toronto_bill 0 #1 December 3, 2011 okay...canadian skydiving maybe gets a bit more expensive. Any US leased plane might be exempt? A homegrown 206 wouldnt though... Hmmm http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20111203/feds-small-planes-terrain-warning-systems-111203/ Feds order small planes to install warning systems The Canadian Press Date: Saturday Dec. 3, 2011 8:10 AM ET VANCOUVER — The federal government is accepting a Transportation Safety Board recommendation to reduce small plane crashes 16 years after the board first suggested aircraft be required to install terrain warning systems. While many in the aviation industry say the plan is sound and will save lives, another said its a move by the federal government to wipe out the private aviation industry. On Friday, Transport Canada announced proposed regulations that would force both commercial and private planes with six or more passenger seats to be equipped with a terrain awareness warning system. The board's recommendations for the system go back to 1995 after seven people were killed in a crash in Sandy Lake, Ont., two years earlier. Transport Minister Denis Lebel said the use of the warning systems will significantly reduce the risk of airplane crashes with land, water and obstacles. "Our government will continue to strengthen aviation safety for Canadians," Lebel said in a news release. The warning systems, known as TAWS, provide cautions, warnings and visual alerts to flight crew when the path of the airplane is predicted to crash to the ground. But Kevin Psutka, the president of the 18,000-member Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, said many of his members don't fit into the commercial category and will be forced to pay many thousands of dollars for equipment they don't need. "Private aviation in Canada is over-regulated and there is no good reason why the people that I represent should be affected by this regulation," he said in an interview. He conceded the government has gone part way to addressing his group's concern by making the regulation kick in for aircraft with over six passengers. Most of the aircraft his members fly have six seats in total, meaning there would be a maximum of five passengers. Psutka said the average cost to outfit a plane with the system could be $30,000 to $40,000. "Our sector of aviation is not a bunch of rich people with toys. We're average Canadians," he said. "What Transport (Canada) is doing to our sector of aviation is destroying it." The federal government said operators of larger aircraft already have the systems installed. Lebel's department estimates the change would save about $215 million over 10 years in preventing deaths, serious injuries and damage. "(Controlled flight into terrain) is the leading cause of fatalities in airline accidents worldwide since the collision with terrain usually results in total destruction of the aircraft," said the federal government's advisory circular that went out to industry stakeholders earlier this year. John McKenna of the Air Transport Association, the voice of commercial aviation in Canada, said the regulations are long overdue and the equipment saves lives. "We think it's a good piece of equipment and we are largely in agreement with this," he said. Merlin Preuss, vice president of government regulatory affairs with the Business Aviation Association isn't sure how it will impact his members yet. "It came right out of the blue, didn't even know they were going to do. We weren't ready for it at all." Those in the industry have a 75 day consultation period to comment on the changes before they're finalized. Psutka said his organization will raise its concerns during the consultation period, but he's not hopeful for change. Psutka said many of his members' planes are already equipped with a type of TAWS, but that won't satisfy the federal government regulations. "It is unfair to broad brush, lump everybody into the same package and say everybody that's in this category has to have one," he said. Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20111203/feds-small-planes-terrain-warning-systems-111203/#ixzz1fUCXJEyC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #2 December 3, 2011 Maybe if a plane doesn't actually have "seats" then it doesn't matter? I know it is a long shot, but maybe.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #3 December 3, 2011 From the Canada Gazette Subpart 605 Private turbine-powered aeroplanes and commercial aircraft configured with six or more seats, excluding pilot seats, except when operated DAY Visual Flight Rules, would be required to be equipped with Class B TAWS with EAA functionality. Subpart 703 Aeroplanes configured with six or more seats, excluding pilot seats, except when operated DAY Visual Flight Rules, would be required to be equipped with Class B TAWS with EAA functionality. Subpart 704 Aeroplanes configured with six to nine passenger seats, except when operated DAY Visual Flight Rules, would be required to be equipped with Class B TAWS with EAA functionality. Aeroplanes configured with 10 or more passenger seats, exclusive of pilot seats, except when operated DAY Visual Flight Rules, would be required to be equipped with Class A TAWS with EAA functionality and a terrain awareness and situational display. Subpart 705 Aeroplanes would be required to be equipped with Class A TAWS with EAA functionality and a terrain awareness and situational display. (bold added) I do not believe 705 applies to skydiving operation, but am not sure. Other than that it just limits night jumping to Cessnas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bertt 0 #4 December 7, 2011 And I guess, technically, high-altitude jumps (above 18,000 feet) from larger aircraft would require TAWS. How's that for irony?You don't have to outrun the bear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
