Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Part III — Aerodromes, Airports and Heliports

Interpretation

300.01 In this Part,

aerodrome standards and recommended practices publications

aerodrome standards and recommended practices publications means the following documents, namely,

• (a) Procedures for the Certification of Aerodromes as Airports,

• (b) Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices, and

• (c) Heliport and Helideck Standards and Recommended Practices; (publications sur les normes et pratiques recommandées pour les aérodromes)

aeronautical information publications

aeronautical information publications means the following documents, namely,

• (a) Canada Air Pilot,

• (b) Canada Flight Supplement,

• (c) Water Aerodrome Supplement, and

• (d) A.I.P. Canada; (publications d’information aéronautique)

aircraft emergency

aircraft emergency means a situation that could result in damage to an aircraft at an airport or aerodrome or injury to the persons on board the aircraft; (aéronef en état d’urgence)

airport certificate

airport certificate means a certificate issued pursuant to section 302.03; (certificat d’aéroport)

airport operations manual

airport operations manual means the manual referred to in section 302.08 and includes any amendments to the manual that are approved pursuant to subsection 302.03(2); (manuel d’exploitation d’aéroport)

airside

airside[Repealed, SOR/2003-58, s. 1]

closed marking

closed marking means a cross-shaped marking that

• (a) has the form and, subject to subsection 301.04(4), the dimensions set out in Schedule I to Subpart 1, and

• (b) subject to subsection 301.04(8), is in a single contrasting colour, white on runways and yellow on taxiways, that is visible from an aircraft flying at an altitude of 300 m (1,000 feet) above the marking; (marque de zone fermée)

fixed

fixed, in respect of a light, means having a constant luminous intensity when the light is observed from a fixed point; (fixe)

marker

marker means an object displayed above ground level for the purpose of indicating an obstacle or obstruction or delineating a boundary; (balise)

marking

marking means a symbol or group of symbols displayed on the surface of a movement area for the purpose of conveying aeronautical information; (marque)

movement

movement, in respect of an aircraft, means a take-off or landing at an airport or aerodrome; (mouvement)

obstacle limitation surface

obstacle limitation surface[Repealed, SOR/2011-285, s. 3]

operator

operator means the person in charge of an aerodrome, and includes an employee, agent or other authorized representative of that person; (exploitant)

public way

public way means any road, path or sidewalk maintained for the use of members of the public; (voie publique)

RESA

RESA or runway end safety area means an area, adjacent to or on a runway that is intended to reduce the severity of damage to an aeroplane in the event that the aeroplane undershoots or overruns the runway; (RESA ou aire de sécurité d’extrémité de piste)

Water Aerodrome Supplement

Water Aerodrome Supplement means a publication concerning water aerodromes that is intended to be used to supplement enroute charts and the Canada Air Pilot. (Supplément hydroaérodromes)

Subpart 1 — Aerodromes

Application

301.01 This Subpart applies in respect of all aerodromes except airports, heliports and military aerodromes.

Inspection

301.02 The operator of an aerodrome shall, without charge, at the request of a Department of Transport inspector, allow the inspector access to aerodrome facilities and provide the equipment necessary to conduct an inspection of the aerodrome.

Registration

• 301.03 (1) Subject to subsection (2), where the operator of an aerodrome provides the Minister with information respecting the location, markings, lighting, use and operation of the aerodrome, the Minister shall register the aerodrome and publish the information in the Canada Flight Supplement or the Water Aerodrome Supplement, as applicable.

• (2) The Minister may refuse to register an aerodrome where the operator of the aerodrome does not meet the requirements of sections 301.05 to 301.09 or where using the aerodrome is likely to be hazardous to aviation safety and, in such a case, shall not publish information with respect to that aerodrome.

• (3) The operator of an aerodrome registered pursuant to subsection (1) shall notify the Minister immediately after any change is made to the location, marking, lighting, use or operation of the aerodrome that affects the information published by the Minister pursuant to subsection (1).

• (4) An aerodrome that is listed in the Canada Flight Supplement or the Water Aerodrome Supplement on the coming into force of this Subpart is deemed to be registered pursuant to subsection (1).

Markers and Markings

• 301.04 (1) When an aerodrome is closed permanently, the operator of the aerodrome shall remove all of the markers and markings installed at the aerodrome.

• (2) The operator of an aerodrome, other than a water aerodrome, shall install red flags or red cones along the boundary of an unserviceable movement area.

