52-07 - Air Cadet Familiarization Flying in Privately Owned or Rented Aircraft (Aeroplane or Glider)

Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)

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General

1. Familiarization flying is intended to ensure that every air cadet receives at least one flight per year as part of the mandatory support training required at the LHQ. This is unusually done in Air Cadet League (ACL) aircraft. The flights can be done in rented gliders or aeroplanes if the ACL aircraft are not available or it is not practical due to unserviceabilities, remote locations, distance etc. This CATO will outline the procedures to be used to apply and approve the activity as well as the proficiency, currency and experience requirements for pilots conducting the activity.

Authority

2. Familiarization flying for air cadets is a nationally authorized cadet program as indicated in the Course Training Plans issued on the authority of the CDS for air cadet training. Conduct of familiarization flights of all types is contained in the Contract for Goods and Service between DND and the ACL regarding the Air Cadet Gliding Program (ACGP).

Definitions

3. Rented Aircraft: An aircraft rented from a certificated flight training unit (FTU), as defined in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) 101.01

4. Privately Owned Aircraft: An aircraft which does not satisfy any of the following conditions:

  1. a rented aircraft as defined in paragraph 3 above;
  2. an aircraft detailed in the Department of National Defence (DND)/Air Cadet League (ACL) Air Cadet Gliding Program (ACGP) Contract for Goods and Services; and
  3. a Canadian Forces (CF) aircraft duly authorized to conduct air cadet familiarization flying.

Approval Process

5. Requests for air cadet familiarization flying in privately owned or rented aircraft shall follow the process outlined below:

  1. initiation: Squadron Commanding Officer (CO);
  2. recommendation: Area Cadet Officer (ACO) Air or the appropriate regional officer; and
  3. approval: Regional Cadet Air Operations Officer (RCA Ops O).

Note 2

The Civil Air Search And Rescue Association (CASARA) training is an optional training activity available to air cadets and includes flying training in private aircraft as well as ground training. Once the initial approval for CASARA training has been approved by the region, additional approvals will not be required for flight training. The pilot standards, insurance requirements and mission profiles requirements set by CASARA are equal to or exceed the requirements outlined in this CATO.

Note 1

The Vintage Wings of Canada/Yellow Wings also provide an immense opportunity for Air Cadets to fly in their airplanes at various times. Vintage Wings of Canada (VW), a public Charitable Organization, operates a fleet of aircraft significant to Canadians for the purpose of educating, commemorating, and inspiring people of all ages about our proud Canadian aviation heritage. Vintage Wings of Canada/Yellow Wings is an approved organization by D Cdts & JCR. Additional approvals will not be required for cadets to fly with VW. The pilot standards, insurance requirements and mission profiles requirements set by Vintage Wings of Canada Flight Operations Manual equal or exceed the requirements outlined in this CATO.

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Request

6. The Squadron CO shall submit a request to the regional headquarters for the subject activity as follows using the appropriate Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) document:

  1. justification for the request;
  2. date and location of the proposed familiarization flying;
  3. name of the designated Supervisory Officer and the number of air cadets participating;
  4. names of the pilots proposed to conduct the flying and, in the case of a privately owned aircraft, the written approval of the owner to use the aircraft and the owner’s authority for pilots other than the owner scheduled to fly the aircraft act as Pilot in Command (PIC);
  5. pilot licence and Medical Certificate details;
  6. pilot proficiency, currency and experience details. In the case of a non ACGP staff pilot, a photocopy of the last page of the pilot’s log book;
  7. proposed daily flying schedule detailing the number, length and the flight profile to be conducted on the familiarization flights i.e. altitudes, routing etc.;
  8. the type of aircraft and, in the case of a privately owned aircraft, confirmation of aircraft airworthiness i.e. a photocopy of the Certificate of Airworthiness; and
  9. a copy of the liability insurance document carried in the aircraft as required by CAR 606.02(9).

Recommendation

7. The ACO (Air) or the appropriate regional officer shall assess the request and forward the request together with an appropriate response to the RCA Ops O.

Approval

8. The RCA Ops O shall assess the request with respect to the following:

  1. the suitability of the aircraft type;
  2. the suitability of the location;
  3. pilot documentation, proficiency, currency and experience;
  4. the airworthiness of the aircraft; and
  5. compliance with insurance requirements.

