TP 14371

  3.1 General

Pilots are required to hold a valid permit or licence appropriate to their duties to act as flight crew-members of aircraft. The qualifications relating to these permits and licences are set forth in the following publication:

Canadian Aviation Regulations
Personnel Licensing and Training Standards
CAR 421—Flight Crew Permits, Licences and Ratings
CAR 424—Medical Requirements

3.1.1 Recreational Pilot Permits

All pilot permits (student, ultra-light, gyroplane, and recreational) are valid only in Canadian airspace. For flights outside of Canadian airspace, the holder of a pilot permit shall obtain prior permission from the foreign civil aviation authority.

  3.2 Summaries of Licensing Requirements

The following tables summarize the licensing requirements for all pilot permits and licences. For more information, refer to CAR 421—Flight Crew Permits, Licences and Ratings, which includes medical requirements.

3.2.1 Student Pilot Permits

1 When used for the Student Pilot Permit—Aeroplane, the category 4 medical declaration must be signed by a physician licensed to practice in Canada.

3.2.2 Pilot Permits

1 When used for the Recreational Pilot Permit—Aeroplane category, the category 4 medical declaration must be signed by a physician licensed to practice in Canada.

3.2.3 Pilot Licence

3.2.4 Private Pilot Licence (PPL)

3.2.5 Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

3.2.6 Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)

3.2.7 Medical Examination Requirements

¹ An electrocardiogram (ECG) is not required when a category 4 medical certificate is only to be used for flying gliders or ultra-light aircraft, unless clinically indicated.

These requirements can be found in the CAR 424.17(4) table, Responsibilities of Medical Examiner—Physical and Mental Requirements for Medical Categories at the following Web site: <www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regserv/Affairs/cars/Part4/Standards/t42402.htm>

  3.3 Other Licences

The qualifications relating to other licences (AME and air traffic controllers) are set forth in the following publication:

CAR 422—Air Traffic Controller Licences and Ratings
CAR 566—Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licensing
CAR 424—Medical Requirements

NOTE: See <www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/regserv/affairs/cars/menu.htm> for more information.

  3.4 Medical Assessment Process

3.4.1 Periodic Medical Exam and Category 4 Medical Declaration

All holders of Canadian pilot or air traffic controller licences and holders of the gyroplane permit must undergo a periodic medical examination to determine their medical fitness in order to exercise the privileges of their permit or licence. This medical examination will normally be carried out by a designated civil aviation medical examiner (CAME). The frequency of medical examinations depends on the age of the applicant and the type of permit or licence applied for. For some examinations, supplementary tests, such as an audiogram or an electrocardiogram (ECG), may be required.

There are approximately 1 000 physicians who are designated by Transport Canada as CAMEs and are strategically located across the country and overseas.

If the applicant resides in a foreign country, the examination may be completed by an aviation medical examiner designated by a contracting ICAO State. The resulting medical examination must meet the Canadian medical information requirements.

Local flying organizations usually have a list of examiners in their immediate area. Examiner lists are also available from the regional office of Civil Aviation Medicine or on the Transport Canada, Civil Aviation Web site: <www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/applications/cam/en/camsearch.asp?x_lang=e>

3.4.1.1 Category 4 Medical Declaration

When applying for the issue or revalidation of any of the following Canadian aviation documents (CAD) listed below, the applicant may apply to obtain a category 4 medical certificate by completing the Medical Declaration for Licences and Permits Requiring a Category 4 Medical Standard form (Form # 26-0297):

(a) Student Pilot Permit—Aeroplane;

(b) Pilot Permit—Recreational;

(c) Pilot Permit—Ultra-light Aeroplane

(d) Student Pilot Permit—Glider; and

(e) Pilot Licence—Glider.

This medical declaration may be used to determine the applicant’s medical fitness to exercise the privileges of their permit. When completing the above-mentioned medical declaration, the applicant will not normally be required to undergo a periodic medical examination by a CAME.

