Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news for the airline and airports industry, as well as pilots and other aviation-professionals. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Aviation? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Freight & Ports and Oil & Gas.

Dates: 2025-09-28 to 2025-10-04

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Committee Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Committee Calendar

• Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry Schedules Wildfires Impact Study: Senator Rob Block will chair AGFO meeting no. 3 on October 2, 2025, focused on the effect of wildfires on agriculture and forestry. Matt Gemmel (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) is among the scheduled witnesses.

Canadian Federal GR News

Canadian Space Agency Announces $13.2 Million for Space Technologies

At the International Astronautical Congress in Longueuil, Lisa Campbell, President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), confirmed $13.2 million in support for 19 projects by 17 Canadian companies and research organizations. These projects address a spectrum of civilian and defence needs, including satellite communications, artificial intelligence, lunar mobility, and propulsion systems. The federal investment is intended to expand R&D capabilities and commercial reach, aiding organizations in equipping Canada to meet evolving global security challenges. Several projects demonstrate dual-use applications, which could influence both the civil and defence aerospace landscape. This action positions Canadian firms to diversify market access and develop domestic technological competencies in a rapidly transforming space economy.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CBSA Charges Montreal Resident in Refugee Case Irregularities

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) initiated criminal proceedings against Hugues Mbala Diata in Montreal in connection with the illegal entry of multiple nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The charges, stemming from a multi-year investigation, include misrepresentation, forgery, possession and use of false documents, and unauthorized consulting practices. In total, 22 criminal counts have been authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), underscoring intensified regulatory oversight of border enforcement and consulting activities. These developments may signal increased vigilance regarding documentation and compliance for passengers and cross-border freight operations entering Canadian territory.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CBSA Windsor Investigation Results in Firearms and Devices Seizure

The CBSA’s Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team (OFSET) reported the seizure of 48 firearms, 30 prohibited auto sears, 175 magazines, and approximately 17,000 rounds of ammunition from an address in Windsor following an investigation into imports from the US. Hengwei Zhong, the accused, faces multiple charges under both the Customs Act and the Criminal Code, including unauthorized importation and improper storage of firearms and devices. The case draws attention to risks and law enforcement challenges associated with cross-border shipments, especially those potentially linked to aviation cargo operations and customs inspections.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Atlantic Aerospace Firms Featured at DEFSEC Atlantic 2025

DEFSEC Atlantic 2025 in Halifax convened around 2,000 international and Canadian aerospace and defence stakeholders, including military decision-makers and NATO DIANA representatives. Atlantic Canada’s aerospace sector showcased capabilities in AI threat detection, cyber resilience, advanced manufacturing, and training systems. Fed by the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy, ACOA’s programming is steering regional firms into broader international markets and supply chains. Efforts to facilitate procurement navigation and production expansion reinforce the region's aerospace footprint, with potential to impact local job creation and advanced system adoption.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CSA Invests $5 Million in Satellite Data Projects for Ecosystem Applications

CSA President Lisa Campbell announced at the 76th International Astronautical Congress a $5 million commitment to satellite Earth observation technologies for conservation and resource management applications, benefiting sectors like agriculture and forestry. Twenty Canadian companies, several collaborating with Indigenous organizations, will leverage AI to analyze satellite data for applications such as invasive plant detection and migratory bird monitoring. The initiative is expected to generate skilled employment and diversify the space sector, with 35% of selected projects led by first-time recipients.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Transport Canada Restricts Airspace Over BC Ostrich Farm Amid Disease Risk

Due to ongoing biocontainment operations under the Health of Animals Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) maintains custody of ostriches at a British Columbia farm, per Supreme Court of Canada orders. Transport Canada has published a notice restricting airspace use—including drones—above the site pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act. Violations may trigger administrative penalties or prosecution. The situation illustrates direct regulatory intervention affecting local aviation navigation and operational restrictions in response to animal health concerns.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Competition Bureau Speech Cites Airline Price Data in Policy Discussion

Commissioner Matthew Boswell, at Canada's Competition Summit 2025, referenced findings from the Bureau’s airline market study, indicating a 9% average airfare decrease on routes with a new entrant. While focused on market regulation and business dynamism, the remarks present data relevant for commercial aviation operators, suggesting ongoing federal attention to regulatory environments affecting airline competition, consumer choice, and price formation. An upcoming study will further analyze effects of regulation on sector productivity.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CBSA Opens Consultation on Customs Broker Business Number Use

CBSA has launched a consultation on scenarios authorizing customs brokers to use their business number (BN) in accounting declarations for importers not yet registered in the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system. Industry stakeholders are invited to submit feedback through October 2025.

