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Removal of Aircraft on Highway Following an Emergency Landing As Per Section 187 of the Highway Traffic Act
What Happens Legally If a Plane Lands On a Highway?
It Is Possible That In An Emergency Situation An Aircraft Will Make An Emergency Landing Upon a Highway. When This Happens the Pilot Who Made the Landing Is Required to Arrange For Removal of the Aircraft As Soon As Reasonably Possible.
Understanding the Law About Removal of An Aircraft After An Emergency Landing
It is a very rare event; but does happen a few times per year, that an aircraft makes an emergency landing on a highway or roadway; and indeed, although without actual use of the highway, a plane did recently make an emergency landing next to Highway 404, a major multi-lane highway, in the Toronto area. After such a landing, the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 contains mandates regarding the timeliness and manner for the subsequent removal of the aircraft.
The Law
After an emergency landing of an aircraft upon a highway, meaning any type of road defined as a "highway" per the Highway Traffic Act, the aircraft must be removed as soon as reasonably possible. Furthermore, the law states that if the removal of the plane, or other aircraft, will make use of the highway for a take-off, then a commercial pilot must perform the take-off and the commercial pilot must be someone other than the pilot who made the emergency landing. Also, as surely is common sense, a police force or police service must provide consent to using the highway for the take-off as well as providing traffic control. The Highway Traffic Act specifically states:
Aircraft on highways
Removal of aircraft from highway after emergency landing
187 (1) Where an aircraft has made an emergency landing on a highway, the pilot in command thereof, if he or she is physically capable, shall, as soon after landing as is reasonably possible, remove or cause it to be removed from the roadway.
Aircraft and movement along highway subject to Act
(2) Subject to subsection (3), no aircraft shall be driven or drawn along a highway unless the aircraft and the movement thereof comply with the provisions of this Act respecting vehicles and the movement thereof on a highway.
Aircraft take-off from highway
(3) Where an aircraft has landed on a highway because of an emergency related to the operation of the aircraft, the aircraft may take off from the highway provided,
(a) a licensed commercial pilot, not being the owner of the aircraft, who is qualified to fly that class and category of aircraft, and the pilot in command of the aircraft are both satisfied that the aircraft is airworthy and that there are no physical obstructions on or over the highway which would make such take-off unsafe;
(b) the pilot in command of the aircraft is satisfied that weather conditions are satisfactory for the purpose and that the minimum requirements are met under the visual flight rules established by the regulations made under the Aeronautics Act (Canada) or, if the flight is to be continued under instrument flight rules, that adequate arrangements can be made for obtaining a clearance from an air traffic control unit prior to entering instrument flight weather conditions;
(c) traffic control is provided by the appropriate police force; and
(d) the police force consents to the take-off.
Penalty
(4) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000.
No liability where good faith
(5) No proceeding for damages shall be instituted against a police force, police officer or pilot, for an act or an omission done or omitted to be done by it, him or her in respect of the subject-matter of subsection (3) where the force, officer or pilot was acting in good faith.
Penalty
As shown above, per section 187(4) of the Highway Traffic Act, upon guilt for a violation a fine of up to ten thousand ($10,000) dollars may be imposed. Additionally, the statutory victim surcharge as well as court cost would be added to the fine.
Summary Comment
Although the situation is rare, after an aircraft makes an emergency landing onto a highway, the pilot that performed the landing is required to arrange for the removal of the aircraft as soon as reasonably possible. If the removal will be done by using the highway for a take-off of the aircraft, then various special conditions must be met.
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