PCAR PART 8

8.12 FLIGHT RELEASE: COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORT

8.12.1.1 APPLICABILITY
(a) This Subpart is applicable to an operator and the person designated by the operator
to issue a flight release.

8.12.1.2 QUALIFIED PERSONS REQUIRED FOR OPERATIONAL CONTROL

FUNCTIONS
(a) An operator or a designated representative shall have responsibility for operational
control. Responsibility for operational control shall be delegated by an operator only to
the PIC and to a flight operations officer/flight dispatcher, if the operator’s approved
method of control and supervision of flight operations requires the use of flight
operations officer/flight dispatcher personnel.
(b) For passenger-carrying flights conducted on a published schedule, a licensed and
qualified flight operations officer or equivalently qualified person shall be on-duty at an
operations base to perform the operational control functions.
(c) For all other flights, Director of Operations and PIC are the qualified person exercising
operational control responsibilities, and shall be available for consultation prior to,
during and immediately following the flight operation.
(1) The Director of Operations may delegate the functions for initiating, continuation,
diversion and termination of a flight to other employees. However, the Director of
Operations shall retain full responsibility for these functions.
(d) For all flights, the PIC shares in the responsibility for operational control of the aircraft
and has the situational authority to make decisions regarding operational control issues
in-flight.
(1) Where a decision of the PIC differs from that recommended, the person making
the recommendation shall make a record of the associated facts.

8.12.1.3 FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATIONAL CONTROL

(a) The person exercising responsibility for operational control for an operator shall-
(1) Authorize the specific flight operation;
(2) Ensure that only those operations authorized by the AOC operations specifications
are conducted;
(3) Ensure that an airworthy aircraft properly equipped for the flight is available;
(4) Specify the conditions under which a flight may be dispatched or released (weather
minimums, flight planning, aircraft loading, and fuel requirements;
(5) Ensure that qualified personnel and adequate facilities are available to support and
conduct the flight;
(6) Ensure that crew members are in compliance with the flight and duty time
requirements when departing on a flight;
(7) Provide the PIC and other personnel who perform operational control functions
with access to the necessary information for the safe conduct of a flight (such as
weather, NOTAMS and aerodrome analysis);
(8) Ensure that proper flight planning and preparation is made;
(9) Ensure that flight locating and flight following procedures are followed;

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(10) Ensure that each flight has complied with the conditions specified for release
before it is allowed to depart;
(11) Ensure that when the conditions specified for a release cannot be met, the flight
is either cancelled, delayed, re-routed, or diverted;
(12) For all flights, ensure the monitoring of the progress of the flight and the provision
of information that may be necessary to safety; and
(13) Operational instructions involving a change in the ATS flight plan, shall when
practicable, be coordinated with the appropriate ATS unit before transmission to
the aircraft.
Note: See also ICAO Doc 9376, Preparation of an Operations Manual, Chapters
7 and 8.

8.12.1.4 OPERATIONAL CONTROL DUTIES

(a) A flight operations officer/flight dispatcher in conjunction with a method of control and
supervision of flight operations in accordance with Subpart 9.1.1.6 (c) shall:
(1) Assist the PIC in flight preparation and provide the relevant information required;
(2) Assist the PIC in preparing the operational and ATS flight plans;
(3) Sign the dispatch copy of the flight release and file the ATS flight plan with the
appropriate ATS unit;
(4) Furnish the PIC while in flight, by appropriate means, with information which may
be necessary for the safe conduct of the flight; and
(b) A qualified person performing the operational control duties shall avoid taking any
action that would conflict with the procedures established by:
(1) ATC;
(2) The meteorological service;
(3) The communications service; or
(4) The operator.
(c) In the event of an emergency, flight operations officer/flight dispatcher shall:
(1) Initiate the applicable procedures contained in the operator's operations manual
while avoiding taking any action that would conflict with the ATC procedures; and
(2) Convey safety related information to the PIC that may be necessary for the safe
conduct of the flight, including information related to any amendment to the flight
plan that becomes necessary in the course of the flight.
(d) If an emergency situation which endangers the safety of the aircraft or persons
becomes first known to the flight operations officer/flight dispatcher, action by that
person in accordance with (b) above shall include, where necessary, notification to the
appropriate authorities of the nature of the situation without delay, and request for
assistance if required.
Note: See also ICAO Doc 9376, Preparation of an Operations Manual, Chapters 7 and
8.

