Menu
Domestic Airspace
| Domestic Airspace | Altimeter Regions | Controlled Airspace | Uncontrolled Airspace | Airspace Classification | RVSM |
Introduction
The Canadian domestic airspace (CDA) includes all airspace over the Canadian land mass, the Canadian arctic and archipelago and certain areas over the high seas. It is divided into two areas, the Northern Domestic Airspace, and the South Domestic Airspace.
Northern Domestic Airspace
In close proximity to the north magnetic pole, the earth's lines of force dip vertically towards the pole, and the compass, which lies in a horizontal plane, becomes useless.
There is, therefore, a large area of Canada in which magnetic compass readings are unreliable. Certain navigation procedures are recommended for operation in the area.
All aircraft operating in the Northern Domestic Airspace must fly at an altitude or flight level appropriate to their direction of flight as determined by the true track of the aircraft. Runway numbering is oriented to, and surface winds are reported in degrees true.
All aircraft operating at night, and IFR must be equipped with a gyroscope direction indicator.
Southern Domestic Airspace
All aircraft operating in the Southern Domestic Airspace must fly at an altitude or flight level appropriate to their direction of flight as determined by the magnetic track of the aircraft.
VOR radials, airways, runway numbering, and surface winds reports are all referred to in degrees magnetic.