Aerodromes

An aerodrome is defined by the Aeronautics Act as:

any area of land, water (including the frozen surface thereof) or other supporting surface used, designed, prepared, equipped or set apart for use either in whole or in part for the arrival, departure, movement or servicing of aircraft and includes any buildings, installations and equipment situated thereon or associated therewith.

This has a very broad application for Canada where there are no general restrictions preventing landings or takeoffs. There are defined exceptions, but, for the most part, all of Canada can be an aerodrome. 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 provisions for inspection by the Minister of Transport.

Aerodrome operators are encouraged, in the interest of aviation safety, efficiency, and convenience, to improve their aerodromes beyond the basic regulatory requirements. 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.

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.

No aerodrome operator is obliged to have information published in the CFS, however, only registered aerodromes and certified airports are published in the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS). 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.