Canadian airspace
Encyclopedia
Canadian airspace is the region of navigable airspace
above the surface of the Earth that falls within a region roughly defined by the Canadian land mass, the Canadian arctic
, the Canadian archipelago
, and areas of the high seas.
Airspace is managed by Transport Canada
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
.
and extends out over the Pacific
, Arctic
, and Atlantic Ocean
s. 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. Most importantly, the NDA is designated as a "standard pressure" region while the SDA is an "altimeter setting" region. This means that pilots operating in the SDA will calibrate their altimeter to atmospheric pressure according to information available at airports and through weather services. Conversely, in the NDA, pilots calibrate their altimeter
s to 29.92 inches of mercury
(1013 h
Pa
) 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
is not used in the NDA. Because the magnetic north pole
is in the NDA, magnetic declinations are very large; sometimes even 180°. This is further complicated by the fact that magnetic north moves approximately 200 miles (320 km) in an elliptical path every day. For these reasons, "true" headings are always used in the NDA while magnetic headings 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.
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
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
.
. Another important feature of Canadian airspace is the Air Defense Identification Zone
(ADIZ) that surrounds North America
.
islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon Terminal Control Area
are :
N47°19'57.00"N ,55°57'16.00"W to 46°55'53.00" N , 56°07'13.00 " W to clockwise along a circle of
10 miles radius centered on 46°45'47.00"N , 56°10'27.00 W"
46°45'47.00"N ,56°10'27.00"W
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
above the surface of the Earth that falls within a region roughly defined by the Canadian land mass, the Canadian arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
, the Canadian archipelago
Canadian Arctic Archipelago
The Canadian Arctic Archipelago, also known as the Arctic Archipelago, is a Canadian archipelago north of the Canadian mainland in the Arctic...
, and areas of the high seas.
Airspace is managed by Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
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
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
.
Canadian Domestic Airspace
The Canadian Domestic Airspace includes all of CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and extends out over the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, Arctic
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
, and Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
s. 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. Most importantly, the NDA is designated as a "standard pressure" region while the SDA is an "altimeter setting" region. This means that pilots operating in the SDA will calibrate their altimeter to atmospheric pressure according to information available at airports and through weather services. Conversely, in the NDA, pilots calibrate their altimeter
Altimeter
An altimeter 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 underwater.-Pressure altimeter:...
s to 29.92 inches of mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
(1013 h
Hecto
Hecto or hecta is a prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of one hundred. Adopted in 1795, it comes from the Greek hekaton, meaning hundred.It is rarely used, except for certain specific applications:...
Pa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
) 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
Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north and true north. The declination is positive when the magnetic north is east of true north. The term magnetic variation is a synonym, and is more often used in navigation...
is not used in the NDA. Because the magnetic north pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
is in the NDA, magnetic declinations are very large; sometimes even 180°. This is further complicated by the fact that magnetic north moves approximately 200 miles (320 km) in an elliptical path every day. For these reasons, "true" headings are always used in the NDA while magnetic headings 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.
Airspace classes
There are seven classes of airspace in Canada, and each is designated by a letter (A through G).- Class A airspace exists exclusively between FLFlight levelA Flight Level is a standard nominal altitude of an aircraft, in hundreds of feet. This altitude is calculated from the International standard pressure datum of 1013.25 hPa , the average sea-level pressure, and therefore is not necessarily the same as the aircraft's true altitude either...
180 and FL600. In the SDA, it begins at 18,000. However, in the NDA it does not. The NDA is divided into two Control Areas: the Arctic Control Area (ACA) and the Northern Control Area (NCA). In the NCA, Class A airspace extends upwards from FL230, and FL 270 (formerly 280) in the ACA. The airspace between FL180 and the beginning Class A airspace is designated Class G airspace.- For entry into Class A airspace, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C transponderTransponderIn telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
and an IFRInstrument flight rulesInstrument flight rules are one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other are visual flight rules ....
clearance.
- For entry into Class A airspace, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C transponder
- Class B airspace is any controlled airspace between 12500 ft (3,810 m) and 18000 ft (5,486.4 m) 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 airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
. These areas usually have a 10 nautical mile radius and a height of 3000 ft (914.4 m) above aerodrome elevationAbove Aerodrome ElevationIn aviation, above aerodrome alevation denotes that an altitude is given above the nearest aerodrome or airport. This is usually identical to the altitude above ground level, but AAE is used to be precise. Also, in extremely hilly or mountainous areas, elevation AGL can change dramatically over...
(AAE).- For entry into a Class C control zone, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C transponder and an ATCAir traffic controlAir traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
clearance.
- For entry into a Class C control zone, an aircraft needs a functional Mode C transponder and an ATC
- Class D airspace is usually a control zone for smaller airports or aerodromes that has a 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) radius and a height of 3000 ft (914.4 m) AAE. Airports in extremely busy airspace may have only a 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) 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 NORDONORDONORDO, short for "No Radio", is a North American aviation term for aircraft flying without a radio. The term originates from the 5-character uppercase abbreviated notation "NORDO" displayed on controllers' radar scopes when an aircraft transmits the "radio failure" code on its transponder...
flight is not permitted at night in a Class D zone.
- For entry into a Class D control zone, an aircraft needs to contact ATC. Some Class D control zones require transponders, and NORDO
- 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.
- Any aircraft may fly in Class E airspace.
- Class F airspace is restricted. 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 - aerobaticsAerobaticsAerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
, F - aircraft testing, H - hang glidingHang glidingHang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider ....
, M - military, P - parachuting, S - soaringGlidingGliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
, 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
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
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
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
.
Other important features
Some control zones have unique procedures because of terrain or air traffic demands. These procedures are published in the Canada Flight SupplementCanada Flight Supplement
The Canada Flight Supplement is a joint civil/military publication and is a supplement of the Aeronautical Information Publication . It is the nation's official airport directory...
. Another important feature of Canadian airspace is the Air Defense Identification Zone
Air Defense Identification Zone
An Air Defense Identification Zone has existed since February 10, 2003, around the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area to restrict air traffic near Washington, D.C....
(ADIZ) that surrounds North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Due to its location within Canadian Airspace the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon Terminal Control Area
Terminal Control Area
A terminal control area , also known as a terminal manoeuvring area in Europe, is an aviation term to describe a designated area of controlled airspace surrounding a major airport where there is a high volume of traffic...
are :
- The class D airspace 700 feet AGL to 6000 feet within a circle of 10 miles radius centered on the 46°45'45.00" N ,56°10'10.00"W
- The class E airspace 6000 feet AGL to 12,500 feet within the area by a line beginning at:
N47°19'57.00"N ,55°57'16.00"W to 46°55'53.00" N , 56°07'13.00 " W to clockwise along a circle of
10 miles radius centered on 46°45'47.00"N , 56°10'27.00 W"
- The Control AreaControl areaA control area is an aviation term that describes a volume of controlled airspace that exists in the vicinity of an airport. It has a specified lower level and a specified upper level. It usually is situated on top of a control zone and provides protection to aircraft climbing out from the airport...
for St-Pierre is the airspace to 2000 Feet (2000´ AAE) within a circle of 6 miles radius centered on
46°45'47.00"N ,56°10'27.00"W
- Above 12,000 feet is controlled by Nav CanadaNAV CANADANav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
. http://www.navcanada.ca/ContentDefinitionFiles/Publications/AeronauticalInfoProducts/DAH/DAH_current_EN.pdf