Background: Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS)

Timeline – International

Timeline – Canada

Timeline – International

1998: United States Federal Aviation Agency Recommends TAWS Regulation

“In 1998, the FAA issued Notice No. 98-11, Terrain Awareness and Warning System (63 FR 45628, August 26, 1998), proposing that all turbine-powered U.S.-registered airplanes type certificated to have six or more passenger seats (exclusive of pilot and copilot seating), be equipped with an FAA-approved terrain awareness and warning system.”[1]

2000: US Makes TAWS Mandatory on All Airplanes With Six or More Passengers

“On March 23, 2000, the FAA issued Amendments 91-263, 121- 273, and 135-75 (65 FR 16736, March 29, 2000) with an effective date of March 29, 2001. These amendments amended the operating rules to require that all U.S. registered turbine-powered airplanes with six or more passenger seats (exclusive of pilot and copilot seating) be equipped with an FAA approved TAWS.”[2]

2003: International Civil Aviation Organization Recommends TAWS to Members

All aircraft above 5.7 tonnes with nine passenger seats or more have to be equipped with TAWS according to a January 2003 advisory.[3]

2008: European Union Introduces Mandatory TAWS Requirements

The EU makes TAWS installation compulsory on all aircraft with nine passenger seats and more, thereby following existing ICAO recommendations.[4]

Timeline – Canada

1995: Transport Safety Board Makes TAWS Recommendation

Investigating a 1993 crash in Sandy Lake, Ontario, the Transport Safety Board of Canada for the first time recommends the installation of TAWS on smaller aircraft that were exempt from regulations at the time:

“The board’s recommendations for the system go back to 1995 after seven people were killed in a crash in Sandy Lake, Ont., two years earlier.”[5]

Transport Canada told the TBS that they were in the process of revising existing regulations.[6]

2000: Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council (CARAC) Recommends TAWS

The CARAC as the main public consultative body involved in creating and amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARAC is a joint effort of Transport Canada and the Canadian aviation industry) makes a recommendation for making TAWS installation mandatory on Canadian planes following the sweeping FAA regulation.[7]

2006: Transport Canada Fails to Deliver on Own Deadline for TAWS Regulation

“TC indicated a strong possibility that the regulations would be published in Canada Gazette by early 2006. A May 2006 review of the NPAs indicated that they were still either pending legal editing or publication in Canada Gazette.”[8]

2011: TCCA Proposes TAWS Regulation

August 2nd, 2011: “Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) is proposing regulations that require the installation and operation of TAWS for Commercial Air Taxi, Commuter and Airline Operations (Subparts 703, 704 and 705 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs)) and Private Operators (Subpart 604 of the CARs) to prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents.”[9]

“TCCA intends to seek its Minister’s approval of these proposed regulatory amendments, followed by Treasury Board approval and subsequent publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I by Fall 2011.”[10]

2011: Minister Lebel Approves Regulation

December 2nd: “The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced proposed new regulations to enhance the safety of Canadian aviation. These regulations would require private and commercial airplanes with six or more passenger seats to be equipped with an alert system known as the “terrain awareness and warning system” (TAWS).”[11]

2012-2016: Introduction of TAWS in Canada

Under the new regulation, aircraft operators have two years to install TAWS equipment and five years to put supportin Enhanced Altitude Accuracy instruments in place.

 

[2] Source: Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

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