Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)
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Regulations are current to 2025-03-17 and last amended on 2025-02-26. Previous Versions
Part VI — General Operating and Flight Rules (continued)
Subpart 2 — Operating and Flight Rules (continued)
Division I — General (continued)
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.
- SOR/2010-219, s. 2
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.
TABLE
Cruising Altitudes and Cruising Flight Levels Appropriate to Aircraft Track
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.
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