December 12, 2019

New Red Deer Control Zone Restrictions

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On December 9, 2019, COPA and members of the Alberta Aviation Community were informed by Nav Canada that a NOTAM would be issued indicating a procedure change will be added to the CFS for CYQF. The NOTAM was effective December 10, 2019. COPA was not given much notice of the change and we will coordinate with Transport Canada and Nav Canada to voice our concerns with this approach and improve the communication process to avoid this issue in the future.

In an attempt to rectify safety concerns at CYQF, with approval from Transport Canada under CAR 602.96 (3)(D), the Flight Service Specialists providing service at CYQF will be authorized to restrict VFR aircraft from entering the Control Zone or from departing CYQF when necessary due to traffic volume or complexity. The overflight / itinerant traffic is not expected to be affected by this procedure change. The intent is to regulate the circuit traffic or traffic intending to enter the circuit at CYQF.

The phraseology that pilots should expect to hear from the Flight Service Specialists is contained in the table below for the different situations:

SITUATION PHRASEOLOGY
AIRCRAFT DENIED ACCESS TO ENTER CONTROL ZONE, DUE TRAFFIC. GOLF-ALPHA-BRAVO-CHARLIE, RED DEER RADIO, DUE TRAFFIC, REMAIN OUTSIDE THE CONTROL ZONE UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED.

Or

REMAIN OUTSIDE THE CONTROL ZONE AND CALL BACK IN XX MINUTES
AIRCRAFT AUTHORIZED TO ENTER CONTROL ZONE AFTER DENIAL. GOLF-ALPHA-BRAVO-CHARLIE, AUTHORIZED TO ENTER RED DEER CONTROL ZONE, WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS? (IF INTENTIONS NOT ALREADY DETERMINED)
AIRCRAFT DELAYED DEPARTURE, DUE TRAFFIC. GOLF-ALPHA-BRAVO-CHARLIE, DUE TRAFFIC, HOLD SHORT TAXIWAY ALPHA, UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED.
AIRCRAFT AUTHORIZED TAXI FOR DEPARTURE AFTER DELAYED. GOLF-ALPHA-BRAVO-CHARLIE, TAXI AT YOUR DISCRETION, WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS?

This is a major change to the operations at the CYQF Flight Service Station and COPA members operating in the vicinity of CYQF are reminded to be diligent as this new procedure is implemented. Following discussions with Transport Canada, COPA has confirmed that should a pilot not adhere to the issued restriction they could receive a regulatory infraction due to a violation of the CARs.

Photo copyright Nav Canada