The Medical Declaration for Licences and Permits Requiring a Category 4 Medical Standard form (Form # 26-0297) is composed of three parts.

All applicants must complete this part of the form. Part A requires the applicant to fill in their name, current address and other personal information.

All ultra-light and glider pilot applicants are required to complete, sign and date Part B of the medical declaration, and have it signed by a witness. If the applicant has ever suffered from any of the conditions listed in Part B, they must undergo a medical examination with a CAME.

Applicants for a Student Pilot Permit—Aeroplane and a Pilot Permit—Recreational are required to complete, sign and date Part B of the medical declaration. There is no requirement to have a witness signature in this case.

This part applies only to Student Pilot Permit—Aeroplane or Pilot Permit— Recreational holders. In addition to completing Part B, the above-mentioned applicants need to have Part C of the medical declaration completed by a physician licensed in Canada or a CAME. There is no requirement to have a witness signature in this case. All Pilot Permit—Recreational applicants will require a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) after the age of 40, as well as on the first medical after the age of 50, and then every 4 years thereafter. The ECG tracing is not required to be submitted with the medical declaration form.

When a category 4 medical declaration is completed in full, the candidate must submit the above-mentioned form to a Transport Canada regional office, where a medical certificate will be issued. An applicant may have completed the category 4 medical declaration, but may not act as a flight crew member unless the candidate can produce the appropriate medical certificate. Please refer to CAR 401.03 for more details.

A pilot renewing a category 4 medical declaration should complete the declaration form 60 days before the expiry date of the medical certificate. This will allow Transport Canada licensing personnel enough time to issue a new category 4 medical certificate before the original medical certificate expires.

An applicant holding a category 4 medical certificate may exercise the privileges of the appropriate permit or licence while flying in Canadian airspace only.

3.4.2 Medically Fit Periodic Medical Exam Categories 1, 2, 3

When the examination has been completed, the examiner will make a recommendation of fitness and will forward the documentation to the Regional Aviation Medical Officer (RAMO) at the appropriate regional office for review. If the person is already the holder of a Canadian pilot permit or licence, or air traffic control licence and is, in the opinion of the examiner, medically fit, the examiner will extend the medical validity of the holder’s permit or licence for the full validity period by signing and stamping the back of the medical certificate.

There are four boxes on the back of the medical certificate to accommodate the CAME’s stamp and signature. A new medical certificate will only be issued once all four boxes for renewal of the medical certificate have been filled in.

3.4.3 Aviation Medical Review Board

A small percentage of applicants, approximately 1.4%, will be on the borderline of the medical standard. In that case, their medical information will be reviewed by the Aviation Medical Review Board. The Review Board, a group of specialists in neurology, cardiology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, internal medicine, otolaryngology and aviation medicine, meets regularly in Ottawa to review difficult cases and makes recommendations to the RAMO.

3.4.4 Unfit Assessment

Less than 1% of all applicants are assessed as unfit, a decision that is not made lightly. The underlying goal of the medical assessment is to allow permit/licence holders to maintain their privileges whenever possible within the bounds of aviation safety. Flexibility may be applied to the medical standard if there is a counterbalancing safety restriction that may be applied to a holder’s permit or licence, which will compensate for the deviation from the standard. An example of this is a pilot with certain medical conditions, being restricted to acting “as or with co-pilot.”

If an applicant is assessed as unfit, they will be informed by the RAMO, in writing, and also by the Regional Manager of General Aviation, Transport Canada, Civil Aviation. If it is the applicant’s initial application, a medical certificate will not be issued. If the applicant holds a medical certificate, it will either be suspended or cancelled. If a medical certificate was previously held, a letter refusing to renew the document will be issued to the applicant.

