CARs 601.04

AIM - RAC 2. 8. 6 - Class F Airspace

Charting of Class F Airspace

All designated Class F restricted and advisory airspace is published on HI or LO
Charts, as applicable, and on VFR aeronautical charts.
Each restricted and advisory area within Canada has been assigned an identification
code group which consists of the four following parts:

Part (a) the nationality letters “CY”;

Part (b) the letter “R” for restricted area (the letter “D” for danger area if a
restricted area is established over international waters) or the letter
“A” for advisory area; and

Part (c) a three-digit number which will identify the area. This number will
indicate the Canadian region within which the area lies according to
the following table:

            101 to 199-British Columbia
            201 to 299-Alberta
            301 to 399-Saskatchewan
            401 to 499-Manitoba
            501 to 599-Ontario
            601 to 699-Quebec
            701 to 799-New Brunswick
            Nova Scotia
            Prince Edward Island
            Newfoundland
            801 to 899-Yukon Territory
            901 to 999-Northwest Territories (including the Arctic Islands)

Part (d) in the case of advisory areas, the letter A, F, H, M, P, S or T in
brackets after the three digit number will indicate the type of activity
within the area as follows:

A – acrobatic P – parachuting
F – aircraft test area S – soaring
H – hang gliding T – training
M – military operations

Example: The identification code group CYA113(A) is as follows:

CY – indicates Canada
A – indicates advisory
113 – indicates the number of an area in British Columbia

(A) – indicates acrobatic activity takes place within the area.
All altitudes will be inclusive unless otherwise indicated (e.g., 5 000 to 10 000 feet).
To indicate when either the bottom or upper altitude is not included, the words below
and above will be placed before the appropriate altitude (e.g., above 5 000 to 10 000
feet, or 5 000 to below 10 000 feet).

Advisory Airspace

Airspace may be classified as Class F advisory airspace if it is airspace within which
activity occurs that, for flight safety purposes, non-participating pilots should be aware of,
such as training areas, parachute areas, hang gliding areas, military operations areas, etc.
There are no specific restrictions which apply to the use of advisory airspace. VFR
aircraft are, however, encouraged to avoid flight in advisory airspace unless
participating in the activity taking place therein. If necessary, pilots of non-participating
flights may enter advisory areas at their own discretion; however, due to the nature of the
aerial activity, extra vigilance is recommended. Pilots of participating aircraft, as well as
pilots flying through the area, are equally responsible for collision avoidance.

ATC will not clear IFR aircraft through Class F airspace except if:

        (a) The pilot states that he/she has obtained permission from the user agency to
             enter the airspace;

        (b) The aircraft is operating on an Altitude Reservation Approval (ALTRV
             APVL); or

        (c) The aircraft has been cleared for a contact or visual approach.

IFR aircraft shall be provided 500 feet vertical separation from an active Class F
advisory airspace, unless wake turbulence minima is applicable, in which case 1 000
feet vertical separation shall be applied.

Pilots intending to fly in Class F advisory airspace are encouraged to monitor an
appropriate frequency, to broadcast their intentions when entering and leaving the area,
and to communicate, as necessary, with other users, to ensure flight safety in the
airspace. In a Class F advisory uncontrolled airspace area, 126.7 MHz would be an
appropriate frequency.

NOTE: Military operations in a Class F airspace may be UHF only.

Restricted Airspace

A restricted area is an airspace of defined dimensions above the land areas or territorial
waters within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with certain
specified conditions. Restricted airspace is designated for safety purposes when the
level or type of aerial activity, surface activity, or the protection of a ground
installation requires the application of restrictions within that airspace.
No person may conduct aerial activities within active Class F restricted airspace unless
permission has been obtained from the user agency. In some instances, the user
agency may delegate the appropriate, controlling agency the authority to approve
access. IFR flights will not be cleared through active restricted areas unless the pilot
states that permission has been obtained.

The User Agency is the civil or military agency or organization responsible for the
activity for which the Class F airspace has been provided. It has the jurisdiction to
authorize access to the airspace when it is classified restricted. The User Agency must
be identified for Class F restricted airspace, and where possible, it should be identified
for Class F advisory airspace.

Any restricted area which may be established over international waters, but controlled
by Canadian ATC, will by published as a “Danger Area” in accordance with ICAO
requirements.

Special use areas will be designated restricted areas and identified by the prefix CYR
followed by a three digit number which identifies the location of the area.
Restricted airspace may also be designated for elements of existing structure, if its use
would facilitate the efficient flow of air traffic.

There are two additional methods of restricting airspace.

(a) CAR 601.16 – Issuance of NOTAM for Forest Fire Aircraft Operating
Restrictions, is designed to allow the Minister, by NOTAM, to restrict flight
around and over forest fire areas or areas where forest fire control operations
are being conducted. The provisions of this section can be invoked quickly via
NOTAM by Transport Canada. (See RAC 2.9.2.)

(b) Section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act allows the Minister to restrict flight in any
airspace, for any purpose, by NOTAM. This authority is delegated by the
Minister to cover specific situations such as well fires, disaster areas, etc., for
the purpose of ensuring safety of flight for air operations in support of the
occurrence.

It should be noted that airspace which is restricted by invoking CAR 601.16 or Section
5.1 of the Aeronautics Act is not Class F restricted airspace. The airspace has not been
classified in accordance with the Airspace Regulations. This distinction is important
to those who are charged with the responsibility for restricting airspace, since their
actions are governed by the provisions of the Statutory Instruments Act.

Joint Use Airspace

Joint Use airspace is Class F airspace within which operations may be authorized by
the controlling agency when it is not being utilized by the user agency.
Class F restricted airspace should be available for use by non-participating aircraft
when all or part of the airspace is not required for its designated purpose.
To ensure maximum utilization of restricted airspace, user agencies should be
encouraged to make available restricted airspace for the conduct of operations or
training of other agencies or commands on a joint-use basis.

The Air Traffic Control agency may be designated to provide air traffic control or
information service within the Class F airspace involved. A controlling agency will
normally be assigned when there is joint use of the airspace.

NOTAM

It is permissible to designate Class F restricted airspace by NOTAM if the following
prerequisites are met:

(a) the area of restricted airspace is required for a specified period of time of
relative short duration (i.e. several hours or days); and

(b) the appropriate NOTAM is issued at least 24 hours in advance of the area’s
activation.