EXEMPTION FROM SUBSECTION 705.124(2)(b)(iv)(B) OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS AND FROM PARAGRAPHS 7.3.1(a) OF THE INITIAL AND 7.1.1(a) OF THE ANNUAL PART SEVEN OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT TRAINING STANDARD, MADE PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 705.124(1)(b) ...

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 Canada, Air Canada Centre – 1210, P.O. Box 14000, Postal Station Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H4Y 1H4 from the requirements of clause 705.124(2)(b)(iv)(B) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and from the requirements of paragraph 7.3.1(a) of the Initial and 7.1.1(a) of the Annual Part Seven of the Flight Attendant Training Standard (FATS) (TP12296E) made pursuant to paragraph 705.124(1)(b) of the CARs, subject to the conditions set out below.

Paragraph 705.124(1)(b) requires that every air operator shall establish and maintain a training program that is approved by the Minister in accordance with the Commercial Air Service Standards (CASS) and, in respect of flight attendants, in accordance with the CASS and the FATS.

Clause 705.124(2)(b)(iv)(B) of the CARs stipulates that an air operator’s training program shall include, in respect of flight attendants, initial and annual training, including aircraft type training.

Paragraph 7.3.1(a) of the Initial and 7.1.1(a) of the Annual Part Seven of the FATS states that each drill shall be performed using the appropriate aircraft or approved training device.

PURPOSE

The exemption allows Air Canada to conduct flight attendant initial and annual training for Aircraft Exit Operation Drills as required by paragraphs 7.3.1(a) of Initial Part Seven and 7.1.1(a) of Annual Part Seven of the FATS without operating the Boeing 787 floor level exit.  Currently, the Schedule A of the FATS– Aircraft Exit Compatibility Groups – does not recognize the Boeing 787 aircraft.

This exemption allows Air Canada to treat as equivalent the operation of the Boeing 777 floor level exit trainer and the Boeing 787 floor level exit.

APPLICATION

This exemption applies only to Air Canada, Air Canada Centre – 1210, P.O. Box 14000, Postal Station Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H4Y 1H4 when conducting Air Canada’s approved initial and annual flight attendant training program pertaining to the Boeing 787 floor level exit.

CONDITIONS

This exemption is subject to the following conditions:

  1. Air Canada shall amend its initial and annual flight attendant training program to include and emphasize the differences between the Boeing 777 and the Boeing 787 floor level exit operation as set out in Appendix 1;

  2. Air Canada shall use this exemption only and for the sole purpose of conducting Air Canada’s flight attendant initial and annual training programs pertaining to the aircraft exit operation drills;

  3. Air Canada shall clearly identify in each flight attendant’s training record that the Boeing 777 floor level exit trainer and the Boeing 787 door visual representation trainer, which will include a door mode selector panel, was used as an equivalent means to operating the Boeing 787 for aircraft operation drills;

  4. Air Canada shall ensure that each flight attendant attending initial and annual training meets all of the other applicable requirements as set in the CARs, the CASS and the Flight Attendant Training Standard (TP12296).

  5. Air Canada shall ensure that flight attendant procedures between the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 will be described in Publication 356 (Flight Attendant Manual) and will be reviewed in detail in the Aircraft Type/Initial Training Program.

VALIDITY

This exemption is in effect until the earliest of:

  1. April 30th, 2014, at 23:59 EDT;

  2. the date on which any of the conditions set out in this exemption is breached; or

  3. the date on which this exemption is cancelled in writing by the Minister where he is of the opinion that it is no longer in the public interest, or that it is likely to adversely affect aviation safety.

