Transport Canada

ARSA recently requested that Transport Canada, Civil Aviation Directorate (TCCA) adopt a uniform policy for recording major repairs performed in the U.S. on Canadian aeronautical products. Under the Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) to the Agreement for the Promotion of Aviation Safety between the U.S. and Canada a major repair to a Canadian product is recorded on FAA Form 337 or "an equivalent method acceptable to the TCCA."

In a letter to TCCA, ARSA proposed that U.S. repair stations be allowed to use the work order exception in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix B, paragraph b as “an equivalent method acceptable to the TCCA” for recording major repairs.

ARSA submitted two letters to the FAA recommending changes to the U.S. - Canadian Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) and AC 43-10B. In the first letter, ARSA identified the need for clarifying the reporting of major repairs and major alterations, noted inconsistencies with who is required to prepare a supplement, requested the MIP have a provision that would allow part 121 and 135 operators to perform maintenance for Canadian air carriers and documented that the appendix in the AC was not the officially approved MIP.

In the second letter, ARSA requested that the MIP be revised to make clear that only the procedures unique to Canada require approval. The letter also asks the FAA and the TCCA consider having the Canadian Supplement for U.S. repair stations be accepted rather than approved. Acceptance would be consistent with the FAA’s method for the EASA supplement and not impact safety.

The FAA and the Transport Canada Civil Aviation Directorate (TCCA) have agreed to Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) based on the Agreement for the Promotion of Aviation Safety, signed by the U.S. and Canada in 2000. Additionally, the FAA has issued an Advisory Circular outlining the key provisions of the MIP.

The MIP (download a .pdf copy here, 1.0 mb) reiterates that FAA-certificated repair stations may perform maintenance, and approve for return to service, products under TCCA's regulatory control. Canadian Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) may maintain and approve for return to service products under the regulatory control of the FAA.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada's Civil Aviation Directorate (TCCA) have signed a new Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) agreement. Download the document here (note: it is a 1.0mb .pdf file). The MIP was signed Aug. 31. Advisory Circular 43-10B, which will provide guidance on the MIP, will be released "soon," the agency told ARSA. ARSA will keep its members informed.