Personnel Requirements - Commuter

CAR 704.106 Minimum Crew (Commuter)
If you have 10 or more passengers, or are carrying passengers in IFR flight, two pilots are required.

CAR 704.107 Designation of PIC and SIC
Designated by air operator.

CAR 704.108 Flight Crew Member Qualifications
Here are the basics:

• appropriate license and ratings
• 3 take-offs and landings within the past 90 days
• valid PPC
• ground training complete
• exceptions: training or ferry flight or authorization on air operator certificate

Other important things:

• to fly IFR with passengers as PIC, you need at least 1200 TT
• to fly VFR as PIC, you need at least 500 TT
• to flight Night VFR with passengers as PIC, you need an instrument rating

CAR 704.109 Qualifications of Operational Control Personnel

• requires training and demonstration of knowledge
• 3 months recency requirement

CAR 704.110 Check Authority

CAR 704.111 Validity Period
PPCs are valid for one year.  They can be renewed up to 90 days prior with same expiration.  They can be extended for up to 60 days.

Radiocommunications

The key to this section is common sense and good airmanship (as with so many other parts of flying!).

CAR 602.136 Continuous Listening Watch

• maintain listening watch on appropriate frequency
• establish communication with appropriate ATC, FSS, etc. when required

CAR 602.137 Two-way Radio communication Failure in IFR Flight

• in controlled airspace:
• maintain listening watch on appropriate frequency
• squawk 7600
• attempt to contact other ATS facilities or aircraft to relay info
• if unable to make contact, comply with procedures in CAP / CFS (unless other procedures were given by ATC)

Reference also AIM RAC 6.3.2:

• if VMC, or if VMC is encountered, remain VFR and land as soon as practicable (not the same as 'as soon as possible' - use good judgement)
• if IMC:
• Route:
• route last assigned and acknowledged
• if being vectored, go directly to fix/route/airway specified in clearance
• if no assigned route, use advised/expected
• if no advised/expected, use what has filed on flight plan
• Altitude: use highest of:
• altitude last assigned and acknowledged
• minimum IFR altitude
• expected in a further clearance
• Descent and approach: commence descent at most recent time of:
• calculated ETA
• ETA last notified and acknowledged
• EAT last received and acknowledged
• if assigned a hold, commence approach at EAT or EFC
• if cleared for a STAR, proceed to FAF via
• published routing
• from radar vectors direct fix for straight-in or full procedure
• CLOSED RNAV STAR as published for straight-in
• OPEN RNAV STAR as published to DTW and then turn to FACF to intercept for straight-in

Reference AIM COM 5.15: As a last resort, PIC may attempt to contact ATS using conventional cellphone or satellite phone.

CAR 602.138 Two-way Radio communication Failure in VFR Flight

• in class B, C or D:
• leave airspace (by landing or else shortest route)
• squawk 7600
• inform ATC ASAP of actions taken

Reference also AIM RAC 4.4.8: if you are outside of class B, C, D, you may enter and land if there is no nearby suitable aerodrome available.  See NORDO arrival procedures in AIM RAC 4.4.5.

Approach Bans

It seems that Approach Ban regulations are full of IFs ANDs and BUTs...  This is a classic example of there always being an exception to the rule!!

For some helpful examples, reference AIM RAC 9.19.2.

CAR 602.129 Approach Bans - General
(This does not apply to Part VII aircraft - see below)

• RVR minima for aeroplanes:
• if RVR A and B
• RVR A < 1200 ft and RVR < 600 ft
• if only RVR A or B
• either < 1200 ft
• If RVR is below minimums, you cannot continue an instrument approach in an IFR aircraft unless:
• aircraft has passed FAF (if no FAF, aircraft has intercepted final approach course)
• training flight and landing not intended
• RVR is fluctuating above and below
• ground visibility is reported as at least 1/4 mile
• PIC is conducting precision approach to CAT III minima
• (5) No PIC of an IFR aircraft shall commence a non-precision approach, an APV or a CAT I or CAT II precision approach to an airport where low-visibility procedures are in effect

CAR 602.130 Approach Bans - Category III

(This does not apply to Part VII aircraft - see below)

• (2) No person shall continue a CAT III precision approach in an IFR aircraft beyond the FAF inbound or, where there is no FAF, the point where the final approach course is intercepted, unless the RVR reported is equal to or greater than the minimum RVR specified in the Canada Air Pilot in respect of the runway or surface of intended approach for the instrument approach procedure conducted.

CAR 700.10 Approach Bans - Non Precision, APV, and CAT I Precision

• RVR minima change based on CAP advisory visibility, for example:
• CAP 1/2 (2600) >> RVR 3/8 (1600)
• CAP 3/4 (4000) >> RVR 5/8 (3000)
• CAP 1 (5000) >> RVR 3/4 (4000)
• If no RVR, use runway vis.  South of 60: if no runway vis, use ground vis. 
• If below minimums, you cannot continue a non-precision approach, an APV or a CAT I precision approach in an IFR aircraft unless:
• aircraft has passed FAF (if no FAF, aircraft has intercepted final approach course)
• training flight and landing not intended
• RVR is fluctuating above and below
• South of 60 with no RVR or runway vis: ground visibility is fluctuating above and below
• localized phenomenon affecting ground visibility
• approach is conducted in accordance with 703.41, 704.37, or 705.48
• exceptions made based on operator certificate, 2-crew ops, aircraft equipment (FD / AP), runway lighting, etc. 
• different tables:
• CAP 1/2 (2600) >> RVR 1/4 (1200)
• CAP 3/4 (4000) >> RVR 3/8 (2000)
• CAP 1 (5000) >> RVR 1/2 (2600)
• (4) No pilot-in-command of an IFR aircraft operated under this Part shall commence a non-precision approach, an APV or a CAT I precision approach to an airport where low-visibility procedures are in effect.

Fuel Requirements

Fuel is probably one of the highest costs associated with the operation of an aircraft, so it makes sense that operators are always looking for ways to be more fuel efficient.  Extra fuel also means extra weight, which could otherwise be designated to paying passengers or cargo.  That being said, we know there are legal requirements for the minimum fuel on-board to cover various 'what if' scenarios.  

CAR 602.88 Fuel Requirements (General)

• Day VFR: destination + 30 min at cruise
• Night VFR: destination + 45 min at cruise

• IFR (prop)
• destination, approach, missed approach, alternate + 45 min
• if no alternate: destination, approach, missed approach + 45 min
• IFR (jet)
• destination, approach, missed approach, alternate + 30 min
• if no alternate: destination, approach, missed approach + 30 min

• All aircraft also need enough fuel to provide for:
• taxi, foreseeable delays prior to take-off
• weather
• foreseeable traffic delays
• loss of cabin pressure
• loss of engine at critical point
• any other foreseeable delays

CAR 704.20 Fuel Requirements (Commuter)
In addition to above,

• IFR
• descent to lower of single-engine service ceiling or 10000
• cruise at lower altitude to suitable aerodrome
• approach, missed approach
• hold for 30 min at 1500 AAE

CAR 705.25 Fuel Requirements (Airline)

• VFR: destination + 45 min at cruise

• IFR
• over designated routes / areas: destination + 5%
• descent to lower of single-engine service ceiling or 10000
• cruise at lower altitude to suitable aerodrome
• approach, missed approach
• hold for 30 min at 1500 AAE