If a medical certificate is suspended, cancelled or not renewed, the permit/licence holder may wish to discuss and review their medical assessment with the RAMO. At the meeting, the RAMO will review, with the permit/licence holder, the medical information relevant to the assessment. As a general rule, the permit/licence holder may see these documents in the presence of the RAMO and ask them questions concerning the content of the documents. In the case of sensitive or complicated medical information, the RAMO may elect to refer these questions to the permit/licence holder’s personal physician who can better explain the implications. In such cases, the permit/licence holder will be asked to designate a physician to receive these reports.

3.4.5 Review by the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada (TATC)

Should the permit/licence holder wish a review of the licensing decision by the TATC, they must file a request for review by the date specified in the notice which suspends, cancels or refuses to renew their medical certificate. The TATC will acknowledge the request and subsequently set a hearing date. Any questions on hearing procedures should be directed to the TATC, which is an independent body, and not a part of Transport Canada.

If the permit/licence holder has new or additional medical information, it is suggested that it be shared with the RAMO in advance of the hearing, as it may be sufficient to permit the RAMO to recommend reinstatement of the medical certificate. If that is the case, the permit/licence holder will be spared the inconvenience of a hearing before the TATC. Whether the permit/licence holder elects to disclose this evidence or not, the right to a hearing before the TATC is not affected.

If the permit/licence holder does decide to proceed with a review by the TATC, the following are the procedural steps.

The review will normally be heard by a single member of the TATC. If this member decides in the permit/licence holder’s favour, the determination will be that “the Minister reconsider his decision.” The TATC does not have the power to require the Minister to issue the permit/licence holder with a valid medical certificate.

If the TATC member does not decide in the permit/licence holder’s favour, this decision may be appealed to a three-member board of the TATC. If the three-member board of the TATC decides in the permit/licence holder’s favour, the determination will be that “the Minister reconsider his decision.” If the three-member board does not decide in the permit/ licence holder’s favour, there is no further avenue of appeal to the TATC.

If either the single-member TATC or the three-members TATC decides that “the Minister reconsider his decision,” Transport Canada does not have the right of appeal and the merits of the case will be reconsidered.

As part of the reconsideration process, the Director, General Aviation will ask the Director, Civil Aviation Medicine to review the case and provide him with a recommendation regarding the permit/licence holder’s medical fitness. The Director, Civil Aviation Medicine does not participate in the medical review by the RAMO nor in the Aviation Medical Review Board recommendations, and is thus able to formulate an unbiased opinion after an independent review of all of the medical evidence available.

A copy of this recommendation will then be sent to the permit/licence holder who will have ten working days in which to provide the Director, General Aviation with any comments they may wish to make regarding the recommendation of the Director, Civil Aviation Medicine.

After that time, a final decision will be made by the Director, General Aviation regarding the medical assessment and the permit/licence holder will be notified of the decision by mail.

  3.5 Replacement of Personnel Permits and Licences

3.5.1 Permit or Licence Lost or Destroyed

A personnel permit or licence that has been lost or destroyed may be replaced on application to the Regional Manager, General Aviation accompanied by

(a) the appropriate fee; and

(b) the following declaration:

“I _____(insert name)________ hereby certify that I am the holder of _____________(permit/licence title)______________ number ___________________ issued by the Minister of Transport. I declare that the said document has been lost/ destroyed and I hereby apply for the replacement of the said document.”

NOTES 1: It is a summary conviction offence to make a false representation.

 

2: In extenuating circumstances, the Regional Manager, General Aviation may waive payment of the fee.

3.5.2 Change of Name—Marriage or Court Order

The personnel permit or licence of a person whose name has changed may be replaced without charge on application to the Regional Manager, General Aviation. The application must be accompanied by proof of change of name either through the court or through marriage.

3.5.3 Change of Name—Assumed

For personnel licensing purposes, a person may use the name by which they are commonly known without a legal change of name. Applicants who wish to do so are required to submit the following declaration:

Declaration of Name for Personnel Permits/Licences

“I am the person whose former name is _________________________________ as shown on the attached document (birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport, etc.). The name that I am known by and commonly use and that I wish to appear on my personnel permit/licence issued by the Minister of Transport is _________________. I understand that before further change in my name can be made for licensing purposes, I must submit proof of change of name from the Government of the Province in which I am residing at the time.

