Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

[602.90 to 602.95 reserved]

Division V — Operations at or in the Vicinity of an Aerodrome

General

• 602.96 (1) This section applies to persons operating VFR or IFR aircraft at or in the vicinity of an uncontrolled or controlled aerodrome.

• (2) Before taking off from, landing at or otherwise operating an aircraft at an aerodrome, the pilot-in-command of the aircraft shall be satisfied that

  • (a) there is no likelihood of collision with another aircraft or a vehicle; and

  • (b) the aerodrome is suitable for the intended operation.

• (3) The pilot-in-command of an aircraft operating at or in the vicinity of an aerodrome shall

  • (a) observe aerodrome traffic for the purpose of avoiding a collision;

  • (b) conform to or avoid the pattern of traffic formed by other aircraft in operation;

  • (c) make all turns to the left when operating within the aerodrome traffic circuit, except where right turns are specified by the Minister in the Canada Flight Supplement or where otherwise authorized by the appropriate air traffic control unit;

  • (d) if the aerodrome is an airport or heliport, comply with any airport or heliport operating restrictions specified by the Minister in the Canada Flight Supplement or in a NOTAM;

  • (e) where practicable, land and take off into the wind unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate air traffic control unit;

  • (f) maintain a continuous listening watch on the appropriate frequency for aerodrome control communications or, if this is not possible and an air traffic control unit is in operation at the aerodrome, keep a watch for such instructions as may be issued by visual means by the air traffic control unit; and

  • (g) where the aerodrome is a controlled aerodrome, obtain from the appropriate air traffic control unit, either by radio communication or by visual signal, clearance to taxi, take off from or land at the aerodrome.

• (4) Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate air traffic control unit, no pilot-in-command shall operate an aircraft at an altitude of less than 2,000 feet over an aerodrome except for the purpose of landing or taking off or if the aircraft is operated pursuant to subsection (5).

• (5) Where it is necessary for the purposes of the operation in which the aircraft is engaged, a pilot-in-command may operate an aircraft at an altitude of less than 2,000 feet over an aerodrome, where it is being operated

  • (a) in the service of a police authority;

  • (b) for the purpose of saving human life;

  • (c) for fire-fighting or air ambulance operations;

  • (d) for the purpose of the administration of the Fisheries Act or the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act;

  • (e) for the purpose of the administration of the national or provincial parks;

  • (f) for the purpose of flight inspection;

  • (g) for the purpose of aerial application or aerial inspection;

  • (h) for the purpose of highway or city traffic patrol;

  • (i) for the purpose of aerial photography conducted by the holder of an air operator certificate;

  • (j) for the purpose of helicopter external load operations; or

  • (k) for the purpose of flight training conducted by the holder of a flight training unit operator certificate.

• (6) No person shall conduct a take-off or landing at a designated airport without an aircraft fire-fighting service in an aeroplane in respect of which a type certificate has been issued authorizing the transport of 20 or more passengers if the aeroplane is operated under

  • (a) Part VI, Subpart 4; or

  • (b) Part VII, Subpart 1 or 5.

• (7) Subsection (6) does not apply in respect of

  • (a) a cargo flight without passengers;

  • (b) a ferry flight;

  • (c) a positioning flight;

  • (d) a training flight if no fare-paying passengers are on board;

  • (e) the arrival of an aeroplane when the airport is being used for a diversion or as an alternate aerodrome; or

  • (f) the subsequent departure of an aeroplane referred to in paragraph (e) if

    • (i) the air operator or private operator has notified the operator of the designated airport of the intended time of departure,

    • (ii) the operator of the designated airport has advised the air operator or private operator that aircraft fire-fighting services cannot be made available within one hour after the later of the time that notification was given under subparagraph (i) and the time of landing, and

    • (iii) the pilot-in-command and the operations manager of the air operator or private operator have agreed that the aeroplane will depart without aircraft fire-fighting services being available.

VFR and IFR Aircraft Operations at Uncontrolled Aerodromes within an MF Area

• 602.97 (1) Subject to subsection (3), no pilot-in-command shall operate a VFR or IFR aircraft within an MF area unless the aircraft is equipped with radiocommunication equipment pursuant to Subpart 5.

• (2) The pilot-in-command of a VFR or IFR aircraft operating within an MF area shall maintain a listening watch on the mandatory frequency specified for use in the MF area.

• (3) The pilot-in-command of a VFR aircraft that is not equipped with the radiocommunication equipment referred to in subsection (1) may operate the aircraft to or from an uncontrolled aerodrome that lies within an MF area if

  • (a) a ground station is in operation at the aerodrome;

  • (b) prior notice of the pilot-in-command’s intention to operate the aircraft at the aerodrome has been given to the ground station;

  • (c) when conducting a take-off, the pilot-in-command ascertains by visual observation that there is no likelihood of collision with another aircraft or a vehicle during take-off; and

  • (d) when approaching for a landing, the aircraft enters the aerodrome traffic circuit from a position that will require it to complete two sides of a rectangular circuit before turning onto the final approach path.

General MF Reporting Requirements

• 602.98 (1) Every report made pursuant to this Division shall be made on the mandatory frequency that has been specified for use in the applicable MF area.

• (2) Every report referred to in subsection (1) shall be

  • (a) directed to the ground station associated with the MF area, if a ground station exists and is in operation; or

  • (b) broadcast, if a ground station does not exist or is not in operation.

