SAFETY OVERSIGHT OF NAV CANADA
On November 1, 1996, Transport Canada transferred ownership and control of
Canada’s civil air navigation system to NAV
CANADA, a not-for-profit
corporation. To ensure a continued high level of safety in the system, the department
simultaneously put in place a rigorous regulatory regime under which it now monitors the
new corporation’s operations to ensure that strict safety standards are being met.
With the transfer, NAV CANADA is responsible for providing air traffic services,
aeronautical telecommunications, aeronautical information services, and weather services
to aircraft in Canadian airspace. The corporation is also responsible for maintaining the
high level of safety that has distinguished Canada’s civil air navigation system
in the past, including all the system’s proven safety- and risk-management
safeguards.
Transport Canada consulted widely with the aviation community and air navigation
service providers in setting the standards and regulations that now apply to NAV
CANADA’s operations. The applicable regulations are included in Part VIII of the
new Canadian Aviation Regulations
(CARs). These regulations outline federal
standards for air navigation facilities, equipment and personnel, as well as the operating
procedures considered most effective in maintaining the safety of the system.
NAV CANADA works closely with Transport Canada to promote the safe operation and
management of the air navigation system. The department and the corporation have also
established a joint safety oversight committee that will deal with the broader issues
of safety management.
Under the CARs, NAV CANADA must establish an extensive internal safety management
program and an internal risk management program for each operating branch of the air
navigation system. The corporation is required to appoint a senior executive,
reporting directly to the president and CEO, to monitor and co-ordinate its
safety programs. In addition, the board of directors is required to convene a
safety committee to review the corporation’s risk management programs.
NAV CANADA must report certain aviation occurrences to Transport Canada. Examples
of reportable occurrences include navigation aid outages; power failures; aircraft damage;
injury to crew or passengers; engine failure; operations outside the approved flight
envelope; fuel shortages; the risk of collision with any other aircraft or vehicle,
terrain or obstacle; gas leaks; hijacking threats; bird strikes; the impact of weather on
airport operations; and a vast number of other events.
Should any contravention of the regulations be found, the corporation is required
to take immediate corrective measures or face enforcement action. At no time will the
department allow operations to continue if the safety of passengers, aircraft or airports
is compromised.
Under the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act,
NAV CANADA must report certain events to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The
board will continue investigating accidents, incidents and other occurrences that may
indicate the existence of a safety problem.
Under the Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act, the
Minister of
Transport also has the authority to direct NAV CANADA to maintain or increase service
levels in the interest of safety.
May 2006
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