• (3) Subsections (4) to (8) do not apply in respect of any manoeuvring area or part thereof that is closed for 24 hours or less.

• (4) Where a runway or part of a runway is closed, the operator of the aerodrome shall place closed markings, as set out in Schedule I to this Subpart, on the runway as follows:

  • (a) where the runway is greater than 1 220 m (4,000 feet) in length, a closed marking shall be located at each end of the closed runway or part thereof and additional closed markings shall be located on the closed runway or part thereof at intervals not exceeding 300 m (1,000 feet);

  • (b) where the runway is greater than 450 m (1,500 feet) but not greater than 1 220 m (4,000 feet) in length, a closed marking of not less than one-half the dimensions set out in that Schedule shall be located at each end of the closed runway or part thereof and an additional closed marking of the same dimensions shall be located on the closed runway or part thereof at a point equidistant from the two markings; or

  • (c) where the runway is 450 m (1,500 feet) or less in length, a closed marking of not less than one-half the dimensions set out in that Schedule shall be located at each end of the closed runway or part thereof.

• (5) Where a taxiway or part of a taxiway is closed, the operator of the aerodrome shall place on each end of the closed taxiway, or part thereof, a closed marking with the dimensions set out in Schedule I to this Subpart.

• (6) Where a helicopter take-off and landing area at an aerodrome is closed, the operator of the aerodrome shall

  • (a) place a closed marking over the letter “H”, where the letter “H” identifies the helicopter take-off and landing area, or, where no letter identifies the helicopter take-off and landing area, over the centre of the area; or

  • (b) comply with subsection (4), where the helicopter take-off and landing area is a runway.

• (7) Where a manoeuvring area or part thereof is closed permanently, the operator of the aerodrome shall

  • (a) obliterate all of the markings that indicate that the manoeuvring area or part thereof is open; and

  • (b) subject to subsection (8), paint on the manoeuvring area or part thereof the markings required pursuant to subsections (4) to (6).

• (8) Where the surface of a manoeuvring area or part thereof is snow-covered or otherwise unsuitable for painting or where the closure is not permanent, closed markings may be applied by means of a conspicuously coloured dye or may be constructed from a suitable conspicuously coloured material or product.

Warning Notices

301.05 Where low-flying or taxiing aircraft at or in the vicinity of an aerodrome are likely to be hazardous to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, the operator of the aerodrome shall immediately

• (a) post notices warning of the hazard on any public way that is adjacent to the manoeuvring area; or

• (b) where such a public way is not owned or controlled by the operator, inform the authorities responsible for placing markings on the public way that there is a hazard.

Wind Direction Indicator

• 301.06 (1) Except where the direction of the wind at an aerodrome can be determined by radio or other means such as smoke movement in the air or wind lines on water, the operator of the aerodrome shall install and maintain at the aerodrome a wind direction indicator that is

  • (a) of a conspicuous colour or colours;

  • (b) in the shape of a truncated cone;

  • (c) visible from an aircraft flying at an altitude of 300 m (1,000 feet) above the wind direction indicator; and

  • (d) illuminated when the aerodrome is used at night.

• (2) When an aerodrome is closed permanently, the operator of the aerodrome shall immediately remove all of the wind direction indicators installed at the aerodrome.

Lighting

• 301.07 (1) Subject to subsection (2), where a runway is used at night, the operator of the aerodrome shall indicate each side of the runway along its length with a line of fixed white lights that is visible in all directions from an aircraft in flight at a distance of not less than two nautical miles.

• (2) Where it is not practical to provide at an aerodrome the fixed white lights referred to in subsection (1) for reasons such as the lack of an available electrical power source or insufficient air traffic, the operator of the aerodrome may, if a fixed white light is displayed at each end of the runway to indicate runway alignment, use white retro-reflective markers that are capable of reflecting aircraft lights and that are visible at a distance of not less than two nautical miles from an aircraft in flight that is aligned with the centre line of the runway.

• (3) The lines of lights or retro-reflective markers required by subsection (1) or (2) shall be arranged so that

  • (a) the lines of lights or markers are parallel and of equal length and the transverse distance between the lines is equal to the runway width in use during the day;

  • (b) the distance between adjacent lights or markers in each line is the same and is not more than 60 m (200 feet);

  • (c) each line of lights or markers is not less than 420 m (1,377 feet) in length and contains no fewer than eight lights or markers; and

  • (d) each light or marker in a line of lights or markers is situated opposite to a light or marker in the line of lights or markers on the other side of the runway, so that a line connecting them forms a right angle to the centre line of the runway.