Sources: Canadian Government Consultations: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Weekly Aircraft Movements Data Released by Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada has released aircraft itinerant movement statistics for the week of September 13-19, 2025. The dataset provides operational data for air navigation and airport traffic analysis.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

US Federal GR News

FAA Issues Multiple Airworthiness Directives Impacting Canadian Aircraft

On September 29, 2025, the FAA proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes (formerly CSALP/Bombardier), requiring inspection and correction of electrical harness installation issues in lavatory A to prevent potential ignition sources. The NPRM incorporates Transport Canada AD CF-2025-45 and sets November 13, 2025, as the public comment deadline. Additionally, on October 2, the FAA issued AD 2025-19-07 for the same models, targeting feed-through connector O-ring material concerns at frame 51. The directive mandates electrical bonding tests and possible installation of bonding plates within 12,000 flight hours or 48 months, affecting 36 U.S. aircraft with specific compliance timelines and cost estimates.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov, U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

FAA Proposes AD for De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8 Series

A proposed AD aims to address cracked barrel nuts in De Havilland DHC-8 aircraft, prompted by findings at critical wing and stabilizer joints. The directive requires repetitive inspections for corrosion and cracking, with associated corrective actions for multiple DHC-8 subtypes, referencing Transport Canada AD CF-2020-06R1. The comment period closes November 13, 2025, and the AD is estimated to affect 111 U.S.-registered aircraft. Maintenance review intervals differ from Canadian standards, with the FAA opting for specific service bulletin procedures.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

FAA Finalizes AD for Boeing 757: Modifications to Aileron Trim Actuator

Effective November 6, 2025, FAA AD 2025-20-04 replaces an earlier directive and now requires modification and bracket installation for the aileron trim actuator assembly in Boeing 757 models. This measure terminates repetitive checks, introducing implementation costs and new inspection timelines. Operators have clarified that winglet installations under STC ST01518SE do not affect AD compliance, and previous AMOCs remain valid. The directive shifts towards mandatory modification, diverging from previous maintenance work.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

FAA Introduces Proposed AD for Boeing 747 SATCOM Antenna Inspection

An NPRM released September 30, 2025, directs all Boeing 747 variants to undergo repetitive inspections for corrosion at SATCOM high-gain antenna adapter plates. Damaged plates are to be repaired or replaced, with affected operators estimated at 120 aircraft and cost calculations outlined for both required actions and on-condition repairs. The comment window extends to November 14, 2025.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Information Collection Reinstatement

CBP is inviting public comments until December 1, 2025, on reinstating CTPAT and Trade Compliance data collection under OMB Control Number 1651-0077. The program, relevant to U.S.-Canada trade, covers importers, exporters, carriers, and brokers, with new optional identifiers—such as Date of Birth and RFC—and a pilot for Third Party Logistics Providers under the 2023 Pilot Program Act. The burden estimate includes 15,400 annual hours for CTPAT Security and 100 hours each for Trade Compliance processes.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Government Consultations

What We're Reading This Week

• Travellers bothered by their flight’s pollution can pay to reduce it elsewhere. Do offsets work?: News analysis of passenger offset programs critiques actual environmental impacts.
• Customs kiosk outage now resolved after passengers stuck on planes across Canada, CBSA says: Interruption in passenger processing at Canadian airports due to technical issues.
• Canada’s WestJet says some passenger data exposed in cybersecurity breach: WestJet confirms exposure of certain passenger information amid a recent cybersecurity event.
• Volatus Aerospace and VoltaXplore Sign LOI for Canadian-Made Battery Supply to Power Next-Gen Drones: Volatus Aerospace enters agreement to source Canadian-made batteries for advanced drone platforms.

.