Airspace Law

Airspace Law #

Laws such as “who has right-of-way? do we pass on the left or right?” including aerodrome laws too.

Aerodromes #

Runway numbering #

  • Number assigned to runway corresponds to magnetic bearing, rounded off the nearest 10degrees. Ex. Runway 09 which runs West to East is 090. Runway that lies 018 magnetic would be considered 020 magnetic and numbered 02 at its opposite end.

Taxiways #

  • Important: red signs are mandatory instruction signs are used to identify holding positions which MUST have ATC clearance to proceed

Aerodrome markings #

Approach lights #

VASIS (Visual Approach Slope Indicator System) #

PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) #

Terminal Control Area / Transition Areas #

Classifications of airspace #

  • Divided into A,B,C,D,E,F or G.

ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zones) #

  • Must provide identification prior to entry going in and out of ADIZ
  • All pilots must file an IFR or defense VFR (DVFR) flight plan for all operations that enter or exit a U.S. ADIZ.
  • Pilots required to have mode C transponders and two-way radios.

Traffic Pattern #

  • When crossing midfield ABOVE the airport, it MUST be at 2,000ft or above AGL.
  • Usual circuit height is 1000ft unless otherwise specified
  • When joining upwind, should be AT LEAST 500ft above circuit, so 1500-2000ft
  • Airport controller may clear you to a straight in approach and in this instance, may join the traffic circuit on the final approach without executing any other portion of the circuit.
  • Make sure you are at circuit height!!

Definitions:

  • Upwind side: Area opposite side of the landing runway from the downwind leg. Approach should made above or at circuit height
  • Crosswind: Join at circuit height (usually 1,000ft AGL). Lying between airspace of centre of landing runway and its upwind end, linking the upwind side and downwind leg
  • Downwind leg: Flight path opposite to the direction of the landing
  • Base leg: Turn ONTO base when 45 degrees from the abeam. Flight path at right angle to the direction for the landing and sufficiently downwind of the approach end
  • Final leg: Where airplane is inline with the landing runway and is descending to the runway threshold

Examples:

  • Once established in the traffic circuit, you should advise the tower of your position (eg. “Foxtrot Romeo Lima Tango is downwind”).
  • Example:
  • Tower: Piper Foxtrot Romeo Lima Tango you are number one
  • Tower: Piper Foxtrot Romeo Lima Tango you are number two. Follow Cessna 185 now on base leg.

Left vs Right handed circuits #

There are some situations where the airport is a left or a right handed circuit.

It is USUALLY left. Otherwise on the radio calls they will say right base, right downwind, etc.

When they say RIGHT DOWNWIND it means RIGHT HANDED TURNS throughout the circuit. Same for left handed. If they say LEFT DOWNWIND its LEFT HANDED TURNED throughout the circuit.

Asking for clearance #

  • Usually controller will clear you to land as you turn onto final. If this does not happen, your responsibility to request landing clearance in sufficient time.
  • If you do not receive landing clearance, you must pull up and go around again.

Goarounds #

  • Must tell ATC you are doing a goaround

Flying to an uncontrolled airport / ATC #

  • When there is no mandatory frequency.. You cross on the upwind side to check the traffic below.
  • Enter crosswind at circuit height
  • Imperative that you stay alert for other traffic and exchange information by communicating on the MF or ATF.

Departure #

Unless otherwise stated* you may turn any direction after departure and reaching (typically) 1,000 ft above aerodrome.

Altimeter Setting #

  • Northern Canada = Set to standard pressure region, which is 29.92" Hg. These are reset when entering or leaving the Standard Pressure Region.
  • Southern Canada = Set to the current altimeter setting (or the airport elevation)

Rules of the air #

Right of way #

  • When two aircraft are approaching head-on or approx so, each should alter course to the right.
  • When an aircraft is overtaking another whether climbing, descending or in horizontal flight, they should alter to do it on the right.
  • When converging courses at approx same altitude. The airplane that has the other on its right must give way.
  • Must give way to “smaller” less moving aircraft in this order: Balloons -> Gliders -> Airships -> Power driven fixed wing or rotary
  • If two aircraft approaching to land at the same time, the airplane flying greater altitude must give way to the airplane at lower.
  • Except when taking off or landing, an airplane may not be flown at a height of less than 2,000 feet over an aerodrome.

Fuel requirements #

  • Day: Must be able to fly an additional 30 minute at normal cruising altitude
  • Night: 45 minutes

Cruising altitudes #

Cruising altitudes appropriate to the direction of flight must be maintained at ALL times regardless of whether a flight plan has, or has not, been filed.

  • Southern Domestic Airspace - cruising altitudes are based on magnetic tracks

  • Northern Domestic Airspace - based on true tracks

  • Altitudes below 18,000ft stated in thousands

  • Altitudes above are flight levels (ex. FL 180).

VFR Cruising Altitude IMPORTANT #

ONLY above 3,000ft AGL does this apply:

  • 000 - 179 (EAST): ODD thousands + 500ft
  • 180 - 359 (WEST): EVEN thousands + 500ft

IFR Cruising Altitude IMPORTANT #

ONLY above 3,000ft AGL does this apply:

  • 000 - 179 (EAST): ODD thousands
  • 180 - 359 (WEST): EVEN thousands

Weather minimums IMPORTANT #

  • Absolutely need-to-know for tests / exams / flying.

VFR flight within controlled zones #

Shall be operated at a height above the surface and at a distance from any cloud that is not less than the following:

  • Flight Visibility and Ground: Not less than 3 miles
  • Distance from cloud: 500' vertically, 1mile horizontally
  • Height above surface: 500'

VFR within uncontrolled zones #

Above 1,000ft from surface:

  • Visibility day: Not less than 1 mile
  • Visibility night: Not less than 3 miles
  • Distance from clouds: 500' vertically, 2mile horizontally

Below 1,000ft:

  • Visibility day: Not less than 2 miles
  • Visibility night: Not less than 3 miles
  • Distance from clouds: Clear of cloud

Special VFR #

  • ATC may authorize pilot to fly special BFR under weather conditions that are below VFR minima.
  • Allows VFR rated pilots to arrive at and depart from controlled airports when the weather is below VFR limits
  • Pilot must request special VFR, not automatically given
  • May ask for radar vector for assisstance

VFR Flight in Class B Airspace #

  • VFR flight permitted, but subject to control services provided by ATC
  • All aircraft subject to ATC clearances
  • Before entering the pilot must file VFR flight plan stating the altitude which the flight is to be conducted and the route that is to be followed (eg. FL140 / VFR / Route V71)
  • Clearance for flight level only given if the altitude requested is available and if straffic conditions are able to be accommodated

ADIZ zones #

  • ADIZ zones require DVFR to be filed