I. Regulations and Exemptions

Q14. What is the status of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) or an Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO) certificate when an enterprise that meets the eligibility criteria for the safety management system (SMS) implementation exemption has voluntarily surrendered their certificate?

Normally a voluntarily surrendered certificate remains in that status for one year before cancellation, unlike certificate suspended for cause, for which Transport Canada guidance directs cancellation after 90 days.

Notwithstanding the allowable one-year voluntary suspension status for a certificate, where an enterprise voluntarily surrenders a certificate (for suspension) during the SMS exemption period, and the suspension status extends beyond the next Implementation Phase milestone date, the enterprise’s SMS exemption will no longer be valid. Where this occurs the enterprise will be required to pass a full SMS assessment prior to certificate reinstatement.

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