Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Balloons — Day VFR

605.19 No person shall conduct a take-off in a balloon for the purpose of day VFR flight unless it is equipped with

• (a) an altimeter;

• (b) a vertical speed indicator;

• (c) in the case of a hot air balloon,

  • (i) a fuel quantity gauge, and

  • (ii) an envelope temperature indicator;

• (d) in the case of a captive gas balloon, a magnetic direction indicator; and

• (e) subject to subsections 601.08(2) and 601.09(2), a radiocommunication system adequate to permit two-way communication on the appropriate frequency when the balloon is operated within

  • (i) Class C or Class D airspace,

  • (ii) an MF area, unless the aircraft is operated pursuant to subsection 602.97(3), or

  • (iii) the ADIZ.

Balloons — Night VFR

605.20 No person shall conduct a take-off in a balloon for the purpose of night VFR flight unless it is equipped with

• (a) equipment required pursuant to section 605.19;

• (b) position lights;

• (c) a means of illuminating all of the instruments used by the flight crew, including a flashlight; and

• (d) in the case of a hot air balloon, two independent fuel systems.

Gliders — Day VFR

605.21 No person shall operate a glider in day VFR flight unless it is equipped with

• (a) an altimeter;

• (b) an airspeed indicator;

• (c) a magnetic compass or a magnetic direction indicator; and

• (d) subject to subsections 601.08(2) and 601.09(2), a radiocommunication system adequate to permit two-way communication on the appropriate frequency when the glider is operated within

  • (i) Class C or Class D airspace,

  • (ii) an MF area, unless the aircraft is operated pursuant to subsection 602.97(3), or

  • (iii) the ADIZ.

Seat and Safety Belt Requirements

• 605.22 (1) Subject to subsection 605.23, no person shall operate an aircraft other than a balloon unless it is equipped with a seat and safety belt for each person on board the aircraft other than an infant.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person operating an aircraft that was type-certificated with a safety belt designed for two persons.

• (3) A safety belt referred to in subsection (1) shall include a latching device of the metal-to-metal type.

Restraint System Requirements

605.23 An aircraft may be operated without being equipped in accordance with section 605.22 in respect of the following persons if a restraint system that is secured to the primary structure of the aircraft is provided for each person who is

• (a) carried on a stretcher or in an incubator or other similar device;

• (b) carried for the purpose of parachuting from the aircraft; or

• (c) required to work in the vicinity of an opening in the aircraft structure.

Shoulder Harness Requirements

• 605.24 (1) No person shall operate an aeroplane, other than a small aeroplane manufactured before July 18, 1978, unless each front seat or, if the aeroplane has a flight deck, each seat on the flight deck is equipped with a safety belt that includes a shoulder harness.

• (2) Except as provided in section 705.75, no person shall operate a transport category aeroplane unless each flight attendant seat is equipped with a safety belt that includes a shoulder harness.

• (3) No person shall operate a small aeroplane manufactured after December 12, 1986, the initial type certificate of which provides for not more than nine passenger seats, excluding any pilot seats, unless each forward- or aft-facing seat is equipped with a safety belt that includes a shoulder harness.

• (4) No person shall operate a helicopter manufactured after September 16, 1992, the initial type certificate of which specifies that the helicopter is certified as belonging to the normal or transport category, unless each seat is equipped with a safety belt that includes a shoulder harness.

• (5) No person operating an aircraft shall conduct any of the following flight operations unless the aircraft is equipped with a seat and a safety belt that includes a shoulder harness for each person on board the aircraft:

  • (a) aerobatic manoeuvres;

  • (b) class B, C or D external load operations conducted by a helicopter; and

  • (c) aerial application, or aerial inspection other than flight inspection for the purpose of calibrating electronic navigation aids, conducted at altitudes below 500 feet AGL.

General Use of Safety Belts and Restraint Systems

• 605.25 (1) The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall direct all of the persons on board the aircraft to fasten safety belts

  • (a) during movement of the aircraft on the surface;

  • (b) during take-off and landing; and

  • (c) at any time during flight that the pilot-in-command considers it necessary that safety belts be fastened.

• (2) The directions referred to in subsection (1) also apply to the use of the following restraint systems:

  • (a) a child restraint system;

  • (b) a restraint system used by a person who is engaged in parachute descents; and

  • (c) a restraint system used by a person when working in the vicinity of an opening in the aircraft structure.

• (3) Where an aircraft crew includes flight attendants and the pilot-in-command anticipates that the level of turbulence will exceed light turbulence, the pilot-in-command shall immediately direct each flight attendant to

  • (a) discontinue duties relating to service;

  • (b) secure the cabin; and

  • (c) occupy a seat and fasten the safety belt provided.

• (4) Where an aircraft is experiencing turbulence and the in-charge flight attendant considers it necessary, the in-charge flight attendant shall

  • (a) direct all of the passengers to fasten their safety belts; and

  • (b) direct all flight attendants to discontinue duties relating to service, to secure the cabin, to occupy the assigned seats and to fasten the safety belts provided and to do so oneself.

• (5) Where the in-charge flight attendant has given directions in accordance with subsection (4), the in-charge flight attendant shall so inform the pilot-in-command.

Use of Passenger Safety Belts and Restraint Systems

• 605.26 (1) Where the pilot-in-command or the in-charge flight attendant directs that safety belts be fastened, every passenger who is not an infant shall

  • (a) ensure that the passenger’s safety belt or restraint system is properly adjusted and securely fastened;

  • (b) if responsible for an infant for which no child restraint system is provided, hold the infant securely in the passenger’s arms; and

  • (c) if responsible for a person who is using a child restraint system, ensure that the person is properly secured.

• (2) No passenger shall be responsible for more than one infant.

Use of Crew Member Safety Belts

• 605.27 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the crew members on an aircraft shall be seated at their stations with their safety belts fastened

  • (a) during take-off and landing;

  • (b) at any time that the pilot-in-command directs; and

  • (c) in the case of crew members who are flight attendants, at any time that the in-charge flight attendant so directs pursuant to paragraph 605.25(4)(b).

• (2) Where the pilot-in-command directs that safety belts be fastened by illuminating the safety belt sign, a crew member is not required to comply with paragraph (1)(b)

  • (a) during movement of the aircraft on the surface or during flight, if the crew member is performing duties relating to the safety of the aircraft or of the passengers on board;

  • (b) where the aircraft is experiencing light turbulence, if the crew member is a flight attendant and is performing duties relating to the passengers on board; or

  • (c) if the crew member is occupying a crew rest facility during cruise flight and the restraint system for that facility is properly adjusted and securely fastened.

• (3) The pilot-in-command shall ensure that at least one pilot is seated at the flight controls with safety belt fastened during flight time.