TAWS

[safetywatch]

... and it only took 6 years to do this!!

The Government of Canada takes action to enhance air safety

No. H120/11
For release - December 2, 2011

OTTAWA — The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced proposed new regulations to enhance the safety of Canadian aviation. These regulations would require private and commercial airplanes with six or more passenger seats to be equipped with an alert system known as the "terrain awareness and warning system" (TAWS).

“Our government will continue strengthening aviation safety for Canadians,” said Minister Lebel. “Using TAWS will significantly reduce the risk of airplane crashes with land, water or obstacles.”

TAWS provides acoustic and visual alerts to flight crews when the path of their aircraft is predicted to collide with terrain, water or obstacles — a situation that can occur when visibility is low or the weather is poor. This gives the flight crew sufficient time to take evasive action.

These types of accidents often happen when pilots are unaware of the danger until it is too late. The risk is even greater for small aircraft, which fly further into remote wilderness or mountainous areas but are not currently required to have the same proximity warning equipment as large airliners.

The proposed regulations comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization's standards and help harmonize Canadian regulations more closely with those of other aviation authorities, including those in the United States and European Union. Canada's Transportation Safety Board also recommends the wider use of TAWS to help pilots assess their proximity to terrain.

Transport Canada is committed to the continuous improvement of aviation safety. These proposed amendments will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 3, 2011. Stakeholders will have a 75-day consultation period to comment on the proposed regulations before they are finalized and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

– 30 –

Contacts:

Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

[loopy]

Finally. It was initially proposed along with TCAS/ACAS but currently only larger or RVSM aircraft are required to have that as well. Any news on that?

[Sulako]

As far as TCAS goes, for our 704 OC, we need TCAS 1 to do any charters at all in Canada, and TCAS 2 to do any charters in Canada above FL 290. It's been like that for 3 years now I think?

[FL500]

Why is TCAS not mandated for all commercial aircraft in Canada? I think this is a good step forward but I think a big opportunity to advance safety has been missed. Not too many controllers, in the North and when VIS is low you might avoid flying into that mountain but if you then have a midair collision then that does you no good.

[seniorpumpkin]

What kind of cost are operators looking at for a TAWS unit? Not saying they aren't worth it, just curious.

[bobcaygeon]

For commercial operators you need TAWS A (radar altimeter required), 40-60K depending on install and existing equip. Cheapest unit is generally Sandel ST3400. It has TCAS I as well (which we needed already, so we got the TAWS as a bonus). Other than them there isn't much out there on the affordable end. B/K is not making the KMD 550/850 MFD right now due to supplier issues so their TAWS needs to use another MNFR's MFD or a used 550/850.

There are other options but they are more expensive ie Collins, Universal, etc

Garmin and Avidyne only offer TAWS B but some Garmin units displays ie G1000, GTN 700 will show other manufacturer's TAWS A info.

Our Garmin rep stated that if there was enough interest they might consider TAWS A.

I see the lack of available equipment being a problem unless Garmin steps up.

In the end it's "pass the cost to the consumer" for commercial ops as we are all on a level playing field if TC doesn't allow exceptions.

[loopy]

Sulako, I think your right. 703 it is not required, unless RVSM. Most people aren't operating their turboprops that high.

[BEFAN5]

not required 703. My op has them installed in half the AC. Has saved my life multiple times. It should be mandatory.

[Cat Driver]

not required 703. My op has them installed in half the AC. Has saved my life multiple times. It should be mandatory.

I don't want to seem like an asshole, but what kind of flying are you doing that TAWS has saved your life multiple times?

[Hornblower]

For once I gotta agree with Cat, wtf ... saved your life multiple times?

[Sulako]

I'm assuming the poster is referring to TCAS rather than TAWS?

[200hr Wonder]

This is a good step yet there are still commercial aircraft flying around IFR without a TSO'd approach capable GPS. When will that be mandated. I am sure that would save a bunch of lives as well.

[CID]

I agree with Cat Driver too. Statistically, TCAS II was supposed to reduce mid-air collisions from a rate of 1 in a million flight hours to 1 in a billion flight hours. TAWS had similar targets with respect to CFIT.

If you have had "multiple" instances where you would have perished due to mid-airs or CFIT, simply put, you are a terrible pilot and need to rethink your career path.

[The Hammer]

CID
Those numbers are based on actual mid-air collisions and CFIT and does not factor in near misses (anything less than 500 ft and a 1/2 mile without prior visual contact in my books).

