Cabin Safety Inspector

Qualifications

The entry requirements for a Cabin Safety Inspector include a requirement for operational and management experience with an operator, in addition to extensive knowledge and skills in their specialty area. Experience in training program development, design of procedures, instructional techniques and supervision are essential requirements for a credible inspector. The new inspector undergoes extensive formal training as well as guided on the job training.

Cabin Safety Inspectors are not required to maintain flight attendant qualifications, nor do they act as operating flight attendants or crew members.

Role of Cabin Safety Inspector

Cabin Safety Inspectors are designated as Civil Aviation Safety Inspectors, delegated the authority to exercise specific powers, duties or functions on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

The purpose of cabin safety inspections is to isolate systemic faults, not individual crewmember inadequacies, and as such, cabin safety inspectors incorporate a systems approach in the way business is conducted with the operators.

Cabin Safety Standards

The role of the Cabin Safety Standards Unit is to develop and maintain regulations, standards, guidance, policy and inspection criteria on issues relating to safety and emergency equipment on board passenger carrying aircraft, passenger safety related operational procedures, cabin crew training, and cabin crew manuals. Functional direction is provided to the operational Divisions and Regions within the cabin safety specialty.

The Cabin Safety Standards Unit deals with the aviation industry, such as associations and unions, on a national basis rather than the individual operators.

Key Activities

  • Develop new regulations and propose amendments to the cabin safety Canadian Aviation Regulations, standards and guidance material.
  • Research and develop national policies and procedures for use by all Cabin Safety Inspectors.
  • Develop and provide cabin safety specialty training courses and national workshops to inspectors, superintendents and industry representatives.
  • Research and develop cabin safety policies, procedures and evaluation criteria to ensure standardization during certification of new aircraft types, and operators engaged in the transportation of passengers in Canada.
  • Conduct technical and operational research of cabin safety requirements, analyze regulations from foreign regulatory authorities, and provide recommendations.
  • Participate in quality assurance reviews of the regional offices.
  • Conduct inspections, surveillance, audits, evaluations and approvals in support of the Cabin Safety program.
  • Represent Cabin Safety on national and international cabin safety advisory committees and working groups to promote safety practices, awareness, and global harmonization.
  • Provide expert advice and technical guidance on cabin safety Canadian Aviation Regulations and standards to other government departments, agencies, aviation industry, union representatives, and the general public.

Cabin Safety Operations

The operational Cabin Safety Inspectors are charged with implementing the Cabin Safety program.

During the certification of operators, they review and recommend for approval safety and emergency procedures outlined in flight operations manuals, the air operator's minimum equipment lists, the safety and emergency equipment on board aircraft, the cabin crew manuals, cabin crew training programs, and cabin emergency evacuation trainers.

Once an air operator is certificated, oversight is achieved through a continuous inspection program consisting of:

  • aircraft inspections
  • pre-flight (ramp) inspections
  • in-flight cabin inspections
  • training inspections
  • base inspections
  • carry-on baggage inspections
  • audits

The Cabin Safety operational units deal with the aviation industry on a one-to-one basis with individual operators.

Key Activities

  • Conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations and to ensure that the national Cabin Safety Inspection program is applied as mandated by the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations in the interest of aviation safety.
  • Conduct assessments and surveillance of operations to validate compliance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
  • Evaluate operators' submissions and authorize or recommend for approval or denial as per the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
  • Evaluate and recommend the issuance or denial of exemptions from the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
  • Provide expert advice and technical guidance on cabin safety Canadian Aviation Regulations to other government departments, agencies, aviation industry, union representatives, general public, and to all levels of management in the airline operation regarding cabin safety regulations, standards and procedures.
  • Participate in departmental working groups and projects.

Cabin Safety Foreign

The Foreign Inspection Division is an operational Division within the International Operations Branch. It is responsible for the certification and safety oversight of all foreign air operators conducting commercial air services into and out of Canada; for certification and continuing safety oversight of Specialty Air Service (SAS) operations conducted pursuant to the Free Trade Agreement; and for approving overflights within Canadian airspace and technical stops at Canadian airports.

In accordance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations all foreign air operators operating a commercial air transport service into or out of Canada shall operate that service under the terms and conditions of a Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC) issued by the Minister of Transport. Similarly, foreign air operators wishing to conduct SAS operations in Canada pursuant to the Free Trade Agreement must hold a Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate - Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Foreign Inspection Division is responsible to ensure that foreign air operators flying into and out of Canada conduct a safe operation in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and applicable Canadian Aviation Regulations.

To fulfill the Cabin Safety responsibilities, the Foreign Inspection Division employs operational Cabin Safety Inspectors.

Key Activities

  • Implement the foreign air operator certification process in respect of all foreign air operators conducting commercial operations into and out of Canada.
  • Perform certification, regulatory inspections, foreign air operator base inspections, in-flight inspections, ramp inspections (including Canadian International Airports), audits and surveillance of foreign air operators to ensure compliance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Standards and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
  • Provide expert Cabin Safety advice, technical guidance and regulatory interpretations to departmental officials, other government departments, foreign Civil Aviation Authorities, ICAO, aviation industry (foreign and domestic), private industry, interest groups, and the general public.
  • Conduct internal and external investigations on contentious and sensitive compliance and/or public complaint issues.
  • Participate in the development of national and international policies and procedures, and recommend changes to CARs and ICAO SARPs.
  • Participate in policy development groups and represent Transport Canada at international forums.
  • Evaluates, analyses and recommends the approval or denial of various foreign operator documents, e.g. Cabin Crew Manuals, Cabin Crew Training Programs, Passenger Emergency Briefing Cards, etc.
  • Evaluate and recommend the issuance or denial of exemptions from the CARs applicable to foreign air operators.