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FLYING IN CANADA

The following information is provided for guidance only, and should not be taken as an authority on aviation procedures.  Check with local AIP for full details. 

Last Update 24Mar07   

Flying in Other Countries Compiled by Steve Pells e-mail to

VMC Weather Minima

Briefing: 1-866-wx-brief from a Canada land line or cell phone for weather and flight plans.

Control Zones and ATZs: Not less than 3 miles ground viz (when reported), 1 mile horizontally and 500' vertically from cloud.  Minimum height 500' agl.
Other Controlled Airspace: Not less than 3 miles ground viz (when reported), 1 mile horizontally and 500' vertically from cloud.
Uncontrolled Airspace 1000' agl or above (excl ATZs): Not less than 1 mile visibility by day (3 miles by night). 2000' horizontally and 500' vertically from cloud.
Uncontrolled Airspace below 1000' agl: Not less than 2 miles visibility by day (3 miles by night) . Clear of cloud.
Special VFR: In a control zone, where so authorized, visibility of 1 mile, Clear of cloud, in sight of surface. SVFR at night only for landing at destination airfield.
VFR Over the Top (VFR OTT) (RAC 2.7.4): By day only during cruise. 1000' vertically from cloud.  At least 5 miles visibility.
IFR Take-off: No IFR takoff's less than 1/2 mile viz. In Canada 2600' RVR is 1/2 mile.

Rules of the Air

500' minimum height rule applies
Except for take-off and landing, do not fly over an airfield a less than 2000' AGL.
Flight plan or notification required for all flights over 25Nm from airfield of origin.  Specified emergency supplies may be required for these flights.
A serviceable landing light is required to carry pax at night.
Fuel to be carried for day VFR flight - trip (including foreseeable delays) + 30 mins reserve.
IFR clearance is required above 12,500 MSL in most places and the normal FL180 in others.

Airspace

Airfields

Details of all airfields in CFS (Canada Flight Supplement).
Use of CTAF is common.
Use of MF (Mandatory Frequency) is detailed in CFS.
Pilots landing at airfields in VMC where no UNICOM exists should broadcast intentions on ATF 123.2.
Except for take-off and landing, do not fly over an airfield a less than 2000' AGL.
When an arriving a/c is cleared 'to the circuit' this should be interpreted as meaning to join on the downwind leg. If a Left-hand circuit is in force then join crosswind.

En-Route

Pilots operating VFR en-route in uncontrolled airspace should continuously monitor 126.7 when not communicating on MF.
Transponder code:      1200 below 12500'       1400 above 12500'.          Unless otherwise assigned
Above 3000', the Cruising Altitudes Order applies:
Mag Track 000-179deg Odds+500'    Mag Track 180-359deg Evens+500'

Altimeter Setting

Transition altitude 18 000' over whole airspace.
In the far North a region known as the Standard Pressure Region is established where all flight is conducted at 1013.2mb except when joining the circuit or prior to take off.

Foreign Licence Validation

For foreign licences to be accepted in Canada, you will first need to pass a multiple choice air law exam called the PSTAR PSTAR consists of 50 questions and the pass mark is 90%.  The examination will be corrected to 100% by the training unit or, where the examination is written in a Transport Canada facility, by a feedback letter keyed to the questions in this guide. In the interest of flight safety, it is very important that you thoroughly review your weak knowledge areas.

The PSTAR can be sat at any flying school in Canada or at a Transport Canada facility.  An interactive study guide and test questions can be found at the following link:   Interactive PSTAR    See also Robyn's Flying Start at  http://fly.wabyn.net/

Once you have passed this exam, you will need to go to a transport Canada office (see below) with your exam result, foreign licence and logbook.  For a small fee, the validation will be issued as a PPL.  A night rating or qualification can also be transferred.

A Transport Canada Medical certificate is necessary and doctors who offer this service can be found below.

Transport Canada Offices:

Montreal:    At Dorval Airport: 700 Leigh Capreol, Zone 3A, Dorval, Quebec, H4Y 1G7. Tel +1 514 633 3863, M-F 08-12 13-16. Contact Carolle Forget.
Vancouver:    620 - 800 Burrard Street,  Vancouver,  British Columbia,  V6Z 2J8,  Tel: +1 604 666 3518,  Fax:  +1 604 666 7255

Medical Examiners:

Full list at this link:   Canadian Medical Examiners
My Examiner:           Dr Appleford, L.D. 11 King Street West, 2nd Floor, P.O. box 6,  Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4C7,  Tel +1 416 864 9025