Operations (Airport & Other Certificates)
Water Aerodrome Certification - Water Airport
Applicable for:
Water Aerodromes & Water Airports.
QualaTech Aero Consulting is a recognized authority in Land and Water Airport Operations and subsequent consultation.
QualaTech provides the following Services specific for Water Aerodrome / Airport Operations:
- Initial Application to the Minister
- Water Airport Operations Manual (WAOM)
- Initial Hazard & Risk Assessment(s)
- Safety Management System (Complete & specific to Water Operations)
- Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
- Water Airport Emergency Plan (WAEP)
- Review of Applicable Aerodrome / Airport Documents and Manuals
- Training Specific to above, inclusive of SMS, Human Factors, ERP, etc.
- Dockside and Terminal Procedures
- Airport Signage
- Bird & Wildlife Management Plan
- Other requirements as may be required Pending CAR Subpart 306.
TCCA is diligently working on an amendment to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) to establish regulatory requirements for the operation and certification of Water Airports in Canada. This amendment will ensure that all Water Airports operate at an equivalent level of safety to land airports and heliports.
The new Regulations under Subpart 306, once Gazetted, will bring into force a requirement for Water Aerodromes - meeting specific requirements (see below) - to be Certificated. Furthermore, existing Water Airports will also have to be re-certificated to ensure they meet the intent the (proposed) Regulations.
Currently under section 302.01 of the CARs, an aerodrome must be certified if it is located within the built-up
area of a city or town, if it receives scheduled air service for the transport of passengers, or if the
Minister deems it to be in the public interest and to further the safe operation of the aerodrome.
Certified aerodromes (airports) must comply with Subpart 302 of the CARs and the associated
standards. These requirements were introduced in 1996 and were based on land airports.
The existing regulatory framework provides no current certification or operational requirements for Water
Aerodromes. Nevertheless, some proactive Water Aerodrome operators utilize TP 4884 - Water/Ice Aerodrome
Standards and Recommended Practice, as guidance in the conduct of their operations. TP 4884
includes minimal standards and recommended practices for the development and operation of both
water and ice aerodromes; however, it has no 'force of law' as it is not incorporated by reference into
Part III of the CARs.
The proposed amendment related to water aerodromes/airports will provide the certification, operational, management, safety and reporting requirements. The pending amendment proposes to regulate similar requirements to those of land airports and heliports.
The new Regulations will affect those Water Aerodromes located within the built-up area of a city or town and/or have scheduled passenger service.
There are currently 6 Certified Water Airports (Note: Water Airport means Certificated) in Canada. Existing Water Airports will be required to submit an application to receive a new Water Airport Certificate under the amendment.
The proposed amendment will establish the requirements for the certification and operation of Water Airports, including: safety requirements, organizational requirements, emergency response plans, and reporting requirements. The amendment also outlines the safety systems and requirements that Water Airports will have to meet to ensure an equivalent level of safety as that for land airports and heliports.
The proposed Amendment offers two options that all Water Aerodromes would be required to be certified as a Water Airport if they:
• are located in the built-up area of a city or town or,
• have scheduled passenger service.
or,
All Water Aerodromes would be required to be certified as a Water Airport if they:
• are located in the built-up area of a city of town; or,
• receive more than 14 scheduled passenger movements per day; or,
• receive any aircraft with a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or more for scheduled passengers service.
In addition, the Minister would have the authority to make an order indicating that a Water Aerodrome
that does not meet the criteria above must be certified if the issuance of a Water Airport certificate would be in the public interest and would further the safe operation of the aerodrome.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Regardless of the option chosen, it is clear that TCCA intends to move ahead with Water Aerodrome Certification.
If the lessons of the past are to be applied i.e. the requirement of a Certified Airport to implement SMS, it is clear that early adoption of a Water Aerodrome to Certify, will provide tremendous advantage during this inevitable regulation.
In support of the proposed requirements, Transport Canada has produced a short presentation entitled 'Water Airport', which can be downloaded from the following link. Water Airport - November 27th. 2019.
Please contact Keith Green for immediate assistance and or information. Thank you.
Please note: Certain QualaTech Airport Services are similar to those required for Water Operations; consequently, more information may be obtained within assorted specific Services.
Airport Master Plan (AMP)
Applicable for:
Airports, Aerodromes & Heliports.
Transport Canada requires a Certificated Airport to design and submit a long-term Airport Master Plan.
The AMP is the master document which formally establishes the future long-term plans the airport wishes to pursue. In some respect, the AMP is not unlike a 'Business Plan' wherein it identifies desired opportunity, realistic expansion / growth while providing a guide or Plan as to how opportunities will be achieved. Typically, a APM will expand 20 years into the future; with 10 year minimum incremental revisions.