Dated at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada this 15th day of November, 2012 , on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

Original signed by: Dave Turnbull

(for)
Martin J. Eley
Director General
Civil Aviation

Appendix A

Item

B777

B787

Aircraft Configuration

B777-200 series are fitted with 8 cabin doors

B777-300 series are fitted with 6 cabin doors and 2 overwing emergency exits (L3/R3)

B787 series are fitted 8 cabin doors

Exit Type

Type “A”

Type “A” Door 2L/2R & 4L/4R
Type “C” Doors 1L/1R & 3L/3R

Height and Width

H – 74”
W – 42”

Type “A”
H – 74”
W – 42”
 
Type “C”
H – 74”
W – 35”

Weight

Approximately 475 lbs

(this excludes doors 3 – B777-300)

Range approx. from about 400 lbs - 475 lbs
(attributing factors - door location and slide configuration)  

Door Features

Doors can be opened and closed manually from inside and outside:
- Plug-in type doors
- Open inward and upward and rotate outward and forward
- Held by a gust lock in the open position
- Open with power assist (pneumatic) if opened in armed mode
- Vent panel is connected to the door operating handle
- Fitted with an assist handle
- Safety strap installed in the door sill

 

Same features found on 787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Safety strap installed in the door frame, approximately halfway up on the aft side of the door

Equivalent force to open and close the door in a normal mode 

Door will lift approximately 2 inches with less than 35 lbs.  The main handle rotation forces are the same whether or not the door is being operated in the normal or emergency mode.  Once the door has reached the lifted position, the force to push the doorout and clear of the cutout is similar on both the 777 and 787.

 Same

Arming/Disarming (lever/indicators)

Move the lever to armed or disarmed mode

Same

Manual inflation handle

Manual Inflation handle back-up "Auto Inflate" is located in door “sill”, except for overwing emergency exits (doors L3/R3 of the 777-300), where its location is in the upper portion of the door sill.

Manual Inflation handle back-up "Auto Inflate" is located in door "sill".

Slide and/or Slide Rafts

Dual lane slide-raft on all cabin doors, except for
overwing emergency exits  found at doors L3/R3 of the 777-300

Single lane slide-raft at
L1/R1 and L3/R3

Dual lane slide-raft at
L2/R2 and L4/R4

Source

Exit type reference the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM) or specific Layout of Passenger Accommodations (LOPA)

Height/Width reference specific - Layout of Passenger Accommodations
(LOPA) Boeing Manuals

Exit type reference the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM) or
specific Layout of Passenger
Accommodations (LOPA)

Height/Width reference specific - Layout of Passenger
Accommodations
(LOPA)

As outlined in Table I - “Door Exit Profiles and Characteristics – Compatibility”, B777 & B787 door profiles indicate very similar characteristics and dimensions.
As per Boeing’s information, all doors have a counterbalance system that reduces the rotational handle force during the lifting phase to less than 35 lbs.  These main handle rotation forces are similar on the 777 and 787”. 

In addition to this, Boeing also confirmed that the force required to move or close the door in a normal operation validates that “rotation of the main interior or exterior handle will lift the door approximately 2 inches with less than 35 lbs.  The main handle rotation forces are the same whether or not the door is being operated in the normal or emergency mode.  Once the door has reached the lifted position, the force to push the doorout and clear of the cutout is similar on both the 777 and 787”. 

Based on the above door characteristics (dimensions, weights, etc), differences between both door exits are considered negligible.

Door Opening Procedures

777/787

Recognize the signal for the conditions under which the exit is to be opened

Same

Assess exterior and interior conditions to determine exit usability (eg. clear of obstruction, fire, aircraft attitude)

Same

Assess mechanism for door disarmed mode
777: 

  • check that arming/disarming lever is fully in the green band
  • ensure the girt bar indicators are not visible (except doors 3, B777-300)

787:

  • check that arming / disarming lever is fully in the green band
  • confirm the manual mode indicator is not illuminated or/and not flashing

 

Crew visual checks are very similar

Note : B787 requires an additional visual check of the door to ensure the manual mode indicator is not illuminated

Method of moving door handle

Same

Method of pushing door until gust lock is engaged

Same

Door Closing Procedures

777/787

Method to release gust lock

777:

787:

 

As per the illustrations, the design feature of the gust lock is different: 777 more like a lever type and 787 resemble more like a handle.

