Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Service Difficulty Reporting

706.14 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.

Safety Management System

706.15 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

Interpretation

• 800.01 (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  air traffic control unit[Repealed, SOR/2002-352, s. 4]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  air traffic services or ATS[Repealed, SOR/2025-98, s. 19]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  ATS operations certificate[Repealed, SOR/2007-290, s. 11]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  flight information services[Repealed, SOR/2002-352, s. 4]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

800.02 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

801.01 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

801.02 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]

801.03 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

801.04 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

801.05 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

Division II — ATS Operations Certificate

Requirement for ATS Operations Certificate

801.06 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

801.07 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

• 801.08 (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

801.09 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

• 801.10 (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]

801.11 [Reserved, SOR/2025-98, s. 20]

801.12 [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

• 801.21 (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

801.22 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

801.23 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

801.24 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.