Many Written Examination Facilities Are Closed Due To The Pandemic

Transport Canada Civil Aviation is shaking things up a bit more in order to allow aviation to make what progress it can under tought circumstances. Most recently; the requirement for the applicable knowledge (written) test to have been passed before a flight test for either an Instrument Rating, or an initial Flight Instructor Rating can be conducted has been temporarily suspended until January 15, 2021.

"The purpose of the exemption is to allow candidates that have not yet written the requisite written examination for an Instrument Rating, or any of the initial Flight Instructor Ratings to be accepted to attempt the flight test required for the issuance of an Instrument Rating, or any of the initial Flight Instructor Ratings until January 15, 2021, as a temporary measure. The purpose of this exemption is to adopt temporary measures in the public interest to reduce the potential of person to person transmission in Canada following the declaration of a pandemic outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11th, 2020."

This exemption is subject to the following conditions:

1. Candidates for initial Flight Instructor Ratings shall have completed in aeroplanes or helicopters a minimum of 30 hours of dual flight instruction on overall pilot proficiency and the presentation of all exercises set forth in the Flight Instructor Guide and shall include a minimum of 5 hours of training in the teaching of instrument flight skills.
2. Candidates for initial Flight Instructor Ratings Class 2 – Aerobatic shall have completed a minimum of 15 hours of Aerobatic Instructor Rating ground school instruction and have completed in aeroplanes a minimum of 10 hours of dual flight instruction on the teaching of aerobatic manoeuvres listed in the personnel licensing standards.
3. Candidates for initial Flight Instructor Ratings shall produce a letter signed by the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating – Class 1 dated within 30 days prior to the flight test, certifying that: (a) the candidate has reached a sufficient level of competency to complete the flight test required for the issuance of the desired flight instructor rating;
   1. the candidate is recommended for the flight test; and.
   2. I am qualified through the privileges of my pilot licence to make this recommendation.
4. Candidates for initial Instrument Ratings shall produce a letter of recommendation dated within 30 days prior to the flight test from the holder of Commercial Pilot or Airline Transport Pilot Licence qualified in accordance with subsection 425.21(9) of the Standards certifying that: (a) I, the undersigned, certify that the above named candidate meets the minimum experience requirements of section 421.46 of Standard 421 of the Personnel Licensing and Training Standards.
   1. I consider the candidate to have reached a sufficient level of competency to complete the flight test required for the issuance of an Instrument Rating.
   2. I further certify that I am qualified in accordance with subsection 425.21(9) of Standards and the privileges of my pilot licence to make this recommendation for a flight test.
5. Persons exercising the privileges of a permit, licence or rating subject to the terms and conditions of this exemption shall comply with the CARs in all respects other than with paragraph 421.14(4)(d) of Standard 421, Flight Crew Permits, Licences and Ratings, as specified in this exemption.

The reasoning for the suspension comes as a result of the fact that so many written examination facilities are closed due to the pandemic. TCCA has recognized that candidates who have obtained or will obtain, the necessary (and expensive) skills in preparation for their flight test may lose those skills if they are obliged to wait until TCCA reopens their facilities.

FMI: https://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/regserv/Affairs/exemptions/docs/en/3308.htm