements for training and checking to be performed in a flight simulation training device by training and checking in an aeroplane
2020-11-18 - air operator, substitute aeroplane only training and checking where there is a requirement that the training and checking is done in a flight simulation training device
2020-11-18 - private operators, substitute the requirements for training and checking to be performed in a flight simulation training device by training and checking in an aeroplane
2020-11-13 - all candidates for the Pilot Permit – Gyroplane, Pilot Permit – Recreational - Aeroplane and the Private Pilot Licence, attempting the written examinations
2020-11-10 - Canadian air operators, allow to use proficient training as an alternative means of compliance with the requirement to successfully complete a pilot proficiency check
2020-11-13 - allow all applicants for a Student Pilot Permit - Gyroplane, Balloon and Helicopter category to possess a Category 4 Medical Certificate
2020-11-10 - allow persons who have not received their confirmation of medical certificate of fitness, three months or more
2020-10-30 - Canadian air operators, extend validity period of a pilot proficiency check and annual training
2020-10-30 - Canadian air operators, notify the Minister in writing within 5 days after making a change to the flight attendant ratio
2020-10-30 - Canadian air operators, operate the aeroplane if one of the flight attendants is incapacitated, regardless the flight attendant ratio selected
2020-10-28 - Canadian air operators, extend the validity period of any annual flight attendant training for an additional 90 consecutive days
2020-10-22 - Canadian air operators, validity period of a pilot proficiency check, a competency check and the annual training
2020-10-22 - Canadian air operators, validity period of a pilot proficiency check, a competency check and the annual training
2020-10-22 - private operators, validity period of a pilot proficiency check, competency check and the annual training
2020-10-22 - Canadian air operators, validity period of a pilot proficiency check and annual training
2020-10-16 - flight crew permit, licence or rating, other than the holder of a flight engineer licence, conduct operations where a passenger other than a flight test examiner designated by the Minister is carried on board an aircraft, when the flight is conducted wholly or partly by night
2020-10-13 - Canadian airport operators that currently provide Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) from the requirements of subsection 303.06(1) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), subject to the conditions set out below
2020-10-01 - all applicants having successfully-completed flight test between March 11, 2019 and March 11, 2020, an extension of up to ten (10) additional months to submit an application for a permit, licence or rating
2020-09-11 - Canadian air operators, operate aeroplanes when not all flight attendants are occupying a certified flight station equipped with a shoulder harness or dual upper torso straps
2020-08-31 - licensing applicants who received successful results after completing the Transport Canada written licensing examinations between March 11, 2018 and March 11, 2020, extension of the validity of the written examination results until January 31st, 2021
2020-08-27 - persons exercising the privileges of an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence, allows the holder of an AME licence with an expiry date between March 1, 2020 and February 26, 2021, to continue to use their privileges, as their licence will be considered valid until February 26, 2021
2020-08-26 - Canadian private operator, allow to continue operations in the environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic
2020-08-18 - Canadian airport operators, continue using the winter contaminant descriptor terminology currently available in NAV CANADA’s SNOWiz reporting system
2020-07-31 - Canadian airport operators, extend the period in which recurrent live-fire drill training is to be provided to all fire-fighting personnel from every 12 months to a maximum of 30 months
2020-07-15 - NAV CANADA, permit to submit for publication and distribution their instrument flight procedures when all other review and ground validation activities are completed except for the flight check
2020-06-30 - Aviation safety and security, private operators and air carriers operating emergency air evacuation flights that are conducted in Canada for the purpose of saving human life and for medical evacuation flights
2020-06-29 - holders of valid Canadian Aviation Document Booklets, continue exercising the privileges stated in booklet until March 31, 2021 or beyond if expiry date affixed is later
2020-06-25 - Canadian private and air operators, defer the requirement for flight crew members to perform hands-on, aircraft servicing training and practical drills during annual training only
2020-06-24 - Canadian air operators conducting flight operations, allow to use “training to proficiency” as an alternative means of compliance with the requirement to successfully complete a pilot proficiency check
2020-06-23 - private operators conducting operations, allow operators to conduct training and checking on their pilots where a person different from the instructor is not available
2020-06-19 - air traffic controller licence, expiry of the validity period of their provisional licence or rating
2020-06-19 - private operators conducting operations pursuant to Subpart 4 of Part VI of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), substitute the requirements for training and checking to be performed in a flight simulation training device
2020-06-19 - Canadian air operators conducting operations pursuant to Subpart 4 of Part VII of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), substitute the requirements for training and checking to be performed in a flight simulation training device
2020-06-17 NCR-078-2020 - persons exercising the privileges of an air traffic controller licence who cease to have the authorization to exercise that privilege solely because of the expiry of the validity period of their proficiency check
2020-06-17 NCR-077-2020 - air operator conducting operations pursuant to Subpart 5 of Part VII of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)
2020-06-16 NCR-067-2020 - all candidates attempting a flight test for the issuance of a Commercial Pilot Licence
2020-06-16 NCR-066-2020 - all examiners conducting flight tests for the issuance of Commercial Pilot Licences - Aeroplane or Helicopter
2020-06-11 NCR-069-2020 - applicants for a Student Pilot Permit - Gyroplane, Balloon, or Helicopter category, extension period of 6 months ending November 30, 2020
