Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circulars

Chief Pilot Commuter CAR 704 Written Examination (CPCOM) Aeroplane

INTRODUCTION

This Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circular (CBAAC) is to inform Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) 704 Commuter Operators and Civil Aviation Inspectors of the new National Chief Pilot Commuter CAR 704 Examination (CPCOM) effective April 1, 2003.

APPLICABILITY

The written CPCOM Examination along with an oral interview shall be required in order to approve Commuter Chief Pilot applicants.

Air Operators will nominate Chief Pilot applicants to their Principal Operations Inspector (POI) who will verify the applicants' qualifications in accordance with Clause 724.07(2)(b)(i) of the Commercial Air Services Standards (CASS) or its exemption. The POI shall issue the Chief Pilot applicant a Letter of Recommendation to attempt the examination. Upon completion of the national CPCOM Examination, a copy of the applicant's examination feedback letter shall be sent to the POI.

To undertake the CPCOM Examination, a Chief Pilot applicant shall meet the following prerequisites:

1. Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate;
2. Have another identification document;
3. Present a Letter of Recommendation from the POI for the air operator; and
4. Have met 100% CASS 724.07(2)(b)(i) experience requirements.

The CPCOM Examination may be written at any of the Transport Canada Regional Offices or Transport Canada Centres (Civil Aviation) where exams are presently being written. Under special circumstances or because of geographical location, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) may invigilate the examination. Air Operators who wish to use the services of the RCMP are to contact the appropriate Commercial & Business Regional Office to coordinate their request.

The successful completion of the written CPCOM Examination will form part of the prerequisite Chief Pilot qualifications for Subpart 704 of the CAR Chief Pilot appointment. The Chief Pilot oral interview with the POI will remain a vital component in the applicant's ability to demonstrate knowledge to the Minister. The POI will ask the applicant to answer questions based upon the type and geographical location of air carrier operation. The successful completion of the oral exam and interview will complete the demonstration of knowledge as required by CASS 724.07(2)(b)(i)(G).

Those pilots employed as Chief Pilots who were approved prior to April 1, 2003, need not write the new CPCOM Examination. Any Chief Pilot applicant who has not been a Chief Pilot within the previous two years will be required to complete the new CPCOM Examination. The validity period for the examination is two years. Once successfully passed, the applicant will have two years calculated from the first of the next month from when the examination was written to become a Chief Pilot.

Applicants who attempt the Chief Pilot CAR 704 Examination and are unsuccessful may re-write the examination after a 14 day waiting period.

Successful completion of the CPCOM examination constitutes successful completion of (CPTAX) examination for chief pilots operating under multiple Subparts of CAR 703/704 operations

REFERENCE

Paragraph 724.07(2)(b) of the CASS.

Chief Pilot Commuter – CAR 704 Study and Reference Guide TP 14028

BACKGROUND

Commercial Business Aviation Inspectors screen and approve Chief Pilot applicants. Until now there has not been a national examination for Inspectors to administer. Applicants were required to complete a regional examination followed by an oral interview with the POI.

It was brought to the attention of Headquarters that standards varied significantly from region to region. As a result, the CPCOM Examination was developed to establish minimum knowledge for Subpart 704 of the CAR. Chief Pilots.

ACTION

Effective April 1, 2003, all CAR 704 Chief Pilot applicants will be required to successfully complete the CPCOM.

FUTURE DISPOSITION

The Chief Pilot Commuter CAR 704 Examination (CPCOM) will remain in effect until further notice.

Michel Gaudreau
Director
Commercial & Business Aviation