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Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Regulations are current to 2025-04-14 and last amended on 2025-04-01. Previous Versions

Part VII — Commercial Air Services (continued)

Subpart 6 — Aircraft Maintenance Requirements for Air Operators (continued)

Service Difficulty Reporting

 The holder of an air operator certificate shall report to the Minister, in accordance with Division IX of Subpart 21 of Part V, any reportable service difficulty related to any aircraft that it operates.

  • SOR/2009-280, s. 36

Safety Management System

 The holder of an air operator certificate issued under section 705.07 must, for all maintenance control activities performed under this Subpart, comply with the requirements set out in section 705.151 or 705.154 with respect to a safety management system.

Part VIII — Air Navigation Services

[
  • SOR/2025-98, s. 28(F)
]

Interpretation

  •  (1) In this Part,

    air traffic control unit

    air traffic control unit[Repealed, SOR/2002-352, s. 4]

    air traffic services

    air traffic services or ATS[Repealed, SOR/2025-98, s. 19]

    altitude reservation

    altitude reservation means an airspace of defined dimensions within controlled airspace reserved for the use of a civil or military agency during a specified period and whose location is fixed or moves in relation to the aircraft that operate within it; (réservation d’altitude)

    ATS operations certificate

    ATS operations certificate[Repealed, SOR/2007-290, s. 11]

    conflict resolution

    conflict resolution means an air traffic control service provided to avoid potential conflicts between identified aircraft that are in communication with an air traffic controller; (résolution de conflit)

    CVFR aircraft

    CVFR aircraft means an aircraft operating in controlled VFR flight; (aéronef CVFR)

    emergency assistance services

    emergency assistance services means services provided for the purpose of

    • (a) assisting aircraft in a state of emergency, including aircraft in the uncertainty, alert and distress phases,

    • (b) assisting aircraft involved in a hijacking, or

    • (c) alerting rescue coordination agencies of missing or overdue aircraft; (services d’urgence)

    flight information services

    flight information services[Repealed, SOR/2002-352, s. 4]

    identified aircraft

    identified aircraft means an aircraft whose position as indicated on a situation display is confirmed by an air traffic controller; (aéronef identifié)

    operational location

    operational location means the physical location of an ATS unit; (emplacement opérationnel)

    visual approach

    visual approach means an approach in which the pilot-in-command of an IFR aircraft operating in VMC proceeds to the destination aerodrome by using visual reference to the surface and, as applicable, by maintaining visual separation from, and avoiding the wake turbulence of, a preceding aircraft. (approche visuelle)

  • (2) Any reference in this Part to an annex to the Convention includes the differences notified to ICAO by the Government of Canada in respect of the standards specified in that annex.

Application

 This Part does not apply in respect of any air navigation services that are provided by or under the authority of the Minister of National Defence.

[800.03 to 800.08 reserved]

Subpart 1 — Air Traffic Services

Division I — Prohibitions

Alcohol or Drugs — Air Traffic Controllers and Flight Service Specialists

 No person shall act as an air traffic controller or a flight service specialist

  • (a) within eight hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage;

  • (b) while under the influence of alcohol; or

  • (c) while under the influence of any drug or other substance that impairs the person’s faculties to the extent that aviation safety is affected.

Air Traffic Control Clearances or Air Traffic Control Instructions

 No air traffic controller shall issue an air traffic control clearance or air traffic control instruction except in accordance with

  • (a) the standards contained in Chapter 3 of Annex 11 to the Convention, in the case of airspace in respect of which Canada has accepted, by means of a regional air navigation agreement, the responsibility of providing air traffic services; and

  • (b) Standard 821 — Canadian Domestic Air Traffic Control Separation Standards, in the case of any other airspace.

[801.03 to 801.05 reserved]

 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

Division II — ATS Operations Certificate

Requirement for ATS Operations Certificate

 No person shall operate an ATS unit unless the person holds and complies with the provisions of an ATS operations certificate that authorizes the person to operate the ATS unit.

Application for ATS Operations Certificate

 An application for an ATS operations certificate shall be submitted to the Minister along with a copy of the proposed ATS site manual for each operational location to be listed on the certificate.

Issuance of ATS Operations Certificate
  •  (1) The Minister shall issue an ATS operations certificate to an applicant, authorizing the applicant to operate an ATS unit, if

    • (a) the Minister has approved an ATS site manual for the operational location; and

    • (b) the applicant demonstrates that

      • (i) it has personnel who are qualified to provide an air traffic service at the operational location of the ATS unit, and

      • (ii) the ATS unit will be operated in a manner that provides for safe aircraft operations.

  • (2) The Minister shall approve the ATS site manual if it

    • (a) accurately describes the operational location of the ATS unit; and

    • (b) contains the information required under section 801.10.

Contents of ATS Operations Certificate

 An ATS operations certificate shall contain

  • (a) the legal name, trade name and address of the holder of the certificate;

  • (b) the number of the certificate;

  • (c) the date of issue of the certificate;

  • (d) the effective date of certification;

  • (e) the types of air traffic services that the holder of the certificate is authorized to provide; and

  • (f) a list of the operational locations for which an ATS site manual has been approved by the Minister.