2020-06-11 NCR-074-2020 - Canadian private and air operators, defer the requirement for flight attendants and cabin crew members to perform practical drills during annual training only
2020-06-09 NCR-076-2020 - candidates attempting a flight test for the issuance of an Instrument Rating, or any of the initial Flight Instructor Ratings, allow written examination until January 15, 2021
2020-06-04 NCR-075-2020 - Canadian airport operators, extend the period of first aid training to all fire-fighting personnel
2020-06-04 NCR-073-2020 - holders of permits or licences endorsed with the certification of temporary additional privilege, allow certification to only expire upon receipt of a new permit or licence
2020-06-04 NCR-072-2020 - applicants for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence that received and recorded Pilot-in-command-Under-Supervision experience during the 12 months prior to March 12, 2020, extend validity period
2020-06-03 NCR-062-2020 - holders of medical certificates Category 1, 2, or 3 with a validity period ending between March 17, 2020 and March 31, 2021, renew certificate by attestation of fitness or via telemedicine consultation
2020-05-21 NCR-061-2020 - Civil Aviation Medical Examiners, renew existing medical certificates via telemedicine consultation
2020-06-01 NCR-070-2020 - all students enrolled in Commercial Pilot Integrated Courses, allow to delay completion of their courses beyond the regulatory time limits for a period of at least 18 months
2020-05-26 NCR-071-2020 - medical certificate holders, validity period ending between March 17, 2020 and August 1, 2020
2020-05-25 NCR-034-2020 - all flight test candidates with outstanding incomplete flight tests on March 11, 2020, allow to complete the flight tests beyond the 30-day limitation
2020-05-20 NCR-064-2020 - all licensing applicants for a permit, licence or rating having successful-flight test results, additional 6 months to submit an application
2020-05-13 NCR-058-2020 - candidates attempting a flight test for the issuance of a Commercial Pilot Licence, Airline Transport Pilot Licence or Flight Instructor Rating, validity period of their medical certificate to attempt a flight test
2020-05-11 NCR-057-2020 - licensing applicants who received successful results after completing the written licensing examinations, extension of 6 months to submit an application for a permit, licence or rating without re-writing the licensing examinations
2020-05-08 NCR-065-2020 - Canadian private operators, allow to operate aeroplanes when not all flight attendants are occupying a certified station equipped with a shoulder harness
2020-05-05 NCR-043-2020 - any person, mitigate the financial pressures for persons requesting an exemption to the CARs
2020-05-01 NCR-059-2020 - candidates attempting to write the Transport Canada written examinations for the issuance of a Commercial Pilot Licence, Airline Transport Pilot Licence or Flight Instructor Rating, category 1 and category 3 medical certificates for a period of 4 months
2020-05-01 NCR-054-2020 - candidates attempting to write the Transport Canada written examinations, Pilot Permit – Gyroplane, Pilot Permit – Recreational - Aeroplane and the Private Pilot Licence for a period of 6 months
2020-04-30 NCR-052-2020 - holders of pilot licences with an Instrument Rating validated by an initial flight test or by an Instrument Proficiency Check, extend period of validity for an additional 90 consecutive days
2020-04-22 NCR-048-2020 - holders of a flight simulator certificate or a flight training device certificate, temporary authority to extend the validity period of certificate
2020-04-22 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-087-2020
2020-04-21 NCR-050-2020 - Canadian air operators, operate aeroplanes when not all flight attendants are occupying a certified station equipped with a shoulder harness or dual upper torso straps
2020-04-20 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-097-2020
2020-04-16 NCR-030-2020 - Canadian air operators, change the flight attendant ratio that it has selected without notifying the Minister in advance
2020-04-14 NCR-042-2020 - Canadian air operators, operate the aeroplane if one of the flight attendants is incapacitated
2020-04-09 NCR-045-2020 - all flight test candidates with outstanding or uncompleted partial flight tests, allow candidates to complete the partial flight tests beyond the 30-day limitation
2020-04-08 NCR-041-2020 - holders of valid Canadian Aviation Document Booklets, continue exercising the privileges stated for a period of 90 days beyond the original expiry date
2020-04-07 NCR-044-2020 - Canadian airport operators, flexibility with their critical category for fire
2020-04-07 NCR-027-2020 - Canadian private and air operators, deferral of the submission date for the 2019 CORSIA Verified Emission Report
2020-04-03 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-104-2020
2020-04-03 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-103-2020
2020-04-03 NCR-037-2020 - Canadian air operators, the validity period of a line check and of the training
2020-04-03 NCR-038-2020 - Canadian air operators, validity period of any flight attendant training
2020-04-03 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-102-2020
2020-04-01 NCR-033-2019 - Canadian air operators, training time requirements
2020-04-01 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-105-2020
2020-03-31 NCR-031-2020 - all Canadian airport operators, testing of the Emergency Plan
2020-03-31 NCR-008-2019 - private operators, entering or leaving an aircraft in flight operations and a landing or take-off at an aerodrome in VFR at night
2020-03-31 NCR-025-2019 - Canadian air operators and their flight crew members, conducting night VFR operations while using NVIS
2020-03-31 NCR-026-2019 - Canadian air operators and their flight crew members, conducting night VFR operations while using NVIS
2020-03-31 NCR-027-2019 - Canadian air operators and their flight crew members, conducting night VFR operations while using NVIS
2020-03-31 NCR-028-2019 - Canadian air operators and their flight crew members, conducting night VFR operations while using NVIS
2020-03-30 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-101-2020
2020-03-30 NCR-033-2020 - helicopter air operators and flight crew, Emergency Underwater Breathing Apparatus (EUBA) training
2020-03-27 NCR-029-2020 - aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence, extended licence validity period
2020-03-17 NCR-021-2020 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-071-2020
2020-03-18 NCR-022-2020 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-074-2020
2020-03-24 NCR-025-2020 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-078-2020
2020-03-24 - Canceled and replaced by NCR-082-2020
2020-03-25 NCR-028-2020 - air traffic controller licences, expiry of the validity period of aviation document booklet

