Commercial Business Aviation refers to any company that carries by aircraft passengers, cargo or mail, or handles specialty operations such as aerial spraying.

Mandate

To ensure a satisfactory level of safety is maintained by all regionally-based commercial and business air carriers.

Divisions

Commercial Business Aviation consists of seven separate divisions:

• Airplanes: Fixed Wing Aircraft Operations
• Rotorcraft: Rotary Wing Aircraft Operations
• Certification
• Dangerous Goods
• Cabin Safety
• Business Operations Corporate Airlines
• Occupational Safety Health

Inspectors in each division monitor air carrier operations. Safety and operational quality is assessed by measuring the performance of an air carrier's equipment, facilities and personnel against a set of federal regulations and standards.

Fixed Wing and Rotary Aircraft Operations
Inspectors for Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Aircraft Operations have an extensive and varied background in commercial aviation.

Rotary Wing Aircraft inspectors monitor helicopter companies, while Fixed-Wing inspectors monitor companies using fixed-wing aircraft.

Each inspector performs an average of 12 company check-rides per month. After completing initial training on an aircraft, commercial pilots must demonstrate their skill to a Transport Canada inspector and/or an approved company check pilot. Over 1,100 pilot proficiency check-rides are conducted annually. Also, company check pilots are monitored to ensure safety to a national standard and adherence to check pilot procedures. Checks on larger aeroplanes, high performance airplanes, and helicopters are conducted by inspectors who specialize in those particular aircraft.

In-flight inspections are administered on regularly scheduled flights to monitor flight and cabin crew performance in following in-flight safety procedures.

Inspectors also conduct periodic operational audits of air carriers in co-operation with the Maintenance Manufacturing branch.

Certification
The Certification division is concerned with the initial and ongoing certification changes to an air carrier's operations and the suspension and cancellation of Air Operator Certificates. An Air Operator Certificate or Operations Specification is issued after the air carrier demonstrates that it meets federal operational and maintenance and manufacturing standards.

Certification is responsible for initial and ongoing certification, monitoring significant changes to air carriers' operations, and the suspension and cancellation of Air Operator Certificates. An Air Operator Certificate or Operations Specification is issued after an air carrier demonstrates adherence to federal operational and maintenance and manufacturing standards. By reviewing documents (forms, manuals, etc.) and conducting inspections, audits or testing, the division determines whether or not an air carrier meets federal standards.

Certification produces and controls Air Operator Certificates (AOC). Any change that affects that AOC in relation to the Civil Aviation Regulations is done by Certification, either through an inspector's instigation or direct communication with the air carrier.

Dangerous Goods
The Dangerous Goods Section may conduct inspections for the initial certification of new air operators if they plan to handle or tranpsort dangerous goods by air. Inspections are also conducted to ensure compliance with the Dangerous Goods Regulation in existing operations. These inspections are conducted not only on air operators but shippers, freight forwarders and training facilities. Dangerous Goods inspectors receive initial specialist training and refresher training every two years. They conduct their own investigations and make recommendations to the Department of Justice regarding the laying of charges. Inspectors must ensure that all persons handling dangerous goods are properly trained in the aspects of their duties and that they are aware of the federal regulations.

Cabin Safety
Cabin Safety Inspectors have considerable experience in the development and instruction of crew member safety and emergency procedures. They perform pre-flight and in-flight inspections to assess required aircraft emergency equipment and passenger handling procedures.

Dangerous Goods and Cabin Safety inspectors participate in the initial and ongoing certification process by providing specialist insight during the review of applications and operational audits

Corporate Business Operations
Corporate Business Operations monitors corporate companies with privately registered aircraft. Some of these companies may have combined corporate and commercial operations. In these cases, companies are supervised in conjunction with the Fixed Wing division.

Corporate Business Operations performs company check rides and conducts inspections and audits. The division also monitors ground, simulator and air training by corporate operators.

Aviation Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH)
Inspections, safety audits, investigations and technical surveys are conducted to enforce compliance with Aviation Occupational Safety and Health Rules and Regulations and the Canada Labour Code Part II

Inspectors administer and enforce Part II of the Canada Labour Code as it applies to onboard crew members on duty while an aircraft is in operation.

Through the application of various regulations, inspectors assist in maintaining a safe working environment. In conjunction with employers and employees, inspectors ensure regulations are adhered to. They respond to all refusals to work, complaint registrations and investigate workplace accidents and aviation occurrences. They develop awareness and information programs on safety and health issues in the workplace, as well as monitor OSH meeting held by air carriers.

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