News
Transport Minister Receives Final Report on Air France Accident
Dec. 14, 2007, Ottawa, Ont.- The Honourable Lawrence Cannon has acknowledged receipt of the TSB's final report into the Air France accident at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Aug. 2, 2005.
December 14, 2007 By Carey Fredericks
Dec. 14, 2007, Ottawa, Ont.- The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister
of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, has acknowledged receipt of
the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada's final report into the Air
France accident at Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto on
August 2, 2005.
"My officials and I recognize the important work of the Transportation
Safety Board during the investigation," said Minister Cannon. "Transport
Canada fully supports the intent of the recommendations made today and
departmental officials are currently reviewing the contents of the report. Our
government's priority is to help ensure the safety and security of the
transportation system."
The final report contains recommendations for Transport Canada (TC) that
include:
– Establishing clear standards limiting approaches and landings in
convective weather, for all air transport operators at Canadian
airports.
TC response: On September 6, 2006, Transport Canada amended regulations
to prohibit commercial air operators from beginning an approach when
visibility is so poor that a successful approach to a landing is
unlikely. The guiding principle is that when an aircraft is flying in
conditions of poor visibility and approaching a runway to land, the
crew must be able to see the runway environment in time to position the
aircraft for a safe landing.
Pilots have access to information from many sources to help them make
landing decisions. These include: access to the aircraft's flight
instruments, which may include onboard weather radar and wind shear
detection equipment; knowledge of the aircraft's capabilities;
knowledge of weather conditions; contact with air traffic control or
control towers; and information on flight conditions at location.
– Requiring all Code 4 runways to have a 300m runway end safety area
(RESA) or a means of stopping aircraft that provides an equivalent
level of safety.
TC response: With regard to RESA, Transport Canada, together with
industry experts, conducted a review of all Canadian airport
certification standards. During this review, various studies completed
by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Federal
Aviation Administration were considered. The result is a recommendation
to amend the Canadian regulations and standards. Industry will be
further consulted with respect to amendments, prior to finalizing
changes to the regulations. This process is expected to begin early in
2008 and will follow the normal regulatory process.
– Requiring that passenger safety briefings include clear direction to
leave all carry-on baggage behind during an evacuation.
TC response: Transport Canada agrees with the TSB's recommendation to
include clear direction to passengers, as part of the safety briefing,
to leave behind all carry-on baggage during an evacuation and will
propose an amendment to the Canadian Aviation Regulations to that
effect. The proposed amendment will be subject to the regulatory
consultation process. Information related to carry-on baggage currently
forms part of the briefing to prepare passengers for an evacuation
Transport Canada officials are reviewing the full content of the report
and the remaining recommendations to determine what additional action is
required.