Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

[602.67 to 602.69 reserved]

Division III — Flight Preparation, Flight Plans and Flight Itineraries

Interpretation

602.70 In this Division,

overdue

overdue, in respect of an aircraft, means an aircraft for which an arrival report has not been filed

• (a) where a flight plan has been filed in respect of the aircraft,

  • (i) if a search and rescue notification time is specified in the flight plan, immediately after the last reported such time, or

  • (ii) in all other cases, within one hour after the last reported estimated time of arrival, or

• (b) where a flight itinerary has been filed in respect of the aircraft,

  • (i) if a search and rescue notification time is specified in the flight itinerary, immediately after the last reported such time, or

  • (ii) in all other cases, within 24 hours after the last reported estimated time of arrival; (en retard)

responsible person

responsible person means an individual who has agreed with the person who has filed a flight itinerary to ensure that the following are notified in the manner prescribed in this Division, if the aircraft is overdue, namely,

• (a) an air traffic control unit, a flight service station or a community aerodrome radio station, or

• (b) a Rescue Co-ordination Centre. (personne de confiance)

Pre-flight Information

602.71 The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall, before commencing a flight, be familiar with the available information that is appropriate to the intended flight.

Weather Information

602.72 The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall, before commencing a flight, be familiar with the available weather information that is appropriate to the intended flight.

Requirement to File a Flight Plan or a Flight Itinerary

• 602.73 (1) Subject to subsection (3), no pilot-in-command shall operate an aircraft in IFR flight unless an IFR flight plan has been filed.

• (2) No pilot-in-command shall operate an aircraft in VFR flight unless a VFR flight plan or a VFR flight itinerary has been filed, except where the flight is conducted within 25 nautical miles of the departure aerodrome.

• (3) A pilot-in-command may file an IFR flight itinerary instead of an IFR flight plan where

  • (a) the flight is conducted in part or in whole outside controlled airspace; or

  • (b) facilities are inadequate to permit the communication of flight plan information to an air traffic control unit, a flight service station or a community aerodrome radio station.

• (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Division, no pilot-in-command shall, unless a flight plan has been filed, operate an aircraft between Canada and a foreign state.

Contents of a Flight Plan or a Flight Itinerary

602.74 A flight plan or flight itinerary shall contain such information as is specified by the Minister in the Canada Flight Supplement.

Filing of a Flight Plan or a Flight Itinerary

• 602.75 (1) A flight plan shall be filed with an air traffic control unit, a flight service station or a community aerodrome radio station.

• (2) A flight itinerary shall be filed with a responsible person, an air traffic control unit, a flight service station or a community aerodrome radio station.

• (3) A flight plan or flight itinerary shall be filed by

  • (a) sending, delivering or otherwise communicating the flight plan or flight itinerary or the information contained therein; and

  • (b) receiving acknowledgement that the flight plan or flight itinerary or the information contained therein has been received.

Changes in the Flight Plan

• 602.76 (1) The pilot-in-command of an aircraft for which an IFR flight plan or an IFR flight itinerary has been filed shall follow the procedure set out in subsection (2) where the pilot-in-command intends to make any change in the plan or itinerary in respect of

  • (a) the cruising altitude or cruising flight level;

  • (b) the route of flight;

  • (c) the destination aerodrome;

  • (d) in the case of a flight plan, the true airspeed at the cruising altitude or cruising flight level, where the change intended is five per cent or more of the true airspeed specified in the IFR flight plan; or

  • (e) the Mach number, where the change intended is .01 or more of the Mach number that has been included in the air traffic control clearance.

• (2) A pilot-in-command of an aircraft who intends to make any of the changes in the IFR flight plan or the IFR flight itinerary that are referred to in subsection (1) shall

  • (a) notify as soon as practicable an air traffic control unit or the responsible person, as the case may be, of the intended change; and

  • (b) where the flight is being conducted in controlled airspace, receive an air traffic control clearance before making the intended change.

• (3) The pilot-in-command of an aircraft for which a VFR flight plan or a VFR flight itinerary has been filed shall follow the procedure set out in subsection (4) where the pilot-in-command intends to make a change in the plan or itinerary in respect of

  • (a) the route of flight;

  • (b) the duration of the flight; or

  • (c) the destination aerodrome.

• (4) A pilot-in-command of an aircraft who intends to make any of the changes in the VFR flight plan or the VFR flight itinerary that are referred to in subsection (3) shall notify as soon as practicable an air traffic control unit, a flight service station, a community aerodrome radio station or the responsible person, of the intended change.

Requirement to File an Arrival Report

• 602.77 (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a pilot-in-command of an aircraft who terminates a flight in respect of which a flight plan has been filed under subsection 602.75(1) shall ensure that an arrival report is filed with an air traffic control unit, a flight service station or a community aerodrome radio station as soon as practicable after landing but not later than

  • (a) the search and rescue action initiation time specified in the flight plan; or

  • (b) where no search and rescue action initiation time is specified in the flight plan, one hour after the last reported estimated time of arrival.

• (2) Subject to subsection (4), a pilot-in-command of an aircraft who terminates a flight in respect of which a flight itinerary has been filed under subsection 602.75(2) shall ensure that an arrival report is filed with an air traffic control unit, a flight service station, a community aerodrome radio station or, if the flight itinerary was filed with a responsible person, the responsible person, as soon as practicable after landing but not later than

  • (a) the search and rescue action initiation time specified in the flight itinerary; or

  • (b) where no search and rescue action initiation time is specified in the flight itinerary, 24 hours after the last reported estimated time of arrival.

• (3) A pilot-in-command who terminates an IFR flight at an aerodrome where there is an operating air traffic control unit or flight service station is not required to file an arrival report unless requested to do so by the appropriate air traffic control unit.

• (4) A pilot-in-command of an aircraft who conducts a flight in respect of which a flight plan or flight itinerary has been filed with an air traffic control unit, flight service station or community aerodrome radio station may file an arrival report by closing the flight plan or flight itinerary with an air traffic control unit, flight service station or community aerodrome radio station prior to landing.

Contents of an Arrival Report

602.78 An arrival report shall contain such information as is specified by the Minister in the Canada Flight Supplement.

Overdue Aircraft Report

602.79 Any person who assumes responsibilities with respect to an aircraft and who has reason to believe that the aircraft is overdue, or any other person who has been directed by that person to do so, shall immediately, by the quickest means available,

• (a) notify an air traffic control unit, a flight service station, a community aerodrome radio station or a Rescue Co-ordination Centre; and

• (b) provide, to the best of the person’s knowledge, all of the available information concerning the overdue aircraft that may be requested by the air traffic control unit, the flight service station, the community aerodrome radio station or the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.