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Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2023-06-21. Previous Versions

Part III — Aerodromes, Airports and Heliports (continued)

[
  • SOR/2007-87, s. 4
]

Subpart 5 – Heliports (continued)

Division VIII — Lights (continued)

[305.34 reserved]

Division IX — Markers

  •  (1) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that the markers installed at the heliport are either flush mounted or lightweight and frangibly mounted and in accordance with the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (2) The operator of a heliport shall provide FATO markers where

    • (a) a FATO edge marking is not provided; and

    • (b) the extent of the FATO and the adjacent ground is not conspicuous.

  • (3) The operator of a heliport shall provide ground taxiway edge markers in accordance with the requirements of the applicable heliport standard if the helicopters must travel along a ground taxiway to or from a FATO to an apron, unless

    • (a) the edges of the taxiway are conspicuous;

    • (b) taxiway centre line lights are provided;

    • (c) taxiway edge lights are provided; or

    • (d) taxiway centre line markers are provided.

  • (4) The operator of a heliport shall provide air taxiway markers if the helicopters must travel by air to or from a FATO to an apron via a specific corridor in accordance with the applicable heliport standard.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8
  • SOR/2015-160, s. 16

[305.36 reserved]

Division X — Visual Aids for Denoting Obstacles

Requirements for Marking or Lighting Obstacles
  •  (1) Subject to subsection (4), the operator of a heliport shall ensure that obstacles, other than aircraft, on the movement, manoeuvring and safety areas of the heliport are marked and lighted as follows:

    • (a) vehicles and other mobile obstacles on the movement area shall be marked so as to be visible to pilots during aircraft operations;

    • (b) where the heliport is used at night or in conditions of low visibility, vehicles and other mobile obstacles on the manoeuvring area shall be lighted;

    • (c) elevated aeronautical ground lights on the movement area shall be marked so as to be conspicuous by day; and

    • (d) in accordance with the applicable heliport standard, a fixed obstacle located on the safety area shall be

      • (i) marked, and

      • (ii) where the heliport is certified to be available for use at night, lighted.

  • (2) The operator of a heliport shall mark and, if the heliport is certified to be available for use at night, light fixed obstacles located within the area identified in the applicable heliport standard, except where the obstacle is

    • (a) shielded by another fixed obstacle that is marked in accordance with Standard 621;

    • (b) conspicuous by reason of its shape, dimensions or colour;

    • (c) identified in an aeronautical evaluation as being sufficiently lit by ambient light at night; or

    • (d) not more than 150 m above the adjacent ground and lighted in accordance with Standard 621.

  • (3) The operator of a heliport where a fixed obstacle that is more than 150 m above the surrounding ground is located within the area identified in the applicable heliport standard shall

    • (a) light the obstacle by high-intensity obstacle lights by day in accordance with Standard 621; or

    • (b) mark the obstacle in accordance with the applicable heliport standard.

  • (4) The operator of a heliport shall mark an elevated obstacle on the helicopter ground taxiway strips and, where the heliport is certified to be available for use at night, light the obstacle.

  • (5) The operator of a heliport shall mark and, if applicable, light an obstacle referred to in subsection (2) unless an aeronautical evaluation determines that

    • (a) the obstacle is conspicuous by reason of its shape, dimensions or colour; or

    • (b) retro-reflective tape or markers are sufficiently conspicuous to be used instead of lights.

Marking Obstacles
  •  (1) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that a fixed obstacle or a mobile obstacle on the heliport is marked in accordance with the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (2) Obstacles required to be marked shall, in accordance with Standard 621, be

    • (a) coloured;

    • (b) marked by markers; or

    • (c) marked by flags.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8
  • SOR/2011-285, s. 7
Lighting Obstacles
  •  (1) The operator of a heliport shall light a fixed obstacle in accordance with Standard 621.

  • (2) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that maintenance and service vehicles in use display lights in accordance with the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (3) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that emergency vehicles in use that are required to be lighted display the lights specified in the applicable heliport standard.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8
  • SOR/2011-285, s. 7

[305.40 reserved]

Division XI — Visual Aids for Denoting Restricted Use Areas

  •  (1) When a FATO, helicopter parking position, taxiway, or any part of those areas is permanently closed, the operator of a heliport shall display a closed marking on the area that meets the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (2) When an area of a heliport is temporarily closed or an area is snow-covered, the heliport operator shall ensure that

    • (a) notice of the closure is

      • (i) included in the Canada Flight Supplement, or

      • (ii) reported in a NOTAM; or

    • (b) a closed marking referred to in subsection (1) is displayed on the affected area.

  • (3) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that non-load-bearing surfaces adjacent to a FATO, helicopter parking position or taxiway that cannot be visually distinguished from load-bearing surfaces are marked as set out in the applicable heliport standard.

