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The following six directions represent the principal adjustments that need to be
made to the Civil Aviation program in order to cope with the many challenges that it
now faces. These will evolve and become fully integrated into the program over the
next five years.
Adopting a data-driven approach in developing strategies to enhance safety.
Generally, data sources have not been sufficiently sound to use as a reliable
basis for adjusting program priorities, evaluating the effectiveness of program
activities and initiating research. Planning has tended to be reactive (e.g. to the
recommendations of accident investigations, Ministerial enquiries, internal audits).
Increasingly, as safety information systems become more integrated and accessible,
it is becoming possible to conduct more sophisticated analysis with a view to
pin-pointing where safety interventions are most needed. These interventions need to
be based on sound risk management techniques so as to ensure the greatest potential
for enhancing safety.
Using a risk-based approach to resource allocation for regulatory activities.
This represents a progression from the traditional approach of allocation to the
areas of the program showing the greatest shortfall of resources. Emphasis will be
placed on developing efficient ways of deploying Civil Aviation resources to those
activities with the greatest safety benefit.
Emphasizing the consultative approach with the aviation community to promote
and establish a pervasive safety culture.
Safety is a shared responsibility. Civil Aviation is committed to seek out and
strengthen the cooperative relationships needed to promote and establish a
widespread yet viable safety culture. Inside Canada, joint industry - Transport
Canada working groups and new consultative mechanisms are needed to champion safety
awareness and the implementation of cost-effective safety enhancements and
achievements. Internationally, Transport Canada will continue to participate with
regional aviation safety organizations and developing States to strengthen their
safety frameworks.
Implementing safety management systems in aviation organizations.
The aim here is to improve safety through proactive management rather than
reactive compliance with regulatory requirements. As aviation organizations
generally possess an in-depth knowledge of the risks inherent to their operations,
they are well placed to manage them and achieve positive shifts in their safety
culture. Transport Canada’s role is to provide these organizations with information
on the safety management concept and to facilitate its implementation. Instituting
this concept will require specialists in different areas of the Civil Aviation
program to interact with one another as well as their safety partners in the
aviation community through small, informal multi-disciplinary work teams. For these
teams to be effective, an atmosphere of trust and respect will be paramount as the
members bring their different disciplines, specialties and perspectives to the
table, as will ready access to information systems and reliable communications
technology.
Taking account of human and organizational factors in safety management
practices.
While individual human factors contribute to the majority of aviation accidents
and incidents, and have received considerable attention, there is a growing
realization that organizational factors can also create unsafe conditions. Civil
Aviation needs to focus its attention on developing valid and practical means of
evaluating strategic and operational decisions, work processes, organizational
culture, communications and system design. Only by acquiring a broad understanding
of these factors, their inter-relationships and the ways in which they influence
human performance can Transport Canada promote their consideration in safety
management practices.
Pro-actively communicating with targeted audiences on aviation safety.
Transport Canada communicates with a wide variety of audiences including the
general and traveling public, each sector of the aviation community,
Parliamentarians, senior departmental and government officials, and the media. Given
the increased public attention to aviation issues, it is important that Transport
Canada expand on current initiatives and improve its capacity for pro-active
communication. Over the next five years, Civil Aviation will work with its partners
to recognize distinct audiences, listen to concerns and implement communications
strategies that meet information needs.
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