Date ________________________ Signed _____________________________” (Assumed Name)

3.5.4 Change of Citizenship

The personnel permit or licence of a person whose citizenship has changed may be replaced without charge, on application to the Regional Manager, General Aviation. The application must be accompanied by proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate, valid passport, etc.).

3.5.5 Change of Address

The Department of Transport shall be notified of any change of permanent address within 7 days following the change. Notification may be made by a submission showing the new address, and annotated “change of address.”

  3.6 Reinstatement of Suspended Permit, Licence or Rating

3.6.1 Medical Unfitness

To reinstate a personnel permit, licence or rating that has been suspended under the Aeronautics Act subsection 7.1(1) for medical unfitness a person shall be required to pass such tests and examinations as are necessary to re-establish medical fitness.

3.6.2 Incompetence, Qualifications Lacking or Conditions Not Met

To reinstate a personnel permit, licence or rating that has been suspended under the Aeronautics Act subsection 7.1(1) for incompetence, qualifications lacking, or conditions not met, a person may be required to do additional study and training, and pass such tests and examinations as are necessary to demonstrate competence.

  3.7 Crediting of Time

3.7.1 Operation of Dual Control Aircraft

(a) The pilot-in-command of a flight or any portion of a flight in a dual control aircraft shall be designated prior to takeoff.

(b) There shall be a satisfactory method of intercommunication between pilots in all aircraft under dual control.

(c) Flight time for pilots may be credited either as dual, pilot-in-command (solo) or co-pilot.

(d) Only the pilot designated as pilot-in-command may be credited with pilot-in-command (solo) flight time.

3.7.2 In-flight Instruction (Dual): Non-Licensed Pilots

(a) Holders of pilot licences may give initial (ab initio) flight instruction, provided they are in possession of a valid instructor rating.

(b) When receiving in-flight instruction from an authorized flying instructor, a student pilot may be credited with dual flight time only.

(c) An instructor may be credited with pilot-in-command flight time when giving in-flight instruction to a student pilot.

3.7.3 In-flight Instruction (Dual): Licensed Pilots

(a) The holder of a valid commercial or airline transport pilot licence may give in-flight instruction for familiarization, refresher and instrument flight training, provided the pilot receiving the instruction holds a valid pilot licence endorsed for the type or class of aircraft in the same category as the aircraft used, and the person providing the instrument flight training meets the requirements specified in CAR 425.21(7). This authority does not permit category conversion training, e.g. aeroplane to helicopter, gyroplane to aeroplane, etc.

(b) The flight time acquired under (a) may be credited to the pilot-in-command as pilot-in-command time, and as dual flight time to the pilot receiving the training.

(c) Not more than 3 hr of familiarization flight time acquired for any type or class of aircraft may be credited towards the flight time requirements for a higher type of licence.

3.7.4 Instrument Flying Practice

(a) When licensed pilots are engaged in instrument flying practice with an appropriately qualified pilot, only the designated pilot-in-command may be credited with pilot-in-command flight time.

(b) The pilot undertaking instrument practice with an appropriately qualified pilot, if not the designated pilot-in-command, may be credited with dual flight time.

(c) The safety pilot, if not the designated pilot-in-command, may be credited with co-pilot flight time if the certificate of airworthiness requires a co-pilot on the type of aircraft being used.

3.7.5 Co-Pilot: Non-Training

The holder of a valid pilot licence may be credited with co-pilot flight time acquired during flights on which they are the designated co-pilot of an aircraft, provided such aircraft is

(a) of a category, class and type endorsed upon their licence;

(b) required, by the certificate of airworthiness or an approved company operations manual, to be operated with a co-pilot; and

(c) fitted with dual controls and dual flight instrumentation.

