COPA is cleared to hold for the ELT Regulation

By Kevin Psutka
29th October, 2008

Like being sent into a holding pattern pending further IFR clearance, the comment period for public input has now passed and Transport Canada is considering its next move. In the meantime, the final disposition of the regulation is on hold. I would like to thank the hundreds of COPA members who took the time to bring your thoughts to the attention of the regulator. Several stakeholders who were assumed by Transport Canada to be in favour of the regulation have also come forward to protest and suggest alternatives, including the Helicopter Association of Canada, provincial aviation councils and foreign stakeholders including EAA and AOPA whose members will be banned from Canada unless they equip with 406.

So, what happens now? Transport Canada will assess the input and decide if there will be any changes to the regulation before finalizing it and announcing in Gazette II. Given that the deadline for shutting off 121.5 monitoring by satellite is fast approaching, Transport Canada is motivated to decide soon. There will be a transition period for some aircraft. Stay tuned to our web site for further announcements. In the meantime, I urge everyone to continue our efforts to bring the issue to the attention of their elected officials. Information, including a briefing note, is available at www.copanational.org/non-members/body_files/406%20ELT%20Background%