Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Airspeed Limitations

• 602.32 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall

  • (a) operate an aircraft at an indicated airspeed of more than 250 knots if the aircraft is below 10,000 feet ASL; or

  • (b) operate an aircraft at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots if the aircraft is below 3,000 feet AGL within 10 nautical miles of a controlled aerodrome unless authorized to do so in an air traffic control clearance.

• (2) A person may operate an aircraft at an indicated airspeed greater than the airspeeds referred to in subsection (1) if the aircraft is being operated in accordance with a special flight operations certificate – special aviation event issued pursuant to section 603.02.

• (3) If the minimum safe airspeed for the flight configuration of an aircraft is greater than the airspeed referred to in subsection (1), the aircraft shall be operated at the minimum safe airspeed.

Supersonic Flight

602.33 No person shall operate an aircraft at a true Mach number of 1 or greater.

Cruising Altitudes and Cruising Flight Levels

• 602.34 (1) The appropriate cruising altitude or cruising flight level for an aircraft in level cruising flight is determined in accordance with

  • (a) the magnetic track, in the Southern Domestic Airspace; and

  • (b) the true track, in the Northern Domestic Airspace.

• (2) Subject to subsection (3), the pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall ensure that the aircraft is operated at a cruising altitude or cruising flight level appropriate to the track, as set out in the table to this section, unless the pilot-in-command is assigned another altitude or flight level by an air traffic control unit and the aircraft is operated in level cruising flight

  • (a) at more than 3,000 feet AGL, in VFR flight; or

  • (b) in IFR flight.

• (3) Subsection (2) does not apply where an aircraft is operated for the purpose of aerial survey or mapping and the following conditions are met:

  • (a) the pilot-in-command of the aircraft contacts the appropriate air traffic control unit as far in advance as possible of the proposed flight;

  • (b) the pilot-in-command of the aircraft provides, as far in advance as possible of the proposed take-off time of the aircraft, to any air traffic control unit that so requests, a topographical map at either a 1:500 000 or a 1:1 000 000 scale of the area to be surveyed or mapped, with proposed tracks and planned entry and exit points clearly delineated on the map;

  • (c) the pilot-in-command of the aircraft files a flight plan or flight itinerary with an air traffic control unit as far in advance as possible of the proposed take-off time of the aircraft;

  • (d) the flight plan or flight itinerary referred to in paragraph (c) specifies the area to be surveyed or mapped

    • (i) by reference to the relevant maps of the National Topographic System,

    • (ii) by reference to the geographic co-ordinates of the area, or

    • (iii) where required by an air traffic control unit, by reference to the air photograph block reference grid map provided by the air traffic control unit; and

  • (e) where the aircraft is operated in controlled airspace, it is operated in accordance with an air traffic control clearance.

  TRACK 000° — 179°			TRACK 180° — 359°
  Column I	Column II		Column III	Column IV
  IFR	VFR		IFR	VFR
  1,000	-	Cruising Altitudes or Cruising Flight Levels — 18,000 feet and below	2,000	-
  3,000	3,500		4,000	4,500
  5,000	5,500		6,000	6,500
  7,000	7,500		8,000	8,500
  9,000	9,500		10,000	10,500
  11,000	11,500		12,000	12,500
  13,000	13,500		14,000	14,500
  15,000	15,500		16,000	16,500
  17,000	17,500
  IFR & CVFR			IFR & CVFR
  NON-RVSM	RVSM		NON-RVSM	RVSM
  190	190	Cruising Flight Levels — 180 to 590	180	180
  210	210		200	200
  230	230		220	220
  250	250		240	240
  270	270		260	260
  290	290		280	280
  330	310		310	300
  370	330		350	320
  410	350	RVSM	390	340
  450	370	1,000 feet separation	430	360
  490	390	between FL290–FL410	470	380
  530	410		510	400
  570	450		550	430
  	490		590	470
  	530			510
  	570			550
  				590

Altimeter-setting and Operating Procedures in the Altimeter-setting Region

602.35 When an aircraft is operated in the altimeter-setting region, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall

• (a) immediately before conducting a take-off from an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome or, if that altimeter setting is not obtainable, to the elevation of the aerodrome;

• (b) while in flight, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the nearest station along the route of flight or, where the nearest stations along the route of flight are separated by more than 150 nautical miles, to the altimeter setting of a station near the route of flight; and

• (c) immediately before commencing a descent for the purpose of landing at an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome, if that altimeter setting is obtainable.

Altimeter-setting and Operating Procedures in the Standard Pressure Region

• 602.36 (1) When an aircraft is operated in the standard pressure region, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall

  • (a) immediately before conducting a take-off from an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome or, if that altimeter setting is not obtainable, to the elevation of the aerodrome;

  • (b) before reaching the flight level at which the flight is to be conducted, set the altimeter to 29.92 inches of mercury or 1,013.2 millibars; and

  • (c) immediately before commencing a descent for the purpose of landing at an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome, if that altimeter setting is obtainable.

• (2) Despite paragraph (1)(c), when a holding procedure is being conducted before landing at an aerodrome located in the standard pressure region, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome immediately before descending below the lowest flight level at which the holding procedure is conducted.

Altimeter-setting and Operating Procedures in Transition between Regions

602.37 Except where otherwise authorized by an air traffic control unit, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall

• (a) when flying from the altimeter-setting region into the standard pressure region, set the altimeter to 29.92 inches of mercury or 1,013.2 millibars immediately after the aircraft’s entry into the standard pressure region; and

• (b) when flying from the standard pressure region into the altimeter-setting region, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the nearest station along the route of flight or, where the nearest stations along the route of flight are separated by more than 150 nautical miles, the altimeter setting of a station near the route of flight immediately before the aircraft’s entry into the altimeter-setting region.

Flight over the High Seas

602.38 The pilot-in-command of a Canadian aircraft that is in flight over the high seas shall comply with the applicable Rules of the Air set out in Annex 2 to the Convention and the applicable Regional Supplementary Procedures set out in Document 7030/4 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Transoceanic Flight

602.39 No pilot-in-command of a single-engined aircraft, or of a multi-engined aircraft that would be unable to maintain flight in the event of the failure of any engine, shall commence a flight that will leave Canadian Domestic Airspace and enter airspace over the high seas unless

• (a) the pilot-in-command holds a pilot licence endorsed with an instrument rating;

• (b) the aircraft is equipped with

  • (i) the equipment referred to in section 605.18,

  • (ii) a high frequency radio capable of transmitting and receiving on a minimum of two appropriate international air-ground general purpose frequencies, and

  • (iii) hypothermia protection for each person on board; and

• (c) the aircraft carries sufficient fuel to meet the requirements of section 602.88 and, in addition, carries contingency fuel equal to at least 10 per cent of the fuel required pursuant to section 602.88 to complete the flight to the aerodrome of destination.

Landing at or Take-off from an Aerodrome at Night

• 602.40 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall conduct a landing or a take-off in a heavier-than-air aircraft at night at an aerodrome unless the aerodrome is lighted in accordance with the aerodrome lighting requirements specified in Part III.

• (2) A person may conduct a landing or a take-off in a heavier-than-air aircraft at night at an aerodrome that is not lighted in accordance with the requirements referred to in subsection (1) where

  • (a) the flight is conducted without creating a hazard to persons or property on the surface; and

  • (b) the aircraft is operated

    • (i) for the purpose of a police operation that is conducted in the service of a police authority, or

    • (ii) for the purpose of saving human life.