INTERNATIONAL NEWS Continued from page 19 CANADA News & Regulatory Updates First set of NPAs issued since CARAC resumed activities in October 2013 Several NPAs (notice of approved amendments) have been issued by Transport Canada Civil Aviation covering a wide variety of regulations. These are the first set of NPAs released since the updated CARAC (Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council) process was introduced in October 2103. During the plenary session, there were many issues identified as high-priority tasks to complete and included many long-standing harmonization issues with the Federal Aviation Administration. NPA 2013-006 and 2013-007 are introducing the lightning protection standards for rotorcraft in AWM 527 and AWM 529. These changes bring the lightning protection standards to be more consistent with fixed-wing requirements and recognize that complex avionics are being used in helicopters. NPA 2104-008 was issued to correct the language introduced in 2008 regarding cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders for AWM 527. The change in the language is not significant in Canada but had operational impact in the U.S. These NPAs were issued under the new simplified process and will have a 30-day consultation period. If there are no significant comments received, these NPAs will be promulgated into the standards through Gazette II 30 days later. NPA 2014-012 introduces the new 525.1302 for installed systems and equipment for use by flight crew requirements. This is a harmonization with the FAA's Part 25, which introduced this new requirement in 2013. This new requirement puts into the design standards the requirement for a specified human factors evaluation of the cockpit and installed equipment. 20 avionics news * july 2014 Exemption for installations of 406 ELT reissued The exemption to allow AMEs and AMOs to install 406 megahertz emergency locator transmitters without ratings for specialized avionics maintenance was reissued. The exemption expired March 31, 2014. The Transport Canada website has not been updated with the new exemption, but the content has not changed. A copy of the exemption will be distributed soon. EUROPE News & Regulatory Updates European Aviation Safety Agency The European Aviation Safety Agency recently announced a new proposal for the amendment of the current regulation for flight recorders and underwater locating devices. The new proposed EASA requirement identified in the Opinion 01/2014 includes the extension of the transmission time of underwater locating devices fitted on flight recorders from 30 days to 90 days, and also proposes to equip large airplanes flying over oceans with a new type of ULD that have longer locating range than the current flight recorders. In addition, the minimum recording duration of cockpit voice recorders installed on new large airplanes should be increased to 20 hours from two hours. The proposed regulation also will include a retroactive fit of a long-range detection ULD. The EASA released a new NPA 2014-11 to propose a clarification on the functions and responsibilities of B1 and B2 support staff. The proposed amendment would provide detailed guidance for the use of support staff in base maintenance of large and other-than-large