As I am sure you are aware prior to TCAS there was a lot of "ignorance is bliss" when it came to "near misses".

Personally I have had 4 legitimate RA's in 4000 hrs of airline flying that were in airliners and involved other airliners or business jets in Terminal areas, all were the result of a blown altitude (not me). Thank goodness that 3 of them were in VMC and we had seen them while they still at a TA, but likely wouldn't have without the TCAS onboard.

I wasn't waiting around to see if it would have been a "near miss" or the "1 in a billion" as you stated.

The one I remember the most was in an RJ during the 2nd leg of my initial line indoc (1st as PF). We went from 2000ft/min down (normal descent) on the A/P to 2500 ft/min up (as per the RA) hand flying (scary stuff for us airplane programmers.)

[BEFAN5]

Yes I was referring to TCAS. Sorry for not clarifying that I was stepping away from the TAWS subject to address another post regarding TCAS.

[CL-Skadoo!]

I'm curious if their intention was to get this done before the First Air 6560 accident report's recommendations come out. That aircraft was lacking TAWS for some reason.

[Doc]

I keep getting this mental image of a poster in another thread, dead sticking his PC12 in the mountains, trying to avoid the rocks by listening to the "bitching Betty" on his TAWS.
Don't know how some of our famous ".. runners" are going to gain any safety margin at all with a TAWS installed, since they will have to turn the thing off every time they fly? The thing isn't of much use if it's turned off.
It wouldn't have helped in so many accidents caused by .. running.....but, by all means, if some dude in Ottawa states it'll prevent CFIT accidents, who are we to question the wisdom of that line of thinking?
Personally, give me TCAS, leave the CVR at home.
TAWS? Electronic "curb feelers"? We'll see....

[CID]

The intent to impose the rule around the December time frame was released before the tragic accident in Resolute. From what I understand, the accident airplane had TAWS installed but like anyone outside the investigation team, I don`t know if it was working that day or if it was otherwise deficient.

The Hammer, yes those statistics are on actual mid-airs but near misses are low probability as well. I`m certainly not diminishing the performance of TCAS or TAWS or the mandating of either. What I`m trying to say is that pilots shouldn`t be flying around with less attention because they have another safety system on board.

I`d hate to see this turn in to the same scenario as anti-lock brakes on cars where drivers continue to drive like it`s summer out just because braking is improved.

[Sulako]

If you have had "multiple" instances where you would have perished due to mid-airs or CFIT, simply put, you are a terrible pilot and need to rethink your career path.

I had to laugh. I recommend flying IFR into Scottsdale AZ, Van Nuys CA or Teterboro NJ on a nice VFR day to see firsthand the value of TCAS.

[BEFAN5]

If you have had "multiple" instances where you would have perished due to mid-airs or CFIT, simply put, you are a terrible pilot and need to rethink your career path.

I had to laugh. I recommend flying IFR into Scottsdale AZ, Van Nuys CA or Teterboro NJ on a nice VFR day to see firsthand the value of TCAS.

It is the other pilot who sometimes needs to rethink their career path or hobby. Not making position reports, not knowing HOW to make position reports, not knowing where you are, etc. I once had a plane cross my track from the side (close enough to nearly have heart jump out of my chest). I had been making all of my reports. After my heart slowed down, anger set it. I wanted to know who that &$*#*# was. After trying every radio frequency known to man kind, I heard him call up radio for weather. End of the story, some fossil from the US decided to test the waters and fly north of the boarder. He had no idea about 126.7, and he had absolutely no idea where he was.... And he was VFR. He has punched the route into the GPS and didn't care about what was in between. So my position reports were useless. I could have been 500 miles away for all he knew.

Back on topic now.hehe

[Northern Flyer]

Let me get this straight, is joe blows 185 running under 703 gonna need a TAWS system installed? I could see this being the end of allot of small charter and float operators. I have operated aircraft on floats with TAWS systems and they have to be inhibited most of the time or they are yelling at you every time you land on a lake.

[The Hammer]

"VFR only" operators will be exempt

[CD]

Advisory Circular 600-003 - Regulations for Terrain Awareness Warning System

[Northern Flyer]

"VFR only" operators will be exempt

Missed that part

[Doc]

I would like to see transponders mandated on ALL aircraft. For everybody's safety. Transponders are relatively cheap, and with TCAS, this could/would actually save some bacon. TAWS, not so much.....I feel this is a political move.
We come across a turbine Otter who has no transponder. C'Mon Man...you can afford a $700K engine, buy a bloody transponder! Might save you from receiving a rectal exam from a Metro.