Contents of ATS Site Manual
  •  (1) An ATS site manual shall set out the types of air traffic services that are provided by the holder of the ATS operations certificate at a specific operational location.

  • (2) An ATS site manual shall contain

    • (a) a table of contents;

    • (b) any information relating to the administration of the ATS unit, including

      • (i) a record of any amendments to the manual,

      • (ii) a list of the holders of copies of the manual,

      • (iii) a description of the procedure for amending the manual,

      • (iv) a description of the organizational structure of the ATS unit management,

      • (v) a statement, signed by the holder of the ATS operations certificate, certifying that the manual is complete and accurate, and

      • (vi) a statement, signed by the Minister, indicating that the Minister has approved the manual;

    • (c) any information relating to the operation of the ATS unit, including

      • (i) a description of the airspace and its classification,

      • (ii) where applicable, a description of the manoeuvring areas and movement areas of all aerodromes served, and

      • (iii) a description of the system used to ensure that any operational information necessary for operational staff to perform their duties or functions is available on a daily basis;

    • (d) if air traffic advisory services or flight information services are provided, a description of the procedures for providing those services;

    • (e) a description of the procedures for providing emergency assistance services;

    • (f) a copy of any agreements or memoranda of understanding relating to the operation of the ATS unit; and

    • (g) in the case of an ATS unit that provides services to aerodrome traffic, all information pertaining to all aerodromes served in respect of

      • (i) emergency response measures,

      • (ii) aerodrome safety measures,

      • (iii) access to the movement areas and vehicle control procedures,

      • (iv) apron management plans and apron safety plans, and

      • (v) information services in respect of runway surface friction characteristics.

[801.11 to 801.20 reserved]

 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

Division III — Provision of Air Traffic Services

Provision of Services in Class A, B, C, D and E Airspace
  •  (1) The air traffic services provided to aircraft operating in Class A or Class B airspace shall include air traffic control services.

  • (2) The air traffic services provided to aircraft operating in Class C airspace shall include

    • (a) air traffic control services to IFR aircraft;

    • (b) conflict resolution between IFR aircraft and VFR aircraft;

    • (c) conflict resolution between VFR aircraft, on request;

    • (d) traffic information; and

    • (e) air traffic control separation between all aircraft during runway operations.

  • (3) The air traffic services provided to aircraft operating in Class D airspace shall include

    • (a) air traffic control services to IFR aircraft;

    • (b) conflict resolution between IFR aircraft and VFR aircraft, to the extent that providing the service does not interfere with the ability to provide air traffic control services or emergency assistance services;

    • (c) conflict resolution between VFR aircraft, on request, to the extent that providing the service does not interfere with the ability to provide air traffic control services or emergency assistance services;

    • (d) traffic information; and

    • (e) air traffic control separation between all aircraft during runway operations.

  • (4) The air traffic services provided to aircraft operating in Class E airspace shall include

    • (a) air traffic control services to IFR aircraft; and

    • (b) traffic information, to the extent that providing the service does not interfere with the ability to provide air traffic control services or emergency assistance services.

Provision of Air Traffic Services

 No holder of an ATS operations certificate shall provide air traffic services at an operational location unless the location is listed on the ATS operations certificate and, in the case of air traffic control services, the services are provided in accordance with

  • (a) the standards contained in Chapter 3 of Annex 11 to the Convention, in the case of airspace in respect of which Canada has accepted, by means of a regional air navigation agreement, the responsibility of providing air traffic services; and

  • (b) Standard 821 — Canadian Domestic Air Traffic Control Separation Standards, in the case of any other airspace.

Provision of Air Traffic Services in Accordance with ESCAT Plan

 If the holder of an ATS operations certificate is notified by the Minister of National Defence of the implementation of the ESCAT plan, the certificate holder shall ensure that air traffic services are provided to aircraft in accordance with the plan.

Units That Provide Air Traffic Services in English and French

 An ATS unit set out in column 1 of the table to this section shall provide air traffic advisory services, relay services of IFR traffic control messages and air traffic control services in the languages set out in columns 2 to 4, respectively.

TABLE

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
ItemAir Traffic Services UnitLanguage of Service ― Air Traffic Advisory ServicesLanguage of Service ― Relay Services of IFR Air Traffic Control MessagesLanguage of Service ― Air Traffic Control Services
1Gatineau (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
2Îles-de-la-Madeleine (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
3Kuujjuaq (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
4La Grande Rivière (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
5Mont-Joli (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
6Rouyn (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
7Sept-Îles (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
8Val-d’Or (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
9Montréal (area control centre)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
10Montréal (Mirabel International Airport) (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
11Montréal (Mirabel International Airport) (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
12Montréal (Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport) (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
13Ottawa (Macdonald-Cartier International Airport) (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
14Québec (FS unit)English and FrenchEnglish and FrenchServices not available
15Québec (Jean Lesage International Airport) (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
16St-Honoré (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
17St-Hubert (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
18St-Jean (Quebec) (air traffic control tower)English and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATC unitEnglish and French
19Any temporary ATS unit located in QuebecEnglish and FrenchEnglish or French, as used by originating ATS unitEnglish and French
 

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