Air Law – Air Traffic Rules & Procedures

1. Air Law – Air Traffic Rules & Procedures O/Cdt. Darcel “I picked the wrong day to stop teaching Air Law”

2. MTPs • Clearances and Instructions • Definitions and Flight Rules • VFR • IFR • Special VFR • Weather Minima • Flight Plans & Itineraries • Cruising Altitudes

3. Clearances & Instructions • A controller may issue a clearance or instruction to a/c within the airspace that he controls. • Clearances may be read back when received, and may be issued to authorize specific operations within the controlled airspace. • IFR flights require a readback (CARS 602.31) • It may be requested for VFR traffic • Instructions must be complied with and acknowledged upon receipt.

4. Flight Rules • VFR • “Visual Flight Rules” • Essentially, under this set of rules the pilot assumes responsibility for traffic and obstacle avoidance at all times, regardless of the conditions • IFR • “Instrument Flight Rules” • Here, the pilot can partially share responsibility for traffic and obstacle avoidance when in controlled airspace. • Eg, radar vectoring

5. Flight Rules • SVFR • “Special VFR” • Clearance issued by the relevant ATC unit for the a/c to continue to operate within the relevant airspace in conditions that do not meet the published weather minima for VFR flight.

6. Weather Minima • In order to fly legally, there are a specific set of minimum conditions that must be met. • Composed of visibility and cloud separation criteria • Visibility used is that recorded on the ground. • The following minima apply to VFR flights only.

7. Weather Minima • Below 1000’ AGL • Helicopter: • 1 SM Visibility • Clear of Cloud • Fixed-Wing: • 2 SM Visibility • Clear of Cloud • NB: At night, minimum visibility is always 3 miles

8. Weather Minima • Above 1000’ AGL: • 1 SM Visibility • 2000’ horizontal distance from cloud, 500’ vertical • Controlled Airspace: • 3 SM Visibility • 1 mile horizontal separation, 500’ vertical • Within Control Zones, must also remain 500’ AGL

9. Weather Minima • SVFR Only requires clear of cloud/ 1SM vis (fixed wing) • May only be authorized in Control Zones (And at night, only for landing)

10. Flight Plans and Itineraries • Serve a dual purpose: a) ATC information (eg, Class C intent for VFR over Winnipeg) b) SAR (when overdue) • Required for flights occurring more than 25 nm from a/d of departure • Two Forms: • Flight Plan: The more rigorous of the two, contains detailed information pertaining to the flight, a/c, and intended route. • Overdue after 1 hour • Flight Itinerary: Filed with a responsible person. • Overdue after 24 hours

11. Flight Plans and Itineraries • Flight Plan • Filed with ATCU, Flight Service Station (FSS), or Community Aerodrome Radio Station • Arrival report filed as soon as practicable, but no later than the SAR action time specified in the plan • NB: Is the only type of report valid for international flight • Flight Itinerary • May be filed with the same agencies as specified above, or a responsible person • Arrival report filing is same as above, although action time generally longer (~ 24 hours)

12. Cruising Altitudes • For VFR flight up to and below 18000’, fly odd/even thousands plus 500’ • From 18000’ thru 29000’, conform to IFR traffic and fly whole thousands; directional criteria still apply • From 29000’ and up, the rules change somewhat; the altitudes now increase at 4000’-intervals only • So, Easterly Headings (0-179) fly FL 290, 330, 370, etc. • Westerly Headings (180-359) fly FL 310, 350, 390, etc.

13. Cruising Altitudes NB. Mandatory above 3000’ AGL