Crew hands-on demand similar gesture : pulling to release

Method of bringing the door inward

Same

Method of moving door handle

Same

Assess door mode closure

777: N/A
787: ensure door locked indicator is illuminated green

787 requires a visual check to confirm door locked position

Door Arming Procedures

777/787

Recognize the signal for the conditions under which the door must be armed

Same

Method to arm the door
777:

  • Lift cover of door mode selector access panel
  • Mover the lever to ARMED position
  • Close the cover
  • Check the arming / disarming lever is fully in the red band
  • Ensure the girt bar indicators are yellow

787: 

  • Lift cover of door mode selector access panel
  • Position the door lever in the red band (automatic mode)
  • Slide the selector panel closed
  • Check the arming / disarming lever is fully in the red band

Confirm the automatic mode indicator is illuminated and is not flashing

 

 

Variables found with the design of the door mode selector panels – Their main differences are with visual indications and the terminology used.

Level must be moved to the red band for both doors.

 

Door Disarming Procedures

777/787

777:

  • Lift cover of door mode selector access panel
  • Move the arming lever to DISARMED position
  • Close the cover and check that arming / disarming lever is fully in the green band
  • Ensure girt bar indicators are not visible (except doors 3, 777-300)


787:
  • Lift cover of door mode selector access panel
  • Move the door mode selector lever into the green band
  • Slide cover closed
  • Confirm the manual mode indicator light is illuminated and not flashing

 

Variables found with the design of the door mode selector panels – Their main differences are with visual indications and terminology used.

 

Lever must be moved to the green band for both doors.

Emergency Door Operation

777/787

Recognize the signal for the conditions under which the exit is to be opened

Same

Assess interior and exterior conditions to determine exit usability (eg. clear of obstruction, fire, aircraft attitude)

Same

Visualization of door arming mode
(in both cases, the lever must be in the red band)

Similar

Method of holding on to a fixed part of the aircraft (using assist handle if possible)

Same

Method of moving the door handle fully in the direction of the arrow
(in both cases, it rotates in the same manner)

Same

Both types equipped with power assist

 

Method of assessing the slide inflation handle and verify slide deployment

Same

Method of taking protective position

Same

Slide-Raft Detachment

777/787

Method to state how to board the raft

Same

Method to demonstrate how to release the slide from aircraft

Same

Method to state how to detach the slide in case it is still attached to the aircraft by the lanyard

Same

The above details found in Table II “Skills Set Compatibility – Evaluation Criteria”, describe various skills / steps of the door operation and the right side of the table provides an overview of both door differences.
In essence, the required steps for cabin crew to open or close both exits (normal or emergency situations) are essentially very similar, as the doors rotate in the same manner (outward and forward).  Also, both doors are fitted with power assist (torsion spring) when opened in the armed mode.

As for the arming and the disarming procedures, the mode selector visual indicators (green and red color coded bands) are a common design to both panels.  However, other small details have been identified with the B787 mode selector panel, such as the terminology that is used to describe the mode selection, comparison highlighted below; 

  • B787 panel defines a “manual “or “automatic” mode
  • B777 panel defines an “armed” and “disarmed” mode

In spite of the above variables found with the door mode selectors and other minor door features differences provided in the “B777 & B787 Door Features – Overview” section, B787 door operation greatly resembles the B777 door operation.

Coordinated with:

Marie Zubryckyj (AAROA)               _______________________

Denis Guindon (AARO)                    _______________________

Georges Lagacé (AARTF)                  _______________________

Arlo Speer (AARTF)                          _______________________

Aaron McCrorie (AART)                   _______________________

Lubaki Zantoko (ACEB)                    _______________________

Joanne Forget (AARBH)                    _______________________

Nicole Girard (AARB)                       _______________________

Martin J. Eley                                      _______________________ 

 

 


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