Canadian Airspace Classes

The Canadian airspace system makes most people scratch their heads at first. It becomes far more manageable once you know which classes you will realistically meet as a drone pilot, and which are irrelevant to you. Below is each class, how it appears on the resources you will use, and what it means for your operation.

Class A and B — Above and Beyond

Class A is high-level airspace, generally starting at FL180, roughly 18,000 feet in southern Canada. It is not depicted on aeronautical charts. Given the altitude, it is rarely a concern for small RPA pilots. Operating there requires specific authorisation from both Transport Canada and NAV CANADA.

Class B is low-level controlled airspace between 12,500 feet and the floor of Class A, though it may include some control zones. Its specific dimensions are published in the Designated Airspace Handbook. Operating there also requires authorisation from Transport Canada and the air navigation service provider.

Class C — C is for Clearance

Class C is controlled airspace around large airports, extending from the surface upwards. It appears on VFR Navigation Charts and VFR Terminal Area Charts, in the Designated Airspace Handbook, and in the National Research Council’s drone site selection tool.

Class C is an advanced operating environment, and clearance is required before you operate in it.

Class D — Discuss Your Intentions

Class D is controlled airspace around medium-sized airports, again from the surface up. It is depicted on VNCs and VTAs, in the Designated Airspace Handbook, and in the NRC site selection tool. It is likewise an advanced operating environment.

Class E

Class E is controlled airspace for aircraft operating under instrument flight rules. It can exist around an airport as a control zone, or away from an airport entirely.

Class E control zones usually extend from the surface to 3,000 feet AGL. Where the airspace is not associated with an airport it typically begins at 700 feet AGL and extends to 12,500 feet ASL, though the exact size and shape vary. It is depicted on VNCs, VTAs, in the Designated Airspace Handbook and in the NRC tool, and it is an advanced environment.

Class F — Advisory, Danger, Restricted

Class F is special-use airspace, either restricted or advisory. It can be controlled, uncontrolled, or a combination, depending on the airspace surrounding it.

Restricted airspace is denoted CYR followed by three digits. It appears on VNCs, VTAs and the NRC tool, and is restricted to all aircraft. To gain access, contact the user agency listed for that block in the Designated Airspace Handbook.

Advisory airspace is denoted CYA followed by three digits, and marks airspace reserved for a specific activity such as hang-gliding, flight training or helicopter operations. It appears on the same resources.

Class G — Where Most Drone Flying Happens

Class G is everything that is not Class A, B, C, D, E or F. It is uncontrolled, and it is the basic operating environment for RPAS — assuming you also meet the conditions on proximity to people, airports and heliports. You do not need permission from NAV CANADA to operate in Class G.

A Word of Caution on Charts

If the chart you are reading looks dark, like this:

rather than pastel, like this:

then you are looking at a US-based chart. Canadian and American airspace are structured differently, and a US chart will not tell you what you need to know about the airspace you are standing in. Find a Canadian resource.