3.7.6 Maintaining a Personal Log

In accordance with CAR 401.08, every applicant for, and holder of, a flight crew permit, licence or rating shall maintain a personal log.

3.7.7 Crediting of Actual Instrument Flight Time

During actual instrument flight, both pilots (the pilot-in-command and co-pilot or pilot under training) may be credited with actual instrument flight time.

  3.8 Use of Hand-held Calculators or Computers for Written Examinations

(a) An applicant may use a pocket electronic calculator for problem solving, including those with a tape printout, if it has no memory system.

(b) An applicant may use a pocket electronic computer that has been specifically designed for flight operations, including a self-prompting type, provided it has been approved by Transport Canada for examination purposes and the computer memory bank is cleared before and after the examination, in the presence of the examination invigilator.

(c) Requests for pocket electronic computer approval are to be forwarded by the manufacturer, along with a functional sample computer, all available software, if applicable, and instructions on completely clearing all memory without affecting any programming to:

Transport Canada
Flight Crew Examinations (AARRF)
330 Sparks St.
Ottawa ON K1A 0N8

The memory bank clearing instructions and the process shall be simple enough to be completed with minimum distraction to invigilators.

NOTE: No computer capable of being used to type and store a significant quantity of language text will be approved.

(d) The Jeppesen/Sanderson PROSTAR and AVSTAR, the Jeppesen TECHSTAR and TECHSTAR PRO, the ASA CX-la Pathfinder and ASA CX-2 Pathfinder, the Cessna Sky/Comp, the NAV-GEM, and the Sporty’s E6B electronic flight computers have been approved for use with all flight crew personnel licensing written examinations requiring numerical computations.

(e) An applicant may not use an instructional handbook or a user’s manual when writing a Transport Canada examination.

(f) Upon completion of a written examination, all printout material shall be given to the invigilator.

  3.9 Recency Requirements

The recency requirements may be found in CAR 401.05 and in the corresponding standard, CAR 421.05. In order to exercise the privileges of your licence, you must meet the recency requirements in addition to having a valid medical certificate.

The recency requirements address three time periods; 5 years, 2 years and 6 months. If you wish to act as pilot-in-command or co-pilot of an aircraft, you must meet both the 5-year and the 2-year recency requirements. If you wish to carry passengers, you must also meet the 6-month requirement.

(a) 5-year Requirement

To meet the 5-year requirement, you must have either:

(i) flown as pilot-in-command or co-pilot within the previous 5 years; or

(ii) completed a flight review with an instructor and written and passed the PSTAR exam within the previous 12 months.

(b) 2-year Requirement

To meet the 2-year requirement, you must have successfully completed a recurrent training program within the previous 24 months. There are seven ways to meet the recurrent training program standard, which are detailed in CAR 421.05(2). They are summarized as follows:

(i) complete a flight review with an instructor;

(ii) attend a safety seminar conducted by Transport Canada;

(iii) participate in an approved recurrent training program;

(iv) complete the self-paced study program in the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Newsletter;

(v) complete a training program or pilot proficiency check (PPC) required by Part IV, VI or VII of the CARs;

(vi) complete the requirements for the issue or renewal of a licence, permit or rating; or

(vii) complete the written exam for a licence, permit or rating.

(c) 6-month Requirement

To meet the 6-month requirement for carrying passengers, you must have completed 5 takeoffs and landings in the same category and class within the previous 6 months. If the flight is to be flown at night, then the takeoffs and landings must have been completed at night. Glider pilots have the option of completing 2 takeoffs and landings with an instructor. Balloon pilots are not allowed to land at night; however, if part of the flight is to take place at night, then there must have been at least 5 takeoffs by night.

For further details, please refer to CARs 401.05 and 421.05 which are available on the Internet at: <www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regserv/Affairs/cars/Part4/Standards/421.htm#4212_5>

  3.10 Differences with ICAO Standards, Recommended Practices and Procedures