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8.12.1.5 CONTENTS OF A FLIGHT RELEASE/OPERATIONAL FLIGHT PLAN

(a) The flight release/operational flight plan must contain at least the following information
concerning each flight:
(1) Company or organization name.
(2) Make, model, and registration number of the aircraft being used.
(3) Flight or trip number, and date of flight.
(4) Name of each flight crew member, cabin crew member, and PIC.
(5) Departure airport/heliport, destination airports/heliports, alternate
airports/heliports, and route.
(6) Minimum fuel supply (in gallons or pounds).
(7) A statement of the type of operation (e.g., IFR, VFR).
(8) The latest available weather-reports, and forecasts for the destination
airport/heliport and alternate airports/heliports.
(9) Any additional available weather information that the PIC considers necessary.
Note: See also ICAO Doc 9376, Preparation of an Operations Manual, Chapter 7.

8.12.1.6 FLIGHT RELEASE: AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS

(a) No person may issue a flight release for a commercial air transport operation unless
the aircraft is airworthy and properly equipped for the intended flight operation.
(b) No person may issue a flight release for a commercial air transport operation using an
aircraft with inoperative instruments and equipment installed, except as specified in
the MEL approved for the operator for that type aircraft.

8.12.1.7 FLIGHT RELEASE: FACILITIES AND NOTAMs

(a) No person may release an aircraft over any route or route segment unless there are
adequate communications and navigational facilities in satisfactory operating condition
as necessary to conduct the flight safely.
(b) The flight operations officer shall ensure that the PIC is provided all available current
reports or information on airport conditions and irregularities of navigation facilities that
may affect the safety of the flight.
Note: For their review of the operational flight plan, the PIC will be provided with all
available NOTAMs with respect to the routing, facilities and airports.

8.12.1.8 FLIGHT RELEASE: WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS

(a) No person may release a flight unless he or she is thoroughly familiar with reported
and forecast weather conditions on the route to be flown.
(b) No person may release a flight unless he or she has communicated all information and
reservations they may have regarding weather reports and forecasts to the PIC.

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8.12.1.9 FLIGHT RELEASE IN ICING CONDITIONS

(a) No person may release an aircraft, when in their opinion or that of the PIC, the icing
conditions that may be expected or are met exceed that for which the aircraft is certified
and has sufficient operational de-icing or anti-icing equipment.
(b) No person may release an aircraft any time conditions are such that frost, ice or snow
may reasonably be expected to adhere to the aircraft, unless there is the available to
the PIC at the airport/heliport of departure adequate facilities and equipment to
accomplish the procedures approved for the operator by the Authority for ground de-
icing and anti-icing; and the aircraft has been inspected for icing and, if necessary, has
been given appropriate de-icing/anti-icing treatment; and
(c) Accumulation of ice or other naturally occurring contaminants shall be removed so that
the aircraft is kept in an airworthy condition prior to take-off.

8.12.1.10 FLIGHT RELEASE UNDER VFR OR IFR

(a) No person may release a flight under VFR or IFR unless the weather reports and
forecasts indicated that the flight can reasonably be expected to be completed as
specified in the release.

8.12.1.11 FLIGHT RELEASE: MINIMUM FUEL SUPPLY

(a) No person may issue a flight release for a commercial air transport operation unless
the fuel supply specified in the release is equivalent to or greater than the minimum
flight planning requirements of this Part, including anticipated contingencies.

8.12.1.12 FLIGHT RELEASE: AIRCRAFT LOADING AND PERFORMANCE

(a) No person may issue a flight release unless he or she is familiar with the anticipated
loading of the aircraft and is reasonably certain that the proposed operation will not
exceed the
(1) Centre of gravity limits:
(2) Aircraft operating limitations; and
(3) Minimum performance requirements.

8.12.1.13 FLIGHT RELEASE: AMENDMENT OR RE-RELEASE EN ROUTE

(a) Each person who amends a flight release while the flight is en route shall record that
amendment.
(b) No person may amend the original flight release to change the destination or alternate
airport while the aircraft is en route unless the flight preparation requirements for
routing, airport selection and minimum fuel supply are met at the time of amendment
or re-release.
(c) No person may allow a flight to continue to an airport to which it has been released if
the weather reports and forecasts indicate changes which would render that airport
unsuitable for the original flight release.

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8.12.1.14 FLIGHT RELEASE WITH AIRBORNE WEATHER RADAR EQUIPMENT

(a) No person may release a large aircraft carrying passengers under IFR or night VFR
conditions when current weather reports indicate that thunderstorms, or other
potentially hazardous weather conditions that can be detected with airborne weather
radar, may reasonably be expected along the route to be flown, unless the airborne
weather radar equipment is in satisfactory operating condition.

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