9. If the RCA Ops O approves the request, a task­ing order shall be prepared and shall accompany the return of the request form to the Squadron CO. The tasking order shall define:

  1. restricted manoeuvres (stalls, slow flight, aerobatics, low flying etc.);
  2. weather limits considering local topography and known local and seasonal climatic conditions; and
  3. the flying schedule.

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Supervisory Responsibilities

10. The Squadron CO shall ensure that:

  1. the designated Supervisory Officer receives a complete briefing on the activity to be conducted and the details of the tasking order; and
  2. all necessary preparatory pilot proficiency, currency and experience requirements, liability requirements, and airworthiness requirements have been satisfied in accordance with the tasking order.

11. The designated Supervisory Officer shall ensure that:

  1. the pilot receives a complete briefing on the details of the tasking order;
  2. the pilot and the air cadets (and the FTU CFI or Manager if the aircraft is rented) completely understand the ground and air activities to be conducted, including all necessary considerations, and ground and air emergency procedures;
  3. continual on-site supervision is provided during the course of the familiarization flight activity; and
  4. all aspects of the familiarization flight are conducted in accordance with the tasking order.

12. The pilot shall ensure that:

  1. all regulatory and safety requirements are adhered to during the conduct of the familiarization flying activities; and
  2. all aspects of the familiarization flight are conducted in accordance with the tasking order.

Pilot Proficiency, Currency and Experience Requirements - Aeroplane

13. The following requirements shall be met:

  1. licence: the pilot shall hold a Canadian Private Pilot Licence, or higher, appropriate for the aeroplane type to be used for the familiarization flying;
  2. experience: the pilot shall have flown a minimum of 30 hours as PIC on the class and type of aeroplane(s) designated in the Canadian Pilot Licence held by the Pilot;
  3. currency: the pilot shall have flown as PIC of an aeroplane within the previous 60 days including at least one hour on the aeroplane type to be used for the familiarization flying. If this currency has lapsed, the pilot must renew it by completing a flight check with the holder of a valid instructor rating for aeroplanes; and
  4. proficiency: annually, the pilot shall successfully complete on the aeroplane type to be used for the familiarization flying a proficiency check flight with the holder of a valid aeroplane instructor rating. The annual proficiency check shall encompass all normal and emergency operating procedures appropriate to the aircraft used for the proficiency check.

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Pilot Proficiency, Currency and Experience Requirements - Gliders

14. The following requirements shall be met:

  1. licence: the pilot shall hold a Canadian Glider Pilot Licence, or higher, appropriate for the glider type;
  2. experience: the pilot shall have flown 10 hours PIC on gliders;
  3. currency: the pilot shall have flown as PIC within the previous 60 days on the glider type to be used for the familiarization flight; and
  4. proficiency: annually, the pilot shall successfully complete a proficiency check flight with a qualified and current instructor on the glider type to be used for the familiarization flying. The annual proficiency check shall encompass all normal and emergency operating procedures appropriate to the aircraft used for the proficiency check.

​Note

The requirement detailed in paras 13 and 14 above are minimum requirements. The RCA Ops O may apply stricter requirements as a function of the total flying experience and the currency of the pilot.

Aircraft Insurance Requirements for Privately Owned Aircraft

15. The following requirements shall be met:

  1. the combined single limit of liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage carried for the owner and the owner’s aircraft which will be used for the familiarization flights shall be at least the equivalent to that required in CAR 606.02(2) for a FTU; and
  2. if the pilot is one designated and approved in writing by the owner, then they as well as the ACL and DND must be added to the owner’s insurance policy as an additional named insured with respect to liability.

Air Worthiness Requirements

16. The aeroplane/glider must have a Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A). A SPECIAL Certificate of Airworthiness is NOT acceptable.

Location of Activity

17. The designated aerodrome will normally be listed in the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS). For aerodromes not listed in the CFS, sufficient information must be available for the RCA Ops O to determine that it is suitable for safe operation of the aeroplane and/or glider type.

18. To maximize the training value of the familiarization flight, the following shall be accomplished:

  1. a pre-flight briefing, including an aircraft pre-flight inspection, covering the entire flight;
  2. a brief description of aircraft instruments;
  3. a demonstration of effects of aircraft controls (above 1,000 feet AGL);
  4. correlation of map and ground features; and
  5. the aerodrome circuit. If the aircraft joins the circuit on the base or final leg, completing another full circuit is not required.

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OPI: D Cdts 4

Date: Mar 13

Amendment: Ch 2/13​​​​

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