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Flight Regulations for Canada

Canadian flight regulations differ in a few major ways from those in the United States. The VFR, or Visual Flight Rules, are treated differently, and cruising altitudes and night flying are strictly controlled. Whereas in the United States VFR pilots can fly at night under some circumstances, in Canada this isn't the case. Pilots wishing to fly after dark are required to have a separate certification on their license.

Visual Flight Rules
- In Canada, the Visual Flight Rules permit pilots to fly "over the top." This means that conditions must be clear at the departure and arrival points, while there may be inclement weather in between. Pilots must maintain a range of 1,000 feet from clouds, and visibility must be at least 5 miles at the final cruising altitude. At destination, visibility must be 5 miles with either clear or scattered conditions. There can be no precipitation, fog or blowing snow at the destination. Flying through clouds is prohibited under VFR in Canadian airspace.
Altitudes and Flight Corridors
- When flying in Canada, pilots must maintain strict flight characteristics, and in the far Northern regions pilots must use "true tracks" for flight. The far northern reaches of Canada have erratic magnetic compass readings, so pilots must maintain a well-defined flight path along designated routes, with little room for deviation. In the southern parts of the country, pilots can use their magnetic compasses to hold their bearing, and they can have more loosely controlled flight plans thanks to the more accurate instrumentation.
Airspace Restrictions
- Canadian air traffic authorities maintain control zones around portions of their airspace. This includes many of the airports in the country, forcing pilots to remain in constant contact with traffic control to better organize flight through these areas. These control zones typically consist of a radius of 7 miles for large airports and 5 or 3 miles for smaller, more remote airstrips. Aircraft within these radii are controlled at altitudes below 3,000 feet above ground level to maintain maximum visibility. Military installations typically have a 10-mile radius for their control zones, with a cap of 6,000 feet. Aircraft in a control zone must have a functional radio and be able to communicate with authorities. Pilots must obtain clearance before entering any controlled airspace where there is a control tower present. In areas with no control tower that include a control zone, pilots must report position but do not require permission to enter.
Flight Plans
- Any aircraft traveling to an airport more than 25 nautical miles from its origin must file a flight plan and itinerary. All cross-country flights require a detailed plan, and all international flights, regardless of distance, require a flight plan. These flight plans must include departure time, estimated arrival time and designated way points along the aircraft's route.

Aviation