No. H 240/07
For release - December 12, 2007

TRANSPORT MINISTER RECEIVES FINAL REPORT ON AIR FRANCE ACCIDENT

OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today acknowledged receipt of the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada's final report into the Air France accident at Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto on August 2, 2005.

"My officials and I recognize the important work of the Transportation Safety Board during the investigation," said Minister Cannon. "Transport Canada fully supports the intent of the recommendations made today and departmental officials are currently reviewing the contents of the report. Our government's priority is to help ensure the safety and security of the transportation system."

The final report contains recommendations for Transport Canada (TC) that include:

• Establishing clear standards limiting approaches and landings in convective weather, for all air transport operators at Canadian airports.

TC response: On September 6, 2006, Transport Canada amended regulations to prohibit commercial air operators from beginning an approach when visibility is so poor that a successful approach to a landing is unlikely. The guiding principle is that when an aircraft is flying in conditions of poor visibility and approaching a runway to land, the crew must be able to see the runway environment in time to position the aircraft for a safe landing.

Pilots have access to information from many sources to help them make landing decisions. These include: access to the aircraft's flight instruments, which may include onboard weather radar and wind shear detection equipment; knowledge of the aircraft's capabilities; knowledge of weather conditions; contact with air traffic control or control towers; and information on flight conditions at location.

• Requiring all Code 4 runways to have a 300m runway end safety area (RESA) or a means of stopping aircraft that provides an equivalent level of safety.

TC response: With regard to RESA, Transport Canada, together with industry experts, conducted a review of all Canadian airport certification standards. During this review, various studies completed by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Federal Aviation Administration were considered. The result is a recommendation to amend the Canadian regulations and standards. Industry will be further consulted with respect to amendments, prior to finalizing changes to the regulations. This process is expected to begin early in 2008 and will follow the normal regulatory process.

• Requiring that passenger safety briefings include clear direction to leave all carry-on baggage behind during an evacuation.

TC response: Transport Canada agrees with the TSB's recommendation to include clear direction to passengers, as part of the safety briefing, to leave behind all carry-on baggage during an evacuation and will propose an amendment to the Canadian Aviation Regulations to that effect. The proposed amendment will be subject to the regulatory consultation process. Information related to carry-on baggage currently forms part of the briefing to prepare passengers for an evacuation.

Transport Canada officials are reviewing the full content of the report and the remaining recommendations to determine what additional action is required.

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