Chapter 3. EquipmentGeneral You should have the equipment, documents, and qualifications specified in this chapter for your trans-Atlantic flight. The items listed are required by Transport Canada Aviation Regulations (CAR's) for all flights beginning their trans-Atlantic flights from Canada. Since most eastbound trans-Atlantic flights by light aircraft will commence their oceanic crossing from Canada, this equipment is mandatory. Denmark/Greenland and Iceland also require all the equipment mandated by the CARs. Remember, these Canadian requirements are to ensure that your trans-Atlantic flight ends as planned, not as another "lost in the North Atlantic" statistic. We urge you to comply with all regulations and use common sense! The next few pages contain reprinted sections of CARs applying specifically to pilot qualifications, required documents, survival and emergency equipment, communication and navigation equipment. THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATION (CARs) The Legislation 602.39 No pilot-in-command of a single-engine aircraft, or of a multi-engine aircraft that would be unable to maintain flight in the event of the failure of an engine, shall commence a flight that will leave Canadian Domestic Airspace and enter airspace over the high seas unless (the pilot-in-command complies with the following requirements): Pilot Qualifications The Pilot-in-Command shall hold a valid pilot license endorsed with a valid instrument rating. Aircraft Document a. Certificate of Registration from the State of Registry; b. Certificate of Airworthiness, Flight Permit, or Special Airworthiness Certificate; c. Certification and special conditions issued by the State of Registry to allow over gross weight operation if applicable; d. Certification issued by the State of Registry for fuel tank modification (e.g. FAA Form 337); e. Revised weight and balance report in the case of aircraft modified to carry extra fuel. Caution An Export Certificate of Airworthiness does not constitute authority to operate an aircraft. It must be accompanied by one of the above authorities. A Temporary Registration Certificate (FAA Pink Slip) is not valid for international operations. NOTE-
Fuel Reserves An aircraft operated under an IFR flight plan on a transoceanic flight shall carry an amount of fuel that is sufficient to allow the aircraft to fly to and execute an approach and a missed approach at the destination aerodrome, to fly to and land at the alternate aerodrome, and then to fly for a period of forty-five (45) minutes, and in addition, carry contingency fuel equal to at least ten (10) percent of the fuel required to complete the flight to the destination aerodrome. Aircraft Instruments and Equipment Aircraft must be approved for IFR flight, and equipped with the following instruments and equipment in serviceable condition. a. a sensitive pressure altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure; b. a magnetic compass that operates independently of the aircraft electrical generating system; c. an airspeed indicator with a means of preventing malfunction due to icing (pilot heat); d. a turn and slip indicator or turn coordinator; e. an adequate source of electrical energy, and an adequate supply of fuses, if appropriate; f. a stabilized magnetic direction indicator or a gyroscopic direction indicator; g. an attitude indicator; h. a vertical speed indictor; i. an outside air temperature gauge; j. appropriate engine power and performance indicating instruments; k. a power failure warning device or vacuum indicator that shows the power available to gyroscopic instruments for each power source; l. fuel tank quantity indicators; m. an alternative source of static pressure for the altimeter, airspeed indicator and vertical speed indicator; and n. if the flight is to be made at night; - a means of illumination for all instruments used to operate the aircraft; - a means of illumination for all instruments used to operate the aircraft; - when carrying passengers, a landing light; and - navigation lights NOTE-
Communications Equipment Very High Frequency Radio. Sufficient radio communications equipment to permit the pilot, in the event of failure of any item of that equipment, to conduct two-way communications on the appropriate frequency. High Frequency Radio. An HF radio capable of transmitting and receiving on a minimum of two appropriate international air-ground general purpose frequencies. NOTE-
Navigation Equipment ICAO Annex 2 requires an aircraft to be equipped with adequate navigation equipment to enable it to navigate in accordance with the flight plan and the air traffic control clearance. The CARs require that sufficient radio navigation equipment be installed to permit the pilot, in the event of the failure at any stage of the flight of any item of that equipment, including any associated flight instrument display. a. to proceed to the destination aerodrome or proceed to another aerodrome that is suitable for landing, and b. where the aircraft is operated in IMC, to complete an instrument approach, and if necessary, conduct a missed approach. A suitable interpretation of the above would permit an aircraft equipped with VOR/ILS/ADF and a sing GPS approved for enroute flight to operate on any of the North Atlantic routes. Maps and Charts Each aircraft shall carry CURRENT aeronautical maps, charts, aerodrome data, and IFR approach plates covering the area over which the aircraft might be flown. This includes enroute and departure diversions as well as destination alternates. Whether you plan to file VFR or IFR, there is always the potential for IMC in the NAT Region, therefore, pilots shall carry IFR publications. Aircraft landing at Narsarsuaq shall carry a topographical chart of large enough scale to permit map-reading up the fjord. Emergency Equipment Requirements Aircraft operators shall comply with the requirements of the State of Registry with regard to overwater safety equipment, and overland safety equipment designated for areas in which search and rescue would be especially difficult, for example, Labrador, Greenland, and Iceland. Overwater Survival Gear ICAO Annex 6 and the CARs (relating to Canadian registered aircraft) require that the following be carried on single-engine flights over water beyond 100 NM gliding distance from land, or 200 NM in the case of multi-engine aircraft able to maintain flight on one engine: a Hypothermia protection (survival suits) for each occupant; b Life raft equipped with an attached survival kit, sufficient for the survival on water of each person on board the aircraft, given the geographical area, the season of the year and anticipated seasonal variations, that provides the means for: 1 Providing shelter, 2 Purifying water, and 3 Visually signaling distress For U.S. registered aircraft, the 14 CFR Part 91 sea survival kit would be appropriate. Overland Survival Gear ICAO Standards Annex 6 and the CARs (relating to Canadian registered aircraft) require that the following be carried on flight over or into the interior of Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland providing the means for: a. starting a fire; b. providing shelter; c. purifying water, and d. visually signaling distress It is strongly recommended that transoceanic operations obtain a handbook on survival on the water and in inhospitable areas, and make up an appropriate kit form that book. Operational Considerations in Sparsely Settled Areas Experience has shown that there is a tendency for pilots who are not familiar with the problems of navigating and the potential dangers of operating in the sparsely settled areas of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Scotland to underestimate the difficulties involved. Some pilots assume that operating in these areas is no different from operating in the more populated areas. This can lead to a lack of proper planning and preparation which can result in the pilot-in-command exposing himself, his crew, his passengers, and his aircraft to unnecessary risks. This in turn can lead to considerable strain being placed on the limited local resources at stop-over or destination airports. Lengthy and expensive searches have resulted which, with careful planning and preparation, could have been avoided. IN SOME CASES IT HAS RESULTED IN UNNECESSARY LOSS OF LIFE. The fact is that in sparely settled areas, aircraft operations require special considerations. In this area radio aids to navigation, weather information, fuel supplies, aircraft servicing facilities, accommodations and food are usually limited and often non-existent. In addition to the regulations concerning pilot qualifications and experience, it is recommended that the pilot have: a. flight experience with significant cross country, night and actual instrument time; b. experience in using the same navigational equipment that will be used to cross the Atlantic; and c. experience in the same type of aircraft that will be used to cross the Atlantic.
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