TP312 and Transport Canada Compliance

What Is TP312?

TP312, Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices, is Transport Canada's standard for certified land airports. The 5th edition is the one in force. It was published on July 31, 2015 and took effect on September 15, 2015. It complements Subpart 2 of Part III of the CARs and covers physical characteristics, obstacle limitation surfaces, visual aids and some technical services the operator provides.

Certified Airport or Registered Aerodrome?

Certified airport. An aerodrome must hold an airport certificate when it is in the built up area of a city or town, when it is a land aerodrome used for a scheduled passenger service, or when the Minister considers certification to be in the public interest. A land aerodrome with scheduled passenger service is exempt if Transport Canada has given each air operator using it a written authorization. A certified airport operates under an approved AOM, meets TP312 and runs a safety management system.

Registered aerodrome. Other aerodromes follow Subpart 1 of Part III: warning notices, wind direction indicator, lighting and markings. When the operator gives Transport Canada the required information, the aerodrome is registered and published in the Canada Flight Supplement. TP312 does not apply, but it is a useful reference if you plan to certify later.

How Does Transport Canada Certify an Airport?

• The applicant submits an application, the proposed AOM and proof that interested parties were consulted as Subpart 7 requires.
• Transport Canada approves the manual if it accurately describes the aerodrome and meets Transport Canada's requirements for a manual.
• The certificate is issued when the standards are met, or when an aeronautical study shows an equivalent level of safety. Where a standard is not met, Transport Canada can set conditions in the certificate.
• After certification, the operator keeps the airport to the standards and the manual, reports changes within 14 days and gives inspectors access.

What Does Cirrus Do?

• Gap analysis. We compare your site, your facilities and your documents with TP312 and the CARs that apply, and list what needs work.
• Certification file. We help you prepare the application and the AOM, so the manual describes the airport as it really is. See airport operations manuals.
• Aeronautical studies. Where a standard cannot be met, we help you prepare the aeronautical study Transport Canada reviews to decide on an equivalent level of safety.
• Inspection readiness. We check that the manual, the records and the field match before a Transport Canada inspection, and help answer the inspector's questions.
• Changes and new editions. When you replace or improve a runway, lighting or another facility, we check it against the TP312 edition in force and prepare the manual amendment.
• Registered aerodromes and mine airstrips. We check your aerodrome or mine airstrip against the basic aerodrome rules in Subpart 1 of Part III of the CARs: warning notices, wind direction indicator, lighting and markings. We also help keep its published information accurate. Transport Canada registers the aerodrome; we help you prepare. See mining aviation management.

Who Does the Compliance Work?

Experienced airport managers on the Cirrus team, who know what an inspector looks for and how an airport runs day to day. Cirrus also trains airport staff, so your team can keep the airport to the standards after the project. See airport management training or all our training programs.

How Does a Compliance Project Work?

1. Document review. We read your certificate, your AOM, past inspection findings and your drawings.
2. Site visit. We walk the airport and compare the field with TP312 and the manual.
3. Draft. You get a gap report and a plan, plus the draft file, manual amendment or aeronautical study the project needs.
4. Submission. As the operator, you sign and submit to Transport Canada. We help answer the inspector's questions.
5. Keep it current. When the airport changes, we check the change against TP312 and prepare the amendment.