EXEMPTION FROM PARAGRAPH 551.104(c) and subparagraph 511.104(f)(iii) OF THEAIRWORTHINESS MANUAL MADE PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.01 OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS

From: Transport Canada

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 persons operating an aircraft required to have an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) as per Part VI of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), from the requirements of paragraph 551.104 (c) and subparagraph 551.104(f)(3)(iii) of the Airworthiness Manual (AWM) made pursuant to section 551.01 of the CARs, subject to the following conditions.

The text of the paragraph 551.104 (c) and subparagraph 551.104(f)(3)(iii) of the CARs are contained in Appendix A to this exemption.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this exemption is to permit persons operating an aircraft required to have an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) as per Part VI of the CARs to install ELTs that do not comply with the battery requirements of paragraph 551.104 (c) and subparagraph 551.104 (f)(3)(iii).

APPLICATION

This exemption applies to persons operating an aircraft required to have an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) as per Part VI of the CARs which is subject to the requirements of section 551.104 of the AWM, made pursuant to section 551.01 of the CARs.

CONDITIONS

This exemption is subject to the following condition:

  1. ELT batteries shall meet the design standards and criteria for acceptance for installation as set out in the following documents:

Standard

Criteria for Acceptance for Installation

Current:

 

TSO C142a

Acceptable for batteries

TSO C173

Acceptable for batteries

TSO C179

Acceptable for batteries

Other:

 

TSO C142

Acceptable for batteries

VALIDITY

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

  1. December 1, 2009 at 23:59 EST;
  2. the date on which any condition set out in this exemption is breached;
  3. the date on which an amendment to the appropriate provisions of the Canadian Aviation Regulations or related standards comes into effect; or
  4. the date on which this exemption is canceled 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 23 day of November, 2009, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

Original signed by Ron Carter for

D.B.  Sherritt
Director, Standards
Civil Aviation

 

Appendix A

 

 

Airworthiness Manual Chapter 551

Standards of Airworthiness

551.01 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the standards of airworthiness for the design and installation of aircraft equipment required by Part VI or Part VII are those specified in Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual.

(2) If no standards of airworthiness are specified in Chapter 551 of the Airworthiness Manual for the design and installation of an item of aircraft equipment, the applicable standards of airworthiness are those that form the basis of certification of the aircraft on which the equipment is installed

 

551.104 Emergency Locator Transmitter

  1. Introduction
    This section contains standards of airworthiness for Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) equipment and for installation approval of Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) equipment required by section 605.38 of the CARs.
  2. Performance and Environmental Standards
    The ELT shall meet the performance and environmental standards of either:
    1. FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) C91 or C91a; or
    2. FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) C126.
  3. ELT Battery
    1. An approved battery is any battery or battery pack designed for installation in a specific ELT that, with the specified battery or battery pack installed, complies with the requirements of paragraph (b).
    2. Each approved battery pack shall be permanently and legibly marked with the type, model, and part number, and ELT type and model for which it has been approved.
      Information Note: Refer to Airworthiness Notice B014 for a list of approved batteries and battery packs for ELTs.
    3. Each ELT unit shall be permanently and legibly marked with at least the type, model and part number of the battery or battery pack used to demonstrate initial compliance with the applicable performance and environmental standards, and may be marked with information concerning alternate approved batteries.
    4. For each approved battery or battery pack, except for those essentially unaffected during probable storage intervals, the useful life and expiration date shall be established as follows:
      1. the useful life is the length of time after its date of manufacture or recharge that the battery or battery pack may be stored under normal environmental conditions without losing its ability to allow the ELT to meet the applicable performance standards of paragraph (b); and
      2. the expiration date is the date of battery manufacture or recharge plus one half of its useful life.
    5. Either the expiration date or the date of manufacture or recharge and the useful life shall be permanently and legibly marked on all ELT batteries.
    6. The battery or battery pack expiration date shall be permanently and legibly marked on the outside of the ELT case.
    7. For a rechargeable battery, the ELT or battery pack manufacturer shall establish a battery recharge procedure, a battery capacity test procedure and occurrence frequency, and capacity test acceptance criteria.
  4. Data Requirements
    1. To obtain airworthiness approval, the following information is required:
      1. manufacturer’s operating instructions and equipment limitations, containing a statement identifying the type designation as prescribed in the applicable performance and environmental standard;
      2. recommended installation instructions including preferred installation locations and orientation; applicable schematic diagrams; wiring diagrams; typical transmitter, antenna, and remote switch installation details; and applicable procedures and specifications. The specifications shall set forth all limitations, restrictions or other conditions pertinent to the installation;
      3. list of components by part number, including any alternate or optional components, that make up the equipment system complying with the applicable performance and environmental standards;
      4. manufacturer’s test reports substantiating compliance with the applicable performance and environmental standards;
      5. equipment data sheets specifying, within the prescribed range of operating conditions, the actual performance of equipment of the type with respect to each performance factor prescribed in the applicable standard;
      6. instructions for continued airworthiness, which shall include as a minimum, details of approved batteries and sources of supply; battery replacement or recharge instructions; battery capacity test procedures, if applicable; transmission or functional test procedures; procedures necessary to accomplish the performance tests specified in Chapter 571 Appendix G of this Manual; and for 406 Mhz ELTs, instructions to verify the aircraft 24 bit address or serialized protocol as applicable; and
      7. for ELTs approved to the performance and environmental standards of TSO C126, a sample COSPAS-SARSAT Registration Form.
    2. The ELT manufacturer shall supply with each unit:
      1. a copy of the operating instructions and equipment limitations prescribed in (d)(1)(i), the installation instructions prescribed in (d)(1)(ii), equipment data sheets prescribed in (d)(1)(v), and the instructions for continued airworthiness prescribed in (d)(1)(vi), above; and
      2. for ELTs approved to the performance and environmental standards of TSO C126, a COSPAS-SARSAT Registration Form.
  5. Equipment
    The design standards in the following documents apply:

    Standard

    Criteria for Acceptance for Installation

    Current:

     

    TSO C91a

    Acceptable, provided the transmission frequency is either 121.5 MHz, or 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz.

    TSO C126

    Acceptable, provided there is a 121.5MHz transmission that meets the requirements of TSO C91a, as stated in section (e)(2) of TSO C126.

    Other:

     

    TSO C91

     

    Radio Standards Specification, RSS-147, Emergency Locator Transmitters Operating at 121.5 MHz or 121.5 MHz and 243.0MHz (Issued by Industry Canada):

    Acceptable, provided the transmission frequency is either 121.5 MHz, or 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz.

    (a) RSS-147, Issue 2

    Type F and W units manufactured before April 1, 1982.

    (b) RSS-147, Issue 3

    Type W units manufactured before April 1, 1982.

    (c) RSS-147, Issue 3, as amended by Gazette Notice DGTR-015-77

    Type A, F and W units manufactured after September 30, 1977, but before April 1, 1982.

    (d) RSS-147, Issue 3, with modified endurance requirement of 50 hours at -20 degrees C.

    Type A and F units manufactured before October 1, 1977.
  6. Installation
    1. Where an aircraft of 5700 kg (12,566 pounds) maximum take-off weight or less is to carry passengers on a flight for which an ELT is required, a readily visible placard or equivalent means shall be installed in each passenger cabin to inform passengers of the location and operation of the ELT.
    2. Types F, AF, AP
      Except where otherwise stated, the following requirements apply to type F, AF, AP ELT installations in aeroplanes and helicopters:
      1. When installed in an aeroplane the ELT shall be mounted with its sensitive axis pointing in the direction of flight.
      2. When installed in a helicopter the ELT shall be mounted with its sensitive axis pointing approximately 45 degrees downward from the normal forward direction of flight.
      3. The ELT shall be installed to withstand ultimate inertia forces of 10g upward, 22.5g downward, 45g forward and 7.5g sideward.
      4. The location chosen for the ELT shall be sufficiently free from vibration to prevent involuntary activation of the transmitter.
      5. ELTs shall be located and mounted so as to minimise the probability of damage to the transmitter and antenna by fire or crushing as a result of crash impact.
      6. The ELT shall be accessible for manual activation and deactivation. If it is equipped with an antenna for portable operation, the ELT shall be easily detachable from inside the aircraft.
      7. The external surface of the aircraft shall be marked to indicate the location of the ELT.
      8. The ELT shall not use the antenna of another avionics system.
      9. The external antenna location shall be chosen considering the following factors:
        1. The ELT antenna shall be mounted as far away as possible from other Very High Frequency (VHF) antennas.
        2. The distance between the transmitter and antenna shall be in accordance with the ELT manufacturer’s installation instructions or other approved data.
        3. The position of the antenna shall be such as to ensure essentially omni-directional radiation characteristics when the aircraft is in its normal ground or water attitude.
        4. The antenna shall be mounted as far aft as possible.
      10. The ELT antenna shall not foul other antennas in flight.
      11. The ELT shall be subjected to an operational test as specified in Appendix G, Chapter 571 of this manual.
    3. Types W and S
      1. ELTs of type W and S shall be installed as specified in (c)(2)(iii) above with a means of quick release, and located as near to an exit as practicable without being an obstruction or hazard to aircraft occupants.
      2. Where the table of CAR 605.38 requires the carriage of one ELT of type W or S, that ELT shall be readily accessible to passengers and crew; where the carriage of a second type W or S ELT is required, that ELT shall be either located near a life raft pack, or attached to a life raft in such a way that it will be available or retrievable when the raft is inflated.
      3. No ELT with a lithium or magnesium battery shall be packed inside a life raft in an aircraft.
    4. Transmitter Remote Control
      Where the ELT system includes a remote control system for activating and deactivating the transmitter, provision shall be made to prevent inadvertent operation of the remote control and a placard displaying the following warning shall be placed near each remote control:

      "FOR AVIATION EMERGENCY USE ONLY.
      UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION PROHIBITED."

    5. Battery Charging System
      Where ELT batteries can be charged during flight, provision shall be made to:
      1. indicate to the flight crew that charging is taking place; and
      2. prevent battery discharge resulting from wiring short circuits occurring during normal service or from crash damage.
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