The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) currently has several misalignments with the international civil aviation framework maintained by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), prompting the need for regulatory amendments. These misalignments include the absence of oversight on foreign medical examiners, the lack of requirements to carry certain documents on board aircraft, and the omission of obligations for Subpart 703 air taxi operators to maintain ground and flight training facilities. Additionally, there are inconsistencies between Canadian and international terminology, differences in crew member interference classifications, the absence of mandatory read-back procedures for certain safety information, a lack of requirements for air traffic service providers to manage air traffic flow, and no explicit authority for the pilot-in-command to deviate from rules in the interest of safety.

In response, the Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (ICAO-related Amendments) introduce a series of measures to address these gaps. Foreign medical examiners will now be required to meet oversight standards to ensure competence. Aircraft will be required to carry key documents such as radio station licences and noise certification data. Subpart 703 operators must now provide facilities for comprehensive ground and flight training. Terminology within the CARs will be updated to align with ICAO standards, including changes from Extended Twin-Engine Operations to Extended Diversion Time Operations, and crew member interference levels will be harmonized with international classifications. Pilots will be mandated to read back critical safety information and report which ATIS message they received, while air traffic service providers will be required to implement systems for air traffic flow management.

These amendments follow a 2023 Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) audit conducted by ICAO, which assessed Canada’s regulatory framework and found significant shortcomings, resulting in an effective implementation score of 65.1%, a notable decline from 95.3% in 2005.

Specific issues include the absence of oversight for foreign designated medical examiners, which undermines assurance of their competence and fails ICAO requirements. Canadian aircraft engaged in international operations are expected to carry radio station licences, but this is not mandated in the CARs, creating non-compliance with the Chicago Convention. Operators using aircraft operating manuals instead of approved flight manuals may omit noise certification information, further misaligning with ICAO standards. Ground and flight training facilities for Subpart 703 operators are currently not required, contrary to ICAO specifications. Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO) terminology will replace the older ETOPS standard, future-proofing the regulations for multi-engine aircraft. Crew member interference levels will be recalibrated to prevent unnecessary military response to misclassified incidents, while mandatory read-back procedures for pilots will improve communication and prevent safety incidents related to runway, altimeter, or transponder information.

Canada (226/2025) November 19, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.