What happened
Between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2017, the Canadian air-taxi sector experienced a disproportionately high rate of aviation accidents. During this 18-year period, the industry recorded 789 accidents, which accounted for 55% of all accidents in Canada's commercial air services. More significantly, these incidents resulted in 240 fatalities, representing 62% of all fatalities within the commercial air services sector during the same timeframe.
The investigation
Launched in May 2015, this Safety Issues Investigation (SII) was designed to analyze patterns across multiple occurrences to identify underlying systemic risks. The TSB examined the unique operational environment of air-taxis, which include helicopter medical transports, floatplane commuter services, and essential supply flights to remote communities. The investigation looked at the challenges inherent to these operations, such as flying in uncontrolled airspace, navigating without advanced infrastructure, and operating in rugged or northern terrain. The scope included assessing the impact of limited weather information, the use of older aircraft, and the increased frequency of takeoffs and landings in short-duration flights.
Findings
The investigation identified that the air-taxi sector faces distinct operational hazards compared to other commercial aviation sectors. Pilots often operate with minimal dispatch support, frequently managing hazards directly while interacting with clients. The study found that aircraft are often exposed to severe weather due to low-altitude flight paths and must frequently utilize unprepared landing sites, such as frozen lakes or gravel strips. The TSB concluded that two primary factors reduce safety margins in these operations: the acceptance of unsafe practices and the inadequate management of operational hazards.
Safety action
To mitigate these risks, the TSB issued four specific recommendations directed at Transport Canada and industry associations:
- Eliminate the acceptance of unsafe practices (A19-02)
- Promote a positive safety culture and proactive safety management (A19-03)
- Address gaps within the existing air-taxi regulatory framework (A19-04)
- Implement the collection of sector-specific activity data (A19-05)