Operational Airworthiness Authority overview

The Operational Airworthiness Authority (OAA) is responsible for the management of all operational aspects of the DND/CAF Airworthiness Program. The OAA ensures that the management of the DND/CAF Airworthiness Program is adequate, from an operational perspective, to achieve an acceptable level of aviation safety for Canadian military aviation and for foreign military aircraft within Canada.

The OAA provides operational airworthiness-related policies, rules, standards and guidance documents for the Canadian military aviation community. This includes:

• the National Defence Flying Orders, Flight Rules, Air Standards and Procedures (NDID number B-GA-100-001/AA-00)
• the Operational Airworthiness Manual (NDID number B-GA-104-000/FP-001)
• the Operational Airworthiness Directives

In addition to airworthiness policies, regulations, orders and standards, the Operational Airworthiness Authority is also responsible for all standards of safety for air operations and associated aeronautical products, including aerospace control, aircraft utilization, aviation weather, aerodromes, aircraft maintenance, operator, controller and maintainer training and proficiency.

On the direction of the Minister of National Defence, the officer holding the position of Commander 1 Canadian Air Division is designated by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as the OAA for the DND and the CAF.

Operational Airworthiness Program

The Operational Airworthiness Program (OAP) relies on a framework of rules that regulate the operational aspects of military aviation activities, facilities and services, to achieve and maintain an acceptable state of airworthiness for aeronautical products and provide for their safe operation.

The intent of the program is to ensure that aeronautical products (and their supporting facilities, activities and services) are operated within their design limits, and in conformance with applicable operational regulations, orders, directives and standards.

To accomplish the mandate of the OAA, the operational airworthiness staff is charged with the day-to-day management of the OAP, including all operational airworthiness aspects of military air operations and military aeronautical products, and thus achieve an acceptable level of military aviation safety.

Contact

For more information about the Operational Airworthiness Program or the OAA, please contact:

• the Senior Staff Officer – Operational Airworthiness (SSO OA):
  • by email
  • by phone, at: +1-204-833-2500/ext. 6649
• the SO OA:
  • by email
  • by phone, at: +1-204-833-2500/ext. 6365