Safety alerts, bulletins

Date Category Title
2021-04-22 Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs) IPB 2020-10 - Notice of Suspension s. 7.1(1)(b) A.A. in Reference to: Flight Training Units Under Subpart 406; Manufacturer of Aeronautical Products Under Subpart 561; Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) Under Subpart 573; Air Operators Under Part VII

Request a copy
2021-02-24 Safety Alert CASA 2020-04, Transport of Cargo in Passenger Compartment
2021-02-08 Safety Alert CASA 2021-01, Returning aircraft to service that have been parked or stored during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021-02-05

Bulletin

Approved Check Dispatcher (ACD) Bulletin no 1/21 - Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Measures
2020-12-30 Safety Alert CASA 2020-15, Transportation of vaccines using large quantities of solid carbon dioxide (dry ice
2020-12-11 Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs) IPB 2020-14 - Remote surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Request a copy
2021-03-05 Safety Alert CASA 2020-14, Statement of Aerobatic Competency Renewal, Temporary Relief

2020-11-20

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-11 - Interim changes to small private aircraft maintenance schedule tolerance and deviation requests due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Request a copy

2020-11-20

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-01 - Authorizing Deviations From Approved Maintenance Schedules Made Necessary by COVID-19 Disruptions

Request a copy

2021-03-31

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-15 - Validity Extension for Minister’s Delegates Maintenance (MD-M) and Recreational Aviation (MD-RA)

Request a copy
2020-10-09 Safety Alert CASA 2020-11, Revised date for Canadian Implementation of Global Reporting Format (GRF) for Runway Surface Conditions and Interim Reporting of CRFI by Runway Thirds

2020-08-24

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-13 - Revising the 2020-2021 National Oversight Plan

Request a copy

2020-07-23

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-02 - Interim Changes for the Delivery of Basic Training Programs by Approved Training Organizations Made Necessary by COVID-19 Disruptions

Request a copy

2020-07-22

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-12 - TCCA approval of the undocumented parts process

Request a copy

2021-03-23

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-08 - Interim Changes to the AME Licence Application and Approval Procedures

Request a copy

2020-09-23

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-09 - Conducting Onsite Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Request a copy

2020-04-18

Staff Instructions (SIs)

SI SUR-033 - On-Site Inspection Procedures During COVID-19

Request a copy

2021-02-22

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-07 - Changes to the AME Licence Renewal Process Due to Exemption NCR-002-2021

Request a copy

2021-02-24

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-06 - Delivery of Approved Aircraft Type Maintenance Training by Other Than Classroom Methods

Request a copy

2020-08-31

Safety Alert

CASA 2020-04, Transport of cargo in passenger compartment

2020-04-07

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-05 – TCCA targeted inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic

Request a copy

2020-11-25

Bulletin

Approved Check Pilot (ACP) / Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) Evaluator Bulletin No. 03/20: COVID-19 response measures, updates and guidance

2020-03-30

Safety Alert

CASA 2020-03, Issue 01 – COVID-19: Interim Health Guidance for Private and Commercial Air Operators and Crew Members

2020-03-26

Internal Process Bulletins (IPBs)

IPB 2020-02 - Interim Changes for the Delivery of Basic Training Programs by Approved Training Organizations Made Necessary by COVID-19 Disruptions

Request a copy

Other COVID-19 related resources

Transport Canada is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. In response, we have issued some transportation-related measures and guidance. Please check if any of these measures apply to you.

You may experience longer than usual wait times or partial service interruptions. If you cannot get through, please contact us by email.

For information on COVID-19 updates, please visit Canada.ca/coronavirus.

Report a problem on this page
Please select all that apply:

Privacy statement

Privacy statement

Transport Canada Web sites do not automatically gather any specific personal information from you, such as your name, phone number or email address.

Important notices

Thank you for your help!

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, please contact us.

Date modified: