EXEMPTION FROM SUBPARAGRAPH 725.124(13)(a)(iii) OF THE COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICES STANDARDS (CASS) AND SECTION 705.124 OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS

Pursuant to subsection 5.9(2) of the Aeronautics Act, and after taking into account that the exemption is in the public interest and is not likely to affect aviation safety, I hereby exempt Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd., 117-4440 Cowley Crescent, Richmond, British Columbia operating under subpart 5 of Part VII of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) from the application of subparagraph 725.124(13)(a)(iii) made pursuant to section 705.124 of the CARs, subject to the following conditions. This subparagraph stipulates that an airplane only flight training program will only be approved for a turbo-prop airplane, if no simulator exists within North America.

Purpose

The purpose of this exemption is to allow the operator, Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd., to conduct initial First Officer in-aircraft flight training in lieu of simulator training, for SH36 aircraft. This is necessary, as the requirements of the US Homeland Security Agency concerning initial flight training place an unusually heavy burden on the operator with respect to new seasonal hires.

Application

This exemption applies to Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd., when operating SH36 aircraft pursuant to its Air Operator Certificate Number 6779, for the purpose of commercial operations in the area of the West Coast of Canada and to its first officers.

Conditions

This exemption is subject to the following conditions:

1. Pursuant to paragraph 705.124(1)(b) of the CARs, Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd. shall submit for approval a training program for initial SH36 in-aircraft flight training for first officers;
2. Once these first officers are qualified, their recurrent training shall continue in accordance with Pacific Coastal Airlines approved SH36 simulator/aircraft training program;
3. All SH36 Captain initial training and Captain upgrade training shall be conducted in the simulator as per Pacific Coastal Airlines approved SH36 training program.

Validity

This exemption is in effect until the earliest of the following:

1. 23:59 EST on 30 June, 2006;
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 affect aviation safety.

Dated at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada this 26^th day of April, 2005, on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

Original signed by M. Gaudreau

Michel Gaudreau
Director
Commercial and Business Aviation

Date de modification :

2006-02-2