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Need to Know

Airports and Aerodromes

There are defined exceptions, but, for the most part, all of Canada can be an aerodrome.

Aerodromes may be unregistered or registered. Rules for operating an aerodrome are provided in Part III of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) under Subpart 301. The objective is to define the minimum safety standards that must be offered as well as to make provision for inspection by the Minister. Aerodrome operators are encouraged, in the interest of aviation safety, efficiency, and convenience, to improve their aerodromes beyond the basic regulatory requirements using, as guidelines, the standards and recommended practices applicable for the certification of aerodromes as airports, heliports, or water airports. Aerodrome users are, however, reminded that the improvement of aerodrome physical characteristics, visual aids, lighting, and markings beyond the basic regulatory requirements for aerodromes stated in CAR 301 is a matter of individual aerodrome operators’ initiative. Such improvements do not require regulatory compliance, nor are those improvements inspected or certified in accordance with the standards and recommended practices applicable for the certification of aerodromes as airports, heliports, or water airports.

No aerodrome operator is obliged by these regulations to have information published in the CFS or CWAS. The Minister may choose not to publish information for a site that is considered to be hazardous to aviation safety. In addition to the initial inspection during the application for registration, other inspections are done on an as-required basis, once the aerodromes are registered, to verify their compliance with CARs and the accuracy of their information as it is published in the CFS. Such information, however, is only published for the convenience of the pilot and should be confirmed through contact with the aerodrome operator before the pilot uses a site.

Registration of an aerodrome is a two-part process conducted under the authority, direction, and guidance of the appropriate Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) Regional Office. The registration process requires the aerodrome owner or operator to voluntarily initiate with TCCA a request for registration and meet all of the basic requirements of Subpart 301 of the CARs. Only registered aerodromes and certified airports are published in the CFS.

An airport is a certified aerodrome. The objective of certification is to protect those, such as the fare-paying public and residents in the vicinity of an airport, who do not have the knowledge or ability to protect themselves and who could thus be affected by unsafe operations. The requirement for aerodrome certification applies to:

Any aerodrome that is located within the built-up area of a city or town
Any land aerodrome that is used by an air operator for the purpose of a scheduled service for the transport of passengers

An airport is an aerodrome for which a certificate has been issued under Subpart 302 of the CARs

Prohibitions

There are some things you just cannot get away with at an airport or aerodrome, most of which should come as no surprise.

Movement Within an AerodromeTowingParkingDefacing EquipmentUnauthoriezd Markings and Lights FirearmsOpen Flames

Do not walk, stand or operate a vehicle/aircraft on the movement area of an aerodrome, except in accordance with permission given by the operator of the aerodrome, and where applicable, by the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station.

Do not 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.

Do not 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.

Do not 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.

Do not 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.

Do not discharge a firearm within or into an aerodrome without the permission of the operator of the aerodrome.

Do not smoke or display an open flame on an apron, an aircraft loading bridge or on a gallery or balcony that is contiguous to or that overhangs an apron or in an area where smoking or the presence of an open flame is likely to create a fire hazard that could endanger persons or property. The operator of an aerodrome may however, permit smoking in an enclosed building or shelter located on an apron where such smoking is not likely to create a fire hazard that could endanger persons or property.

Nice to Know

Transport Canada and Airport Operator Responsibilities

During airport certification, the responsibilities of Transport Canada include:

Developing safety standards, policies, and criteria for elements such as the physical characteristics of the manoeuvring area, marking and lighting, and obstacle limitation surfaces in the vicinity of airports, heliports and water airports
Reviewing aeronautical studies where variances from airport certification safety standards are required
Certifying and inspecting against the requirements and conditions of the respective operations manuals (for airports, heliports, or water airports)
Verifying, amending, and relaying, as appropriate, pertinent airport information to be identified in the appropriate Aerodrome Information Services (AIS) publications

The responsibilities of the operator of an airport include, but are not limited to:

Complying with the applicable regulations and standards
Completing and distributing an approved operations manual
Maintaining the facility in accordance with the requirements specified in the airport operations manual
Advising Transport Canada and aircraft operators whenever services or facilities fall below requirements prescribed in the operations manual or differ from the information published in the aeronautical publications for their aerodrome

Airport Zoning Regulations

An airport zoning regulation imposes restrictions on land use, including vertical development, with the objective of protecting an airport’s current and future accessibility, usability, and viability. Airport zoning regulations (AZR) restrict the heights of buildings, structures and objects (including natural growth, such as trees) on regulated land. Transport Canada may enact AZR in order to:

Protect aircraft from hazards (e.g., bird strikes and electronic signal interference)
Protect existing airport operations (e.g., airspace management and emergency response )
Ensure that future development near an airport stays compatible with the safe operation of aircraft and of the airport itself

The Canada Flight Supplement

The CFS supports and complements the visual charts for all of Canada and includes a complete list of NAVAIDs associated with airports, the current status of individual airports, the availability of facilities and services at airports the telephone numbers for flight planning services, general procedural information, aerodrome sketches.

Movement and Manoeuvering Areas

Manoeuvring areas include parts of an aerodrome intended to be used for the taking off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons and movement areas include parts of an aerodrome to be used for the takeoff, landing and taxiing of aircraft, consisting of the maneuvering area and the apron.

Definitions

Aerodome: Any area of land or water used for the arrival, departure or movement of aircraft
Aeronautical Information Service (AIS): A service established within the defined area of coverage responsible for the provision of aeronautical data and aeronautical information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of air navigation.
Airport: An aerodrome in respect of which an airport certificate is issued
Air Traffic Control Unit: An area control centre (ACC) or an airport control tower unit established to provide ATC service to airport traffic.
Apron: A part of an aerodrome, other than the manoeuvring area, that is intended to be used for the loading and unloading of passengers and cargo, the refuelling, servicing, maintenance and parking of aircraft and the movement of aircraft, vehicles and persons engaged in services necessary for those purposes
Built-up Area: There is a significant body of jurisprudence regarding the interpretation of what constitutes “built-up”, most of which is in the context of low-flying violations. In general, “built-up” means a group of structures that are erected or built by man and includes private dwelling residences, schools, elevators, service stations and so forth. A departmental legal opinion indicates that a dock could be considered such a structure, particularly if it can be shown that there is a risk of damage to property or injury to persons.
Flight Service Station: An ATS unit that provides services pertinent to the arrival and departure phases of flight at uncontrolled aerodromes and for transit through a mandatory frequency (MF) area.
Manoeuvring Area: Part of an aerodrome, other than an apron, that is intended to be used for the takeoff and landing of aircraft and for the movement of aircraft associated with takeoff and landing
Movement Area: A part of an aerodrome that is intended to be used for the surface movement of aircraft, and includes the manoeuvring area and aprons

References

AIM AGA 2.0 Aerodromes and Airports
AIM AGA 4.3 Airport Zoning Regulations
CAR 101.01 Interpretation
CAR 301.01 Aerodromes – Application
CAR 301.08 Aerodromes – Prohibitions
CAR 301.09 Aerodromes – Fire Prevention
CAR 302.10 Airports – Prohibitions
CAR 302.11 Airports – Fire Prevention