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The Aviation Safety Letter (ASL) is published quarterly by Transport Canada, Civil Aviation. The ASL includes articles that address aviation safety from all perspectives, such as safety insight derived from accidents and incidents, information tailored to the needs of maintenance and servicing personnel.

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General Aviation - Special Edition

The General Aviation Safety Campaign (GASC) (www.canada.ca/general-aviation-safety)

  • Transport Canada (TC) and COPA have been working diligently at analyzing safety related data
  • The GASC team pinpointed areas to be addressed during this campaign: Pilot decision-making, pilot proficiency and best practices.
  • Renewal of free TC regional safety seminars.
  • Each issue of the Aviation Safety Letter will contain an article on a specific GA topic and provide periodic updates.

General Aviation Safety Campaign Update

  • Meetings and ongoing projects of the GASC
  • Cooperating with the FAA to exchange ideas/discuss strategies, tools and lessons learned.
  • A review of accident data estimates nearly 80% of accidents are due to human factors.
  • The GASC's goal is to reduce the number of fatal accidents, using an educational approach.

COPA Corner

  • In regards the GASC, COPA and industry-group participants, are encouraged that Transport Canada has chosen to approach the community with the aim of improving safety through education and technology, and not increased and unnecessary regulations.

Accident Forgiveness - Magnes Insurance

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  • Magnes shares statistics, expertise with the GASC
  • The insurance industry believes "the level of initial and ongoing training is a significant factor when assessing the degree of exposure and risk each operation, aircraft owner or pilot presents."
  • New initiative for Copa Gold members starting in 2018 - under certain conditions - Magnes will agree to waive any premium surcharges as a result of an accident.

General Aviation Targeted Inspections-What to Know

  • Transport Canada'ssurveillance program introduces targeted inspections designed to gather information on specific sectors, topics, or safety trends.
  • Lists possible questions include a/c paperwork, pilot decision making and practices
  • The goal is to motivate compliance through oral counseling but if a serious safety concern is identified it will be addressed as is appropriate to the situation.

Angle-of-Attack Indicators - Cost-effective Safety Enhancement

  • The GASC strongly believes that the installation of an AOA indicator system is an investment that enhances safety.
  • Regulations may make it time-consuming and expensive to incorporate new technology.
  • COPA reviews this situation with Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) staff to determine possible ways forward.
  • TCCA advises that, for several of the latest "lifesaving technologies" the number of regulatory approvals required, with their associated time and cost, may be lower than we expected.
  • TCCA confirm that the installation of some of these products into a type-certified GA aircraft in Canada can be done as a minor modification under existing regulations, and therefore may not require an STC or manufacturer's service bulletin.
  • Aircraft Maintenance Requirements regarding installation outlined.
  • FAA Policy Statement - Non-Required Safety Enhancing Equipment (NORSEE) - "to encourage and enable voluntary safety enhancements" of GA.
  • TCCA intends to publish an AC to clarify the regulation in respect of installation of NORSEE articles.

Airport Emergency Exercises: Tips for Working with Your Local Responders

  • Keeping uncontrolled airports operational and safe is essential to general aviation.
  • Airport Emergency Plan and Testing of same.
  • Reaching out to emergency services is crucial.
  • General Tips - manoeuvring of emergency vehicles while live flight operations are underway and issuance of a NOTAM and a radio advisory to all departing and arriving aircraft.
  • Airport managers and pilots should familiarize themselves with the Incident Command System See http://www.icscanada.ca/en/home.html.
  • Specific Tips for the Fire Service regarding aircraft.
  • Specific Tips for the Paramedic Service (such as velocities and trajectories of ejected crash victims).
  • Specific Tips for the Police Service.
  • Review what premise notes exist for your airport with the emergency service dispatchers. This is the first thing that emergency responders look at when the call comes in to 911.

Please note that depending on your municipality, there may be more than one relevant dispatch centre. And not all emergency service radios can talk to one another RCMP, Local Police, Paramedic and Fire Services may all be operating on different systems.

Shoulder Harnesses and Seat Belts - Double Click for Safety

  • Aircraft accident investigations often reveal that survivable accidents aren't survived.
  • The FAA estimates one third of general aviation accidents with fatalities were survivable if the pilots had been using their shoulder harnesses www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/harness_kits/system_accidents/
  • The dynamics of the deceleration sequence in a sudden-stop accident.
  • Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) - Seat and Safety Belt and Shoulder Harness Requirements.

TSB Final Report Summary

TSB Final Report A16Q0119 - Loss of Control and Collision With Terrain

  • Cessna U206F with amphibious floats
  • Engine Failure on Take Off.
  • The coupling shaft of the engine-driven fuel pump sheared soon after takeoff.
  • The pilot attempted a 180° turn at low altitude.
  • An aerodynamic stall ensued at too low an altitude for control to be regained before the aircraft struck the ground.
  • Fire ensued.
  • 2 Fatalities, pilot seriously injured.

David Charles Abramson Memorial - Flight Instructor Safety Award

The 15th recipient of the annual DCAM Flight Instructor Safety Award for the year 2017 was Luke Paul Penner of Harv's Air Winnipeg, MB.

Stay Informed. Stay Safe.

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We would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for this initiative through the Search and Rescue New Initiative Fund (SAR NIF).