UCTE and ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) insiders talk about CARs and ICAO, and the important differences. But let’s cut through the jargon: this post explains what those are, and how and when they matter to the travelling public.
These are regulations we need to get right, so that most people can then forget about it – knowing that standards are set by appropriate authorities and everyone’s safety is maximized. But that is going to take some work.
The basics
The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) are published and updated from time to time by Transport Canada. Pilots, airlines, and airports in Canada (apart from the military) are governed by the CAR, which includes a section on Airport Rescue and Firefighting services (ARFF).
But, notably, this part of the regulation does not spell out the mandate to rescue passengers from aircraft in the event of an emergency. This is important because a regulatory mandate comes with training and equipment – a standard of preparedness.
Canada is one of just eight founding members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), through which 193 countries set a common expectation for civil air regulations. It is like a treaty organization. ICAO sets standards and mutual expectations of member states – air transport is a busy international network, and agreements at ICAO on common standards is what makes it all work.
ICAO standards cover many aspects of ARFF services, like hours of operation, training, and equipment. So do the CARs–but it does not quite measure up.
The Devil is in the Details
Shortfalls have to do with hours of operation, which ‘designated’ airports are required to meet the domestic standard, specialized equipment and training, safety management systems, and more. These are details, but safety regulations have to be detail-oriented for emergency preparedness.
UCTE has firefighter members at several Canadian airports. They are concerned about the discrepancies and are taking action. UCTE commissioned a study that details dozens of discrepancies between CAR and ICAO regulations.
These firefighters are devoted to protecting public safety to the standards Canadians expect and deserve.

Media conference November 6, 2024
See our campaign for ways you will be able to help us push for better regulations that meet the international standard. Follow us on social media for updates (links in header)!