Transport Canada is aiming to prevent a repeat of careless pilots blundering into active air show space this summer by putting the restricted airspace in effect a full week before the air show. Last year, air shows had to be interrupted (including a Snowbirds performance) after pilots who had not checked NOTAMs busted the airspace. The first major show of the year is June 27 in Barrie and TC is going beyond issuing the standard NOTAM.

In announcing the unusually long airspace restriction, TC Inspector Jeff Martin emailed operators and neighbouring airports affected by the NOTAM and urged them to get the word out. “Please accept this email as notification for Restricted Airspace soon to be ACTIVE for the 2019 Barrie Air Show,” Martin said. “The Restricted Airspace shall be up and running 7 days prior to the Special Aviation Event With respect to Flight Safety, I am kindly requesting that you please reach out (letter on your local bulletin board, notification to your clients via email chain or your airports’ website) to inform all frequent Aviators of this 10NM 5.1 Restricted Airspace.”