• (4) Fixed white lights displayed at each end of a runway pursuant to subsection (2) shall be placed so that they are not likely to cause a hazard that could endanger persons or property.

• (5) Where a taxiway is used at night, the operator of the aerodrome shall indicate each side of the taxiway with a line of fixed blue lights or blue retro-reflective markers placed so that the two lines of lights or markers are parallel and the distance between adjacent lights or markers in each line is not more than 60 m (200 feet).

• (6) Where a manoeuvring area or part thereof or a heliport is closed, the operator of the aerodrome shall not operate the lights or keep the retro-reflective markers thereon, except as required for maintenance of the lights and markers.

• (7) Where an aerodrome is used at night, the operator of the aerodrome shall indicate an unserviceable portion of the movement area with fixed red lights, red retro-reflective markers or floodlighting.

• (8) Where an aircraft parking area at an aerodrome is used at night, the operator of the aerodrome shall indicate the boundary of the area with fixed blue lights or blue retro-reflective markers, placed at intervals not exceeding 60 m (200 feet), or with floodlighting.

• (9) Subject to subsection (10), where a heliport is used at night for the take-off or landing of helicopters, the operator of the heliport shall illuminate the entire take-off and landing area with floodlights or

  • (a) where the take-off and landing area is rectangular, shall indicate the boundary with no fewer than eight fixed yellow lights, including one light at each corner, placed so that adjacent lights are not more than 13 m (42.5 feet) apart; or

  • (b) where the take-off and landing area is circular, shall indicate the boundary with no fewer than five fixed yellow lights placed so that adjacent lights are not more than 13 m (42.5 feet) apart.

• (10) Where it is not practical to provide at a heliport the fixed yellow lights referred to in subsection (9) for reasons such as lack of an available electrical power source or insufficient air traffic, the operator of the heliport may use yellow retro-reflective markers that are capable of reflecting aircraft lights and that are visible at a distance of not less than two nautical miles from an aircraft in flight that is aligned with the approach path, if

  • (a) a light source is provided to show the location of the heliport; or

  • (b) where there is only one path for approach and departure, two lights are used to show the approach orientation.

• (11) Where the lighting required by subsections (1), (2), (5) and (7) to (10) is operated by a radio-controlled system capable of activation from an aircraft, the system shall meet the requirements set out in Schedule II to this Subpart.

• (12) The operator of an aerodrome may display flare pots to provide temporary lighting for the landing or take-off of aircraft.

Prohibitions

301.08 No person shall

• (a) walk, stand, drive a vehicle, park a vehicle or aircraft or cause an obstruction on the movement area of an aerodrome, except in accordance with permission given

  • (i) by the operator of the aerodrome, and

  • (ii) where applicable, by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station;

• (b) tow an aircraft on an active movement area at night unless the aircraft displays operating wingtip, tail and anti-collision lights or is illuminated by lights mounted on the towing vehicle and directed at the aircraft;

• (c) park or otherwise leave an aircraft on an active manoeuvring area at night unless the aircraft displays operating wingtip, tail and anti-collision lights or is illuminated by lanterns suspended from the wingtips, tail and nose of the aircraft;

• (d) operate any vessel, or cause any obstruction, on the surface of any part of a water area of an aerodrome that is to be kept clear of obstructions in the interest of aviation safety, when ordered, by signal or otherwise, to leave or not to approach that area by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station or by the operator of the aerodrome;

• (e) knowingly remove, deface, extinguish or interfere with a marker, marking, light or signal that is used at an aerodrome for the purpose of air navigation, except in accordance with permission given

  • (i) by the operator of the aerodrome, and

  • (ii) where applicable, by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station;

• (f) at a place other than an aerodrome, knowingly display a marker, marking, light or signal that is likely to cause a person to believe that the place is an aerodrome;

• (g) knowingly display at or in the vicinity of an aerodrome a marker, marking, sign, light or signal that is likely to be hazardous to aviation safety by causing glare or by causing confusion with or preventing clear visual perception of a marker, marking, sign, light or signal that is required under this Subpart;

• (h) allow a bird or other animal that is owned by the person or that is in the person’s custody or control to be unrestrained within the boundaries of an aerodrome except for the purpose of controlling other birds or animals at the aerodrome as permitted by the operator; or

• (i) discharge a firearm within or into an aerodrome without the permission of the operator of the aerodrome.