MF Reporting Procedures before Entering Manoeuvring Area

602.99 The pilot-in-command of a VFR or IFR aircraft that is operated at an uncontrolled aerodrome that lies within an MF area shall report the pilot-in-command’s intentions before entering the manoeuvring area of the aerodrome.

MF Reporting Procedures on Departure

602.100 The pilot-in-command of a VFR or IFR aircraft that is departing from an uncontrolled aerodrome that lies within an MF area shall

• (a) before moving onto the take-off surface, report the pilot-in-command’s departure procedure intentions;

• (b) before take-off, ascertain by radiocommunication and by visual observation that there is no likelihood of collision with another aircraft or a vehicle during take-off; and

• (c) after take-off, report departing from the aerodrome traffic circuit.

MF Reporting Procedures on Arrival

602.101 The pilot-in-command of a VFR aircraft arriving at an uncontrolled aerodrome that lies within an MF area shall report

• (a) before entering the MF area and, where circumstances permit, shall do so at least five minutes before entering the area, giving the aircraft’s position, altitude and estimated time of landing and the pilot-in-command’s arrival procedure intentions;

• (b) when joining the aerodrome traffic circuit, giving the aircraft’s position in the circuit;

• (c) when on the downwind leg, if applicable;

• (d) when on final approach; and

• (e) when clear of the surface on which the aircraft has landed.

MF Reporting Procedures When Flying Continuous Circuits

602.102 The pilot-in-command of a VFR aircraft carrying out continuous circuits at an uncontrolled aerodrome that lies within an MF area shall report

• (a) when joining the downwind leg of the circuit;

• (b) when on final approach, stating the pilot-in-command’s intentions; and

• (c) when clear of the surface on which the aircraft has landed.

Reporting Procedures When Flying through an MF Area

602.103 The pilot-in-command of an aircraft flying through an MF area shall report

• (a) before entering the MF area and, where circumstances permit, shall do so at least five minutes before entering the area, giving the aircraft’s position and altitude and the pilot-in-command’s intentions; and

• (b) when clear of the MF area.

Reporting Procedures for IFR Aircraft When Approaching or Landing at an Uncontrolled Aerodrome

• 602.104 (1) This section applies to persons operating IFR aircraft when approaching or landing at an uncontrolled aerodrome, whether or not the aerodrome lies within an MF area.

• (2) The pilot-in-command of an IFR aircraft who intends to conduct an approach to or a landing at an uncontrolled aerodrome shall report

  • (a) the pilot-in-command’s intentions regarding the operation of the aircraft

    • (i) five minutes before the estimated time of commencing the approach procedure, stating the estimated time of landing,

    • (ii) when commencing a circling manoeuvre, and

    • (iii) as soon as practicable after initiating a missed approach procedure; and

  • (b) the aircraft’s position

    • (i) when passing the fix outbound, where the pilot-in-command intends to conduct a procedure turn or, if no procedure turn is intended, when the aircraft first intercepts the final approach course,

    • (ii) when passing the final approach fix or three minutes before the estimated time of landing where no final approach fix exists, and

    • (iii) on final approach.

Noise Operating Criteria

602.105 No person shall operate an aircraft at or in the vicinity of an aerodrome except in accordance with the applicable noise abatement procedures and noise control requirements specified by the Minister in the Canada Air Pilot or Canada Flight Supplement, including the procedures and requirements relating to

• (a) preferential runways;

• (b) minimum noise routes;

• (c) hours when aircraft operations are prohibited or restricted;

• (d) arrival procedures;

• (e) departure procedures;

• (f) duration of flights;

• (g) the prohibition or restriction of training flights;

• (h) VFR or visual approaches;

• (i) simulated approach procedures; and

• (j) the minimum altitude for the operation of aircraft in the vicinity of the aerodrome.

Noise-restricted Runways

• 602.106 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate a subsonic turbo-jet aeroplane that has a maximum certificated take-off weight of more than 34 000 kg (74,956 pounds) on take-off at a noise-restricted runway set out in column II of an item of the table to this section at an aerodrome set out in column I of that item, unless there is on board

  • (a) a certificate of noise compliance issued in respect of the aeroplane under section 507.20; or

  • (b) where the aeroplane is not a Canadian aircraft, a foreign certificate of noise compliance issued by the state of registry that has been validated by the Minister under section 507.23.

  • (c) [Repealed, SOR/2020-151, s. 14]

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply

  • (a) to the extent that it is inconsistent with any obligation assumed by Canada in respect of a foreign state in a treaty, convention or agreement;

  • (b) where the pilot-in-command of an aircraft has declared an emergency; or

  • (c) where an aircraft is operated on

    • (i) an air evacuation operation,

    • (ii) any other emergency air operation , or

    • (iii) a departure from an aerodrome at which it was required to land because of an emergency.

      	Column I	Column II
      Item	AerodromeFootnote for TABLE *	Noise-restricted Runways for Take-offFootnote for TABLE *
      1	Vancouver International Airport	08L, 08R, 12, 26R
      2	Calgary International Airport	07, 10, 16, 25, 28
      3	Edmonton City Centre (Blatchford Field) Airport	All runways
      4	Edmonton International Airport	12
      5	Winnipeg / James Armstrong Richardson International Airport	13, 18
      6	Hamilton Airport	06
      7	Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport	05, 06L, 06R, 15L, 15R
      8	Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport	32
      9	Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport	All runways

      • Return to footnote ^*Information taken from the aeronautical information publication of NAV CANADA entitled Canada Flight Supplement