AVCANADA

VOLUNTARY ADOPTION OF FLOATPLANE SAFETY BEST INDUSTRY PRACTICES

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is to encourage all commercial and private floatplane operators to voluntarily adopt floatplane safety best industry practices.

BACKGROUND:

In its Final Report A09P0397, concerning the November 29, 2009, fatal DHC-2 Beaver accident at Lyall Harbour, British Columbia, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that the risk of drowning for occupants of floatplane accidents remains high.

Between 1990 and 2009 there were 134 accidents of commercial aircraft equipped with floats or amphibious floats registered in Canada. Of those, 39 were investigated by the TSB, 31 were considered to be survivable, six were not survivable, and two were unknown. Of the 31 survivable accidents, none of the occupants was wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

Transport Canada takes the issue of floatplane safety seriously and has taken several initiatives over the years to address this issue through comprehensive safety promotion, awareness campaigns and regulatory actions. This present CASA is issued to further promote floatplane safety to industry.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Operators and flight crews are strongly encouraged to voluntarily adopt the best industry practices in relation to floatplane safety, including:

•upper body restraints to be used by front seat passengers;
•comprehensive safety briefing to passengers, including the proper usage of personal flotation devices during and after emergency egress;
•emergency egress training for flight crew; and
•the adoption of aircraft safety design improvements facilitating egress.

For more information, please visit: www.tc.gc.ca/floatplanes

none of the occupants was wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

In July 2011, TC will hold a focus group with selected members of industry to determine the most effective means of addressing the recommendations related to rapid egress and the mandatory use of personal floatation devices. The conclusion of the focus group will be presented to the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council (CARAC) by the spring of 2012 as the basis for amendments to the rules and any proposed rule changes will be consulted expeditiously. TC will also expedite the implementation of proposed regulatory amendments which have already been consulted, which will provide for increased flexibility in the possible types of Personal Flotation Devices.

Responses to Transportation Safety Board Recommendations - A09P0397