What are the CARs?
The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) are a set of rules for aviation companies operating out of Canada. Much like the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) in the United States and Joint Aviation Requirements (JARs) in the European Union, the purpose of these rule sets is to ensure the safety of the aviation community, including passengers and airline employees. The general principles of aviation regulations involve risk-based analysis to regulation, reducing the regulatory burden to make regulation more cost-effective, and improving aviation companies’ communication with the aviation industry and regulation authorities.
What challenges do the new CARs pose for Canadian Airlines?
In order to modernize and improve the CARs, a new rule set was developed and took effect in December 2020. This new ruleset is more complex than the previous CARs and will require airlines to use more advanced airline operations management methods and tools. For example, under the old rule set, airlines could operate without an automated tracking system. Under the new CARs, smaller airlines will find it more challenging to operate in Canada without a crew management system capable of automatically tracking flights and recording flight and crew duty data. This highlights the need for Canadian aviation companies to find a reliable, comprehensive, and cost-effective flight and crew management system (FCMS) to manage their operation and ensure compliance with the new CARs.
What challenges do the new CARs pose for airline OPS management systems?
For the software companies providing flight operations management systems to Canadian airlines, the new CARs also pose a challenge. Managing complex rule sets and regulations requires advanced capabilities from the flight management software. The system’s entire operations, such as scheduling daily operations, tracking both workforce and fleet, automated planning, and day-of and post-flight operations, must all be compliant with the new aviation rules and regulations. When a new rule set is adopted, outdated flight operations management systems, often referred to as legacy systems, may be unequipped to adapt the rules under which their system operates to meet these new regulations.
Is SkedFlex compliant with the new CARs?
eTT Aviation’s flagship product, SkedFlex, has a highly sophisticated rules engine capable of managing compliance with a variety of federal and international aviation rules and regulations. SkedFlex can clearly and accurately track flights and crew while adhering to flight, duty, and rest requirements, and limits as detailed under Section 700 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Furthermore, SkedFlex’s innovative approach to regulatory compliance is user-friendly, customizable, and capable of integrating with existing frameworks or working as a stand-alone solution.
What are the benefits of the new CARs?
One important benefit the new CARs will bring to the Canadian aviation industry is further increasing the safety standards under which aviation companies operate to ensure the security of crew and passengers. Since the new CARs require airlines to have automated tracking software, aviation companies will ultimately benefit from improved data collection by using this information to make better, more cost-effective business decisions. Additionally, because the new CARs include a requirement that all aircraft meet the ICAO Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Standard, Canadian aviation companies may even reduce their CO2 emissions by complying with these new rules and regulations.
Contact eTT Aviation for more information about SkedFlex or to request a demo!
Sources and related texts:
General Information on the CARs
Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CO2 Emissions): SOR/2020-251
ICAO Fact Sheet- Aircraft CO2 Emissions Standard Metric System
Author:
Hailey LaJoie
Special Projects Manager / MISA Documentation Specialist
eTT Aviation