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Canadian airspace is the region of airspace above the surface of the Earth within which Canada has jurisdiction. It falls within a region roughly defined as either the Canada, Canadian land mass, the Canadian Arctic or the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Canadian archipelago, and areas of the high seas.
Airspace is managed by
Transport Canada
Transport Canada (french: Transports Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of road, rail, marine and air transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportati ...
and detailed information regarding exact dimensions and classification is available in the ''Designated Airspace Handbook'' which is published every fifty-six days by
Nav Canada
Nav Canada (styled as NAV CANADA) is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system (ANS). It was established in accordance with the ''Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act' ...
.
Canadian Domestic Airspace
The "Canadian Domestic Airspace" includes all of
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
and extends out over the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
,
Arctic
The Arctic ( or ) is a polar regions of Earth, polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenla ...
, and
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
oceans. It is broadly divided into the "Northern Domestic Airspace" (NDA) and the "Southern Domestic Airspace" (SDA).
There are three main differences between the two areas, the most important of them being that the NDA is designated as a "
standard pressure
Standard temperature and pressure (STP) are standard sets of conditions for experimental measurements to be established to allow comparisons to be made between different sets of data. The most used standards are those of the International Union o ...
" region while the SDA is an "altimeter setting" region. This means that pilots operating in the SDA will calibrate their altimeters to atmospheric pressure according to information available at airports and through weather services. Conversely, in the NDA, pilots calibrate their
altimeter
An altimeter or an altitude meter is an instrument used to measure the altitude of an object above a fixed level. The measurement of altitude is called altimetry, which is related to the term bathymetry, the measurement of depth under water. The m ...
s to regardless of the actual atmospheric pressure. This is done because weather information is not available for all areas of the far north, so it is better that all pilots use a standard setting in order to avoid collisions.
Another major difference between the NDA and SDA is that
magnetic declination
Magnetic declination, or magnetic variation, is the angle on the horizontal plane between magnetic north (the direction the north end of a magnetized compass needle points, corresponding to the direction of the Earth's magnetic field lines) and ...
is not used in the NDA. Because the
North Magnetic Pole
The north magnetic pole, also known as the magnetic north pole, is a point on the surface of Earth's Northern Hemisphere at which the Earth's magnetic field, planet's magnetic field points vertically downward (in other words, if a magnetic comp ...
is close to the NDA (and was formerly within it), magnetic declinations can be very large and changeable from year to year. This is further complicated by the fact that magnetic north wobbles every day in an elliptical path as much as . For these reasons, "true" tracks are always used in the NDA while magnetic tracks are frequently used in the SDA for convenience.
The final difference between the NDA and the SDA has to do with the location of Class A airspace in each region. This is explained in more detail below.
Canadian Domestic Airspace is the second-largest air navigation service by volume of air traffic in the world, after the United States
Airspace classes
There are seven classes of airspace in Canada, each designated by a letter (A through G).
* Class A airspace exists exclusively between
Flight Level
In aviation and aviation meteorology, a flight level (FL) is an aircraft's altitude at standard air pressure, expressed in hundreds of feet. The air pressure is computed assuming an International Standard Atmosphere pressure of 1013.25 hPa ...
180 and FL600. Only aircraft flying in terms with Instrument Flight Rules may fly in Class A airspace. It includes, therefore, the Southern Control Area, the Northern Control Area FL230 and above and the Arctic Control Area FL270 and above. It may also include any other airspace so designated by the Minister on either a permanent or temporary basis.
** For entry into Class A airspace, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C
transponder
In telecommunications, a transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend word, blend of ''transmitter'' and ''responder''.
In air navigation or radio frequency identification, a T ...
and an
IFR
In aviation, instrument flight rules (IFR) is one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other is visual flight rules (VFR).
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ''Instrument Fly ...
clearance.
* Class B airspace is any controlled airspace between or at and above the
MEA, whichever is higher, up to . Occasionally, Class B airspace exists in other locations, though this is unusual.
** For entry into Class B airspace, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C transponder and either an IFR or a
CVFR (Controlled VFR) clearance.
* Class C airspace is usually a control zone (CZ) for a large
airport
An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface ...
. These areas usually have a radius and a height of up to 12,500 ft
above aerodrome elevation
Below are abbreviations used in aviation, avionics, aerospace and aeronautics.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
N numbers (turbines)
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
V speeds
W
X
Y
Z
See also
* List of avia ...
(AAE).
** For entry into a Class C control zone, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C transponder and an
ATC clearance.
* Class D airspace is usually a control zone for smaller airports or aerodromes that has a radius and a height of AAE. Airports in extremely busy airspace may have only a radius control zone.
