Subject

ENDORSEMENT OF 2 CREW HELICOPTER TYPES ON COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCES

Reference

Personnel Licensing Policy Letter No. 575.

Background

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Convention on Personnel Licensing requires the holder of a licence endorsed with an aircraft type that is "certificated for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots" to have demonstrated knowledge "at the airline transport pilot licence level". Canada has adopted this policy in its Aviation Personnel Licensing Standards so that the privileges of a Canadian pilot licence may be exercised without restriction, in Canadian registered aircraft anywhere in the world. When the licensing standards of a member State do not meet, as a minimum, the standards of the ICAO Convention, that State must seek permission to operate in the sovereign airspace of another country.

The American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not appear to meet the ICAO standard for the issue of "two pilot" aircraft type ratings with respect to the knowledge requirement. This has created an inequitable situation for Canadian pilot licence holders competing for jobs with their American counterparts, particularly in the helicopter logging industry, but may include other forms of Aerial Work as well.

In order to resolve this inequity, it has been decided to issue a restricted helicopter type rating where the applicant does not meet the knowledge requirement specified in CAR 421.40. The result will be the issuing of a type rating which does not meet the ICAO standard and will, therefore, not permit the operation of that helicopter type outside of Canadian airspace without the permission of the other country. This decision is deemed to be justified by and is consistent with the principles contained within the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Officials representing the FAA have been contacted and have agreed that they will permit pilots, with Canadian licences which have been endorsed with a restricted helicopter type rating, to operate in their airspace.

Action

Effective immediately, when a "two pilot" type rating is issued, where the applicant has not met the knowledge requirement specified in CAR 421.40, the type rating shall be restricted. The following example is for an S-61 series helicopter:

"SK61 Restricted to Aerial Work - Canada and U.S.A. Only."

This restriction may be removed upon successful completion of the appropriate exam(s).

Expiry

This Policy Letter will expire with the appropriate amendment to Part IV of the CARs.

Manzur Huq
Director
General Aviation