TC introduces new Civil Aviation Issues Reporting System (CAIRS)

By Merlin Preuss TC Director General, Civil Aviation

Reporting systems that allow stakeholders to provide and receive feedback are fundamental to good management. Stakeholders have a right and an obligation to voice constructive comments. This allows an organization to continually improve itself while becoming more efficient and effective.

For several years, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) has had in place a process for external stakeholders to make a complaint to TCCA. Recently, TCCA launched the Civil Aviation Issues Reporting System (CAIRS).

The CA IRS builds upon the former process and expands the range of issues covered from only complaints to also include concerns, compliments and suggestions for improvement.

It also increases the scope of users by providing internal stakeholders - TCCA employees - with a mechanism to raise issues.

The CAIRS aims to resolve issues informally and at the lowest possible level in our organization before it becomes necessary to use an outside process, but recognizes that stakeholders always have the right to immediately access these external processes.

The CAIIZS is about creating and promoting a reporting culture. Internally to TCCA this is similar to reporting requirements being embedded in the Safety Management System ISMS) regulations. It is important for industry to note that the CAIRS is not a mechanism to bypass a company's voluntary non-punitive reporting system set up as part of SMS.

Issues intended for reporting through a company's SMS must be reported through the company's SMS. The CAIRS is also not a substitute for established consultation mechanisms, such as the CARAC process.

I invite you to visit the following site to find out more about the CAIRS and how you can support a reporting culture. I look forward to your feedback.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/qualityassurance/qa/cairs.htm