westward along Saturna, Pender, Since NAV implemented Mayne and up to CADORS their “Airspace Redesign” in July Ganges Harbour on Saltspring 2009 in preparation for the 2010 Island. Above this same area, Winter Olympics, Pilots have been from 2,500’ up to 12,500’ is Victo- CORNER plagued with CADORs reports ria Class “C” Airspace which also when choosing to navigate through extends beyond Ganges Harbour By: Graham Palmer, CFI this area without contacting Victoria northwestward up to Kuper, Thetis, Tower or Victoria Terminal. Valdez, and . In this month’s column we will focus on the Airspace over the Interoperating the intricacies of the One of the most troublesome and Gulf Islands stretching from the delineation of this Airspace can be awkward facets of this Airspace is southeast at East Point on Saturna challenging at first glance. To the what is referred to by Pilots affec- Island towards the northwest along west of East Point at Mt. Warburton tionately as the “Saw Tooth”. Above the southern edge of the Strait of Pike on , Victoria the Class E Airspace is Georgia towards Gabriola Island Tower Class “D” Airspace begins a “notch” extending the Victoria and Nanaimo. at 1,200’ up to 2,500’ and extends Terminal Class C Airspace to

www.flyvfc.com For wheeled aeroplanes operating from the various airstrips, and for seaplane traffic operating from the various harbours, and registered water aerodromes, and for helicop- ters operating from heliports in the Gulf Islands, it appears somewhat more complex. The “Aircraft Access Regu- lations”, prohibit the landing and take-off of aircraft within the bound- aries of a National Park. A closer examination of this subject reveals that while this entire area has been delineated as a “National Park” on the VTA, in reality this area has been delineated to en- compass a proverbial “mine-field” of several smaller Parks as seen in the diagram below. It is within these individual Park Boundaries that aircraft are not permitted to take-off and land without an “Air- craft Access” Permit.

What contributes to the complexity accommodate IFR Traffic on ap- mind that this is not a compulsory of this topic is that CARs 602.96(4) proach to the Nanaimo Airport. requirement by regulation, but is states: Here many unknowingly “Chart- a voluntary recommendation for “Unless otherwise authorized by the Folded-Up-and-Put-Away” Pilots “Noise Sensitive Islanders”. appropriate air traffic control unit, transit up and down the Island no pilot-in-command shall operate overhead the Nanaimo Airport with- With the recent release of the 38th an aircraft at an altitude of less than out contacting Nanaimo Radio, or Edition of the Vancouver VTA, the 2,000 feet over an aerodrome”. Victoria Terminal. Inevitably these “Gulf Islands National Parks Re- Keep in mind that there are several Pilots find themself responding to serve” has been delineated with marked aerodromes, water aero- a CADORs Report after violating a magenta line. Interpreting this dromes, and heliports in the Gulf Airspace. change guides Pilots towards the Islands on the Vancouver VTA. Aeronautical Information Manual Additionally, what makes this area (AIM) RAC 1.14.5, which sug- Keep in mind that you cannot more interesting is that for over gests that Pilots should not overfly overfly the Nanaimo Airport without 10 years there has been a Noise National, Provincial and Municipal talking to anyone; and regardless Abatement Procedure in effect over Parks, Reserves and Refuges of Regulation or recommendation, the Gulf Islands. Prompted by the below 2,000’ AGL. Keep in mind it is always wisest to plan to overfly Island’s Trust, and published in the that the only governing regulation the Gulf Islands above 2000’ ASL. Canadian Flight Supplement (CFS) is CARs 602.14 “Minimum Altitudes Above this altitude, always plan to under Planning (C23), this proce- & Distances”, stipulating that over communicate with Victoria Tower, dure requests Pilots to “Operate a built-up area that: “Except where or Victoria Terminal. And always re- their aircraft in the most community conducting take-off, approach and member the Airspace golden rule… friendly manner”, and avoid over- landing that aeroplanes shall be “It’s always best to beg ATC for flying the Gulf Islands below 2,000’ flown no lower than 1000’ above permission, than to answer ASL unless for the purpose of take- the highest obstacle located within CADORs for forgiveness”. off and landing. Keep in a horizontal distance of 2,000’ from the aeroplane”.

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