There are many direct and indirect benefits that can be realized from executing a formal and professional Master Planning exercise.
QualaTech provides strategic proactive Airport planning, inclusive of land and environment protection, with consideration of Business interest, safety, residential and Bird and Wildlife Management.
AMP design and build, includes, but is not limited to the following:
- TCCA Notices of Proposed Amendments
- Community concerns and desires
- Future technologies
- Business and Safety requirements
- Collaboration with airline and other stakeholder interests
- Public and government consultation over airport planning decisions
- Focused support in the development of sustainable airport growth and business decisions.
Airport / Aerodrome / Heliport Pre-Certification Assessment
Applicable for:
Airports, Aerodromes & Heliports.
- Review of Applicable Airport / Aerodrome Documents and Manuals
- Site Visit
- Assessment/Audit Activities
- Analysis
- Analysis Report
(Download QAP Brochure 0000-5)
Bird & Wildlife Management Plan (WMP)
Applicable for:
Airports, Aerodromes & Heliports, Fixed & Rotary Wing Operations.
- Design and Build WMP
- Critique and Review Existing WMP
Ramp / Apron Safety Program
Applicable for:
Airports, Aerodromes & Heliports, Fixed & Rotary Wing Operations, Manufacturing, AMOs.
- Comprehensive Ramp / Apron Safety Program
Control Documents
Applicable for:
Airports, Aerodromes & Heliports, Fixed & Rotary Wing Operations, Manufacturing, AMOs.
- Comprehensive Control Document design/build
- Review/amendment of existing Control Document(s) to Regulatory Requirements
Impairment Mitigation Program (IMP)
Applicable for:
Airports, Aerodromes & Heliports, Fixed & Rotary Wing Operations, Manufacturing, AMOs.
The UK CAA states that "Alcohol, medication and drugs are the most common medical causes of worldwide fatal commercial air transport aircraft accidents". The FAA supports this, claiming approximately 15-20% of all aviation incidents and accidents around the world involved a pilot who tested positive for some sort of substance.
A person's impairment (defined as: any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiologic, or anatomic structure or function) may result from a variety of conditions, many of which are unrelated to the consumption of drugs and/or alcohol. Impairment is a concern in the workplace no matter what the cause and an employer should focus on ways of identifying and minimizing potential safety risks with proven mitigation strategies such as: employee assistance programs, drug education and health promotion programs, education and training, off-site counselling and referral services, and peer or supervisor monitoring, etc..
A clear policy on the use of substances including alcohol and drugs, should form an essential component of an Operator Certificate holder’s Safety Management System. A robust Impairment Mitigation Program (IMP) for safety critical staff and others, is important to provide Safety Assurance in this area.
Impairment, encompassing: substance abuse, prescription medication, fatigue, alcohol, stress, anxiety or drug/alcohol use is a recognized hazard and a subsequent risk to persons and aviation alike. Nevertheless, establishing any sort of IMP for substance or other influences such as alcohol, is going to be fought with difficulty since there is controversial regulation guiding the Canadian aviation industry. Canada's approach is based on Human Rights, is a process quite distinct and unique from that of the USA and other parts of the world in managing this threat to aviation and human safety.
Given the current media frenzy focusing on ‘Fitness to Fly” and “Substance Abuse/Alcohol”, it is obvious that an effective IMP must be applied system-wide to all operational areas and levels of governance since impairment is not restricted to Flight Crew. The problem remains systemic, difficult to detect, hard to legally manage and is most often invisible to anything other than hindsight.
The first (proactive) step is a comprehensive QualaTech IMP Assessment of your Organization’s existing ‘substance’ controls and protocols. This Service will help to further establish and demonstrate ‘due diligence’ and ‘duty of care’ considerations, which is tremendously important. Based on the subsequent IMP Analyses results, QualaTech can amend any noted deficiency in your existing policy and procedure by applying (as needed) ‘Beyond Minimum Compliance’ (BMC) protocols to incorporate ‘industry best practices’ and other proven strategies under a truly comprehensive and unified methodology – a methodology that must consider and harmonize with existing Canadian law and your own programs such as: SMS, QMS, OH&S, HR, etc. Recommended solution(s) should involve a strategy that includes Educating and Training personnel, in addition to designing a IMP that is proactive, robust, reliable and user friendly.
An IMP must not only be specific to your Organisation and its unique operational concerns but it must also consider existing protocols, Customs and cultures without undue burden or confusion. The QualaTech deliverable Service will meet with future regulatory requirements while providing the added security, reliability, protection and duty of care needed today.
(For specific IMP Training please reference - IMP Training (IMPT))