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Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circulars |
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Chief Pilot Qualifications – Subpart 703 – Aeroplanes - OperationsINTRODUCTION This Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circular (CBAAC) is intended to inform operators of a recent amendment to the Commercial Air Service Standards (CASS) that has changed the requirements for appointment to the position of Chief Pilot of subpart 703 (Aeroplanes) Operations of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). This CBAAC also announces an exemption to this recent amendment to the CASS. REFERENCES Subclause 723.07(2)(b)(i)(B)(II) - Aeroplanes - Qualification and Responsibilities of the Chief Pilot of the CASS. BACKGROUND Prior to the latest amendment of the CASS, Chief Pilot experience requirements were based on calendar time and did not specify a minimum amount of flight time. The CARs have been amended to redefine the minimum requirements for the position. The previous minimum experience of: "at least one (1) year experience within the preceding three (3) years as pilot-in-command of an air taxi aeroplane (as defined in section 703.01 of the CARs);" has been changed to the new minimum of: "at least 500 hours flight time of which 250 hours shall be as a pilot-in-command within the preceding three (3) years on the same category and class of aircraft being operated." All other clauses of this Standard are unchanged and remain in effect. Due to the language with which these new minimum requirements were drafted, these requirements could be interpreted as on-going requirements to hold the position of Chief Pilot. This was not the intention of the change. These requirements are intended for initial appointment to the position of Chief Pilot. POLICY An air operator must designate a person and position whose responsibilities and functional duties encompass those that are set out in CASS, section 723.07 - Aeroplane. The air operator may use a different title for this position, however it shall be identified for Transport Canada purposes as a Chief Pilot. An organization may have more than one Chief Pilot if desired, as long as all required duties and responsibilities are clearly designated. If more than one Chief Pilot is identified, there must be a clear delineation of responsibility (i.e. individual Chief Pilots may be responsible for specific geographic regions, aircraft types, etc.). When assessing a candidate's experience for initial appointment to the Chief Pilot position, Transport Canada will expect that the minimum experience required (at least 500 hours flight time, of which 250 hours shall be as pilot-in-command within the preceding three (3) years on the same category and class of aircraft being operated), will be considered under the definition for aircraft certification found in CAR section 101.01. Thus category means: when used in reference to the certification of aircraft, a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations such as normal, utility, aerobatic, commuter and transport; Therefore a Chief Pilot candidate for subpart 703 would be required to have recency and experience on normal category aeroplanes. Cases where other aeroplane categories are operated under subpart 703 in a fleet mix will be considered on an individual basis. "Class", in relation to the classification of aeroplanes, means: aeroplanes having similar operating characteristics to single-engined aeroplanes, multi-engined aeroplanes, centre-line thrust aeroplanes, land aeroplanes or sea aeroplanes. It is expected that the Chief Pilot will meet the qualifications based on the most complex category and class of aeroplane being operated, and will have experience on all classes being operated. For example, an operator with a mixed fleet of single-engined and multi-engined land and float aeroplanes, should nominate a pilot who meets the experience requirements based on a multi-engined aeroplane, land or sea. The candidate should also have experience on sea aeroplanes. For a single-engined and multi-engined sea aeroplanes only operation, the candidate would be required to meet the experience requirements on a multi-engined sea aeroplane. It is expected that the Chief Pilot will normally maintain currency on the more complex aeroplane, however it is not mandatory. FUTURE DISPOSITION This CBAAC will remain in effect until the associated regulation or standard is further amended. CONCLUSION Air Operators conducting business under subpart 703 - Aeroplanes - should ensure that candidates nominated for appointment to the Chief Pilot position meet the new requirements.
M.R. Preuss
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