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New aviation safety regulations for air traffic services

Dec. 21, 2007, Ottawa, Ont. – The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister
of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced amendments to
the Canadian Aviation Regulations to increase accountability in the aviation
sector.

"A systematic, explicit and comprehensive process for managing safety
hazards adds an additional layer of safety to our aviation system," said
Minister Cannon. "Making the industry more accountable instills a positive
safety culture to help improve the safety performance of operators."
       
These amendments require airports and organizations providing air traffic
services to implement safety management systems in their organizations and
appoint executives who are accountable for safety. These systems will make
organizations more accountable for day-to-day operations while allowing them
flexibility to determine the most effective means of improving safety
performance within the regulatory framework.
       
Each system is based on an operator's in-depth knowledge of the company
and integrates safety into policies, management and employee practices, as
well as operating procedures throughout the organization. As each organization
integrates safety into daily operations, management and employees can
continuously work to identify and overcome potential hazards that could cause
accidents.
       
Canada is among world leaders in safety management systems. The
amendments build on the work of leading safety experts and international
bodies and demonstrate the need for attention to aviation safety at an
organizational level. They also emphasize the importance of working with
industry to achieve a higher level of safety. These measures ensure that
problems, hazards, incidents and accidents will be reported, that the
associated risks will be analyzed and that appropriate action is taken.
       
The first notice of these regulations was published in the Canada
Gazette, Part I on July 7, 2007. A  30-day consultation period followed,
during which Transport Canada took into account comments from stakeholders and
interested parties in the finalization of these regulations. The regulatory
changes will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on December 26, 2007.

        For more information on safety management systems, please visit the Civil
Aviation website at www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/SMS/menu.htm .