** For entry into a Class D control zone, an aircraft needs to contact ATC. Some Class D control zones require transponders, and
NORDO
In North American aviation, a NORDO () aircraft is an aircraft flying without a radio. While sometimes used to denote small general aviation aircraft that are not equipped with a radio, the term is more commonly applied to aircraft that have expe ...
flight is not permitted at night in a Class D zone.
* Class E airspace is used for low-level flight routes and for aerodromes with very little traffic. ATC is available, but is not required. Some Class D control zones change to Class E at night if the control tower shuts down. It is also high level controlled airspace above FL600. See Other Important Features Below
** Any aircraft may fly in Class E airspace.
* Class F airspace is special use airspace. Any Class F zone will be designated either CYR, CYD, or CYA. CYR stands for ''restricted'', CYD means ''danger'' (usually used for CYR areas over international waters), and CYA stands for ''advisory''. CYA zones will also have a letter identifying the type of activity in the zone: A –
aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aerial" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and glid ...
, F – aircraft testing, H –
hang gliding
Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...
, M – military, P –
parachuting
Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
For ...
, S –
soaring
Soaring may refer to:
* Gliding, in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes
* Lift (soaring), a meteorological phenomenon used as an energy source by some aircraft and birds
* ''Soaring'' (magazine), a magazine produced ...
, T – training.
** For entry into a CYR or CYD zone, an aircraft needs the permission of the operating authority. Pilots may enter CYA zones at their discretion, but are encouraged to avoid them unless taking part in the activity.
* Any airspace that is not designated is Class G airspace. This airspace is uncontrolled, and ATC is not usually available (though exceptions are made).
** Any aircraft may fly in Class G airspace.
Airspace classes A through E are controlled. Class F can be controlled or uncontrolled. Class G is always uncontrolled.
Airspace is managed by
Transport Canada
Transport Canada (french: Transports Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of road, rail, marine and air transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportati ...
and detailed information regarding exact dimensions and classification is available in the ''Designated Airspace Handbook'' which is published every fifty-six days by
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada (styled as NAV CANADA) is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system (ANS). It was established in accordance with the ''Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act' ...
.
Other important features of control zones and controlled airspace
Some control zones have unique procedures because of terrain or air traffic demands. These procedures are published in the
Canada Flight Supplement
The Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) (french: link=no, Supplément de vol Canada) is a joint civil/military publication and is a supplement of the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP Canada). It is the nation's official airport directory. It ...
. From the supplement "Class E* All high level controlled airspace above FL600 within the SCA, NCA and ACA. Also, low level airways, low level fixed RNAV routes, CAEs, transition areas or CZs established without an operating control tower may be classified Class E airspace." So uncontrolled airports like
Sarnia (CYZR) and others may appear to be miss-characterized as control zones since the Canadian Air Regulations (CARs) define a CZ as "controlled airspace that is so specified in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH) and that extends upwards vertically from the surface of the earth up to and including 3,000 feet AGL, unless otherwise specified" in that handbook.
However, this apparent conflict is resolved since the DAH is specifically authorized to define airspace classification. The CARs definition of ''controlled airspace'' is "...within which air traffic control service is provided;". So when air traffic control is not provided it appears it should not be a control zone. The DAH defines Class G airspace as "Airspace shall be classified G if it has not been designated A, B, C, D, E or F." There is actually no definition of "uncontrolled airspace" other than that, so by inferred definition CYZR is controlled airspace below 700 ft to 5 nmi beneath a Class G, transition airspace out to 15 nmi). The 700 ft is the base of this overlaying Class E transition airspace which is controlled up to FL125. DAH also defines "Class B, C, D or E equivalent" airspace but that specifically refers MTCAs which are military terminal control areas.
Bottom line is the CARs definition of CZ and controlled airspace specifically allows the DAH to further define certain "Class E uncontrolled airports" as a control zone as long as they have at least one navigation aid and an instrument approach procedure that originates in Class E transition controlled airspace.
Another important feature of Canadian airspace is the
air defence identification zone (ADIZ) that surrounds
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The
terminal control area
In aviation, a terminal control area (TMA, or TCA in the U.S. and Canada), is a designated area of controlled airspace surrounding a major airport where there is a high volume of traffic. TMA airspace is normally designed in a circular configurat ...
s of the French islands of
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (french: link=no, Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon ), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in t ...
are located within Canadian airspace. They are as follows:
*The class E airspace ranges from 6000 feet AGL to 12,500 feet within the area demarcated by a line beginning at and ending at , then running clockwise along a circle with a radius of 10 miles centred on .
*The
Control Area for Saint Pierre is the airspace to 2000 feet (2000 feet AAE) within a circle with a radius of 6 miles centred on .
*The area above 12,000 feet is controlled by
Nav Canada
Nav Canada (styled as NAV CANADA) is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system (ANS). It was established in accordance with the ''Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act' ...
.
References
{{reflist
Aviation in Canada
Air traffic control in North America
Air traffic control in Canada