Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Regulations are current to 2013-04-29 and last amended on 2012-07-04. Previous Versions

VFR Flight Minimum Flight Visibility — Uncontrolled Airspace

  • 702.17 (1) Where an aeroplane is operated in day VFR flight within uncontrolled airspace at less than 1,000 feet AGL, a person may, for the purposes of subparagraph 602.115(c)(i), operate the aeroplane when flight visibility is less than two miles if the person

    • (a) is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (2) Where a helicopter is operated in day VFR flight within uncontrolled airspace at less than 1,000 feet AGL, a person may, for the purposes of subparagraph 602.115(d)(i), operate the helicopter when flight visibility is less than one mile if the person

    • (a) is authorized to do so in an air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

Night, VFR OTT and IFR Operations

  • 702.18 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no air operator shall operate an aircraft at night, in VFR OTT flight or in IFR flight

    • (a) while towing;

    • (b) while carrying a helicopter Class B, C or D external load;

    • (c) while dispersing products; or

    • (d) where the aircraft is a single-engined aircraft.

  • (2) An air operator may operate an aircraft at night, in VFR OTT flight or in IFR flight in any of the cases referred to in subsection (1), if the air operator

    • (a) is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate; and

    • (b) complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • (3) No air operator shall operate an aircraft at night with persons other than flight crew members on board unless

    • (a) the pilot-in-command has an instrument rating;

    • (b) the air operator is authorized in its air operator certificate to permit parachute descents and night VFR flight and

      • (i) the persons are parachutists,

      • (ii) the flight takes place within 10 nautical miles of the aerodrome of departure, and

      • (iii) the flight takes place at night; or

    • (c) the air operator is authorized in its air operator certificate to carry persons, other than parachutists, and the air operator complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards.

  • SOR/99-158, s. 6.

Entering or Leaving a Helicopter in Flight

702.19 For the purposes of paragraph 602.25(2)(b), the pilot-in-command of a helicopter may permit a person to enter or leave the helicopter in flight

  • (a) where

    • (i) the helicopter is operated at a low hover,

    • (ii) the person is able to enter directly from or alight directly onto the supporting surface,

    • (iii) the air operator is authorized to do so in its air operator certificate, and

    • (iv) the air operator complies with the Commercial Air Service Standards; or

  • (b) where

    • (i) the helicopter is operated to enable hoisting or rappelling, and

    • (ii) the air operator complies with section 702.21.