  • (4) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that unserviceability markers consisting of flags, cones or marker boards that meet the requirements of the applicable heliport standard and are positioned in conformity with that standard are displayed on any part of a taxiway or apron that is unfit for the movement of aircraft.

  • (5) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that unserviceability lights that meet the requirements of the applicable heliport standard are displayed in conformity with that standard wherever any portion of a taxiway or apron at a heliport that is certified to be available for use at night is unfit for the movement of aircraft.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8

[305.42 reserved]

Division XII — Equipment and Installations

  •  (1) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that the lights of a visual approach slope indicator system, when required and installed as specified in subsection 305.33(4), are aligned by means of

    • (a) a daily inspection of alignment and, if necessary, a correction of any misalignment of more than 3 minutes of arc; or

    • (b) an automatic shut-off switch installed in the system.

  • (2) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that a fence or other barrier is installed on the heliport and that the fence or other barrier meets the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (3) The operator of a heliport or a person under the operator’s authority shall direct any vehicle that is operated on an apron or manoeuvring area of the heliport or, in the case of a vehicle in a manoeuvring area, shall ensure that the vehicle’s operation is under the direction of the air traffic services unit or the heliport operator or a person working under their authority, in accordance with the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (4) The operator of the heliport shall ensure that the drivers of vehicles on an apron or manoeuvring area are trained for the tasks to be performed and that they know they must comply with instructions issued by the air traffic services unit or the heliport operator or a person working under their authority.

  • (5) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that equipment required for air navigation purposes that is located on a safety area, a taxiway strip or within the separation distances specified in the applicable heliport standard is located, constructed and installed in accordance with that standard.

  • (6) The operator of a heliport shall ensure that visual aids, precision approach FATO lights and centre line lights on a taxiway are maintained in accordance with the applicable heliport standard.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8

[305.44 reserved]

Division XIII — Emergency and Other Services

Emergency Response Plan
  •  (1) The operator of a heliport shall have a heliport emergency response plan available at the heliport.

  • (2) The operator of a heliport shall identify in the emergency response plan those organizations that are capable of providing assistance in responding to an emergency at the heliport or in its vicinity.

  • (3) The operator of a heliport shall specify in the emergency response plan the procedures to be followed for

    • (a) an aircraft crash or other accident within the heliport perimeter;

    • (b) an aircraft crash outside the heliport perimeter; and

    • (c) any medical emergency.

  • (4) Where an approach and departure path at a heliport is located over water, the operator of the heliport shall specify in the emergency response plan

    • (a) the organization that is responsible for co-ordinating rescue in the event of an aircraft ditching; and

    • (b) how to contact that organization.

  • (5) The operator of a heliport shall include in the emergency response plan the information required in accordance with standard 325 — Heliport Standards.

  • (6) The operator of a heliport shall consult with all organizations identified in the emergency response plan concerning their role in it.

  • (7) The operator of a heliport shall annually review the emergency response plan and update the information.

  • (8) The operator of a heliport that provides a scheduled service for the transport of passengers shall carry out a test of the emergency response plan at intervals not exceeding three years.

Fire Protection Services
  •  (1) The operator of a surface-level heliport or of a heliport over a parking garage or on an elevated structure that is not an occupied building shall ensure that fire protection services are provided at the heliport and that those services and the fire resistance of the structure meets the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • (2) The operator of a rooftop heliport shall ensure that fire protection services are provided at the heliport and that those services and the fire resistance of the structure meets the requirements of the applicable heliport standard.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8
Extinguishing Agents and Equipment

 The operator of a heliport shall

  • (a) determine the requirements for extinguishing agents and equipment used for fire protection at the heliport based on the longest dimension helicopter for which the heliport has been certified;

  • (b) ensure that the agents and equipment are in accordance with the applicable heliport standard; and

  • (c) provide a fire extinguisher or fire fighting system that is protected from freezing.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8
Safety Personnel for Rooftop Heliport

 The operator of a rooftop heliport shall ensure that a minimum of one trained safety person is in attendance during helicopter operations.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8
Training for Safety Personnel

 The operator of a heliport shall provide initial and refresher training to safety personnel provided at the heliport in accordance with the applicable heliport standard.

  • SOR/2007-87, s. 8

[305.50 to 305.52 reserved]

Division XIV — Heliport Operations Manual

General
  •  (1) The provisions of this Subpart that specify the procedures for making a heliport operations manual also apply in respect of any amendment to the manual.

  • (2) The operator of a heliport shall set out in the heliport operations manual

    • (a) the heliport certification standards that were met for issuance of the heliport certificate; and

    • (b) the level and types of services to be provided by the operator of the heliport.

  • (3) [Repealed, SOR/2019-295, s. 9]

 

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