Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman and honourable members, thank you for allowing me to comment on Bill C-6. Before I do so, allow me to introduce the Canadian Business Aviation Association.
We've been in business for quite some time; in fact, we've been an effective advocacy organization since 1962. We currently have well over 400 members and speak for 272 companies and organizations that operate more than 500 aircraft domestically and internationally. In addition, another 150 companies are members of ours in the manufacturing and support sector of the aviation industry. The CBAA is the voice of business aviation in Canada.
We've been actively engaged throughout the extensive consultation process of amending the Aeronautics Act and have helped lead a wide-ranging group of representatives from government and industry to craft a progressive and modern document. The amendments to the act incorporate proactive and proven management practices, organizational flexibility, broad-based accountability, and a non-punitive reporting system, all of which are designed to improve aviation safety and efficiency.
Of particular interest and importance are the safety management concept and its explicit and comprehensive process for managing risk. The safety management system, or SMS, embeds organization-wide accountability and actions to preclude accidental losses and establishes proactive management tools to identify and control risks prior to their occurrence. It is a documented process that integrates operations and technical systems with the management of financial and human resources to ensure aviation safety.
In conjunction with Transport Canada Civil Aviation, the CBAA has helped lead the aviation industry in the design, development, and implementation of safety management systems, and the creation of performance-based standards for aircraft operators specifically under Canadian Aviation Regulations part VI, subpart 4. To break that down into another more meaningful definition, perhaps, it captures those operators or owners who are operating turbine-powered pressurized aircraft and carrying passengers that are non-commercial.
The CBAA program is supported by all of the 272 CAR section 604 operators. Its recognized advantages are greater organizational participation in aviation safety, increased operational flexibility and effectiveness, and improved administrative efficiency.
CBAA members have more than four years' experience using safety management systems and collectively endorse this method of managing risk. In our assessment, the CBAA program and the use of SMS has enhanced aviation safety for business aircraft operators, eliminated red tape, and reduced administrative costs. During this same period, it should not go unnoticed that business aviation in Canada has grown at an annual rate of 15% to 18%; that is, in the last four years, we’vet doubled our size.
The Canadian aviation community is a world leader in advancing safety initiatives, and Canadian officials, at least in part, have successfully influenced the International Civil Aviation Organization and other national aviation bodies to endorse and implement the concept of safety management systems. SMS will become an international tool in the identification and management of risk.
It should also be noted that 11 national or regional business aviation associations worldwide, representing more than 14,000 business aircraft operators, have sanctioned the Montreal-based International Business Aviation Council's program called International Standards for Business Aircraft Operators. IS-BAO mirrors the CBAA program. It is founded on a safety management system and uses performance-based standards. Such widespread use and recognition of SMS clearly demonstrates its value.
Mr. Chairman, in all respects the CBAA supports the proposed amendments to the Aeronautics Act.
Thank you.