ATC clearance in Class G Airspace in Canada?
 

Is it required to receive any kind of clearance from ATC to operate under IFR within Class G Airspace? Is the a requirement to notify ATC of such flight. As a hypothetical example, assume a flight within the Northern Domestic Airspace. Lets say, from Hall Beach to Pond Inlet. Weather is below VFR minima. Assume that all requirements to report position and such on Mandatory Frequencies and Enroute frequency are complied with. Assume flight is operated entirely below FL230. Looking for some clarity on this, preferably from someone who operates in this environment. All answers appreciated, answers with references to regulations and other official sources would be especially appreciated.

Hi A Squared,

Welcome to the Great White North, eh! (or as we'd say in Hoskins "Welkam").

First rule re Class G in Canada is that ATC does not provide (is not permitted to provide) control service in Class G, so you will not receive a clearance into, or through, even if you asked. And yes, IFR flight is permitted in Class G.

The best and clearest sources of info (IMO) are the AIM, published by Transport Canada and available as a free pdf download online ( https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviati...-menu-3092.htm) and the Canada Air Pilot (CAP) for which Nav Canada charges a fee. Both publications cite the applicable CARs. I'd start with the AIM, but it's HUGE so perhaps download "RAC" section first as it has all the airspace and flight planning rules and info to get you started. After reading that I'd call the toll free number for the nearest Nav Can FIC to where you are thinking of flying (Whitehorse or Edmonton for example) and get specific info re your route and plans.

Enjoy - and stay safe!
grizz

It depends on what you mean by "notify ATC."

As grizz pointed out, there is no requirement to talk to ATC when enroute as they won't provide you any services in Class G.

However, in order to operate IFR you need to have filed a Flight Plan or Flight Itinerary. This is still done by calling or electronically filing, the plan or itinerary, so there is still a notification process.

In the case of a flight plan, you'll need to obtain the clearance and this is normally done through the radio operator in Hall Beach or Pond Inlet. These are the same people you'd file the arrival report with, when they are there. Otherwise, this all has to be coordianted through Arctic Radio (or whatever they're calling it nowadays) either by phone or on 126.7. But, because none of the services are provided by ATC (except a more closely watched alerting service) below FL230 in Northern Domestic Airspace, most pilots not flying for one of the airlines will simply file an itinerary and avoid picking up a clearance alltogether. An IFR Flight Itinerary is certainly the way to go to make your life easier.

You'd have to remember too that almost all of your flight will be conducted in the Canadian ADIZ (which recieved a major overhaul in 2018). The boys and girls at NORAD don't bother you too much until you're way off track or far too early or late from what you filed, so updating your flight planned timing and routing should be given some consideration to avoid egg on your face!

Because you're completely below controlled airspace between Hall Beach and Pond Inlet there is no need to obtain a clearance if you stay below 230. Just make appropriate calls on 126.7(airborne, level, 15 minutes to pond, entering the zone) and call the airport radio's(Hall Beach is almost full time, pond is Monday to Friday 9-5 of they feel like showing up, and occasionally if someone calls them out). Don't ask for a clearance, it will confuse them.

Thanks for the replies, folks. I could have picked a better example for my question as +TRSA pointed out, my example enters the ADIZ whcih has it's own requirements, separate from ATC, but not unrelated. Hall Beach to Rankin Inlet might have been a better example.

At any rate, that was pretty much my understanding, that not only are you not *required* to get an ATC clearance for an IFR flight entirely within Class G Airspace, but such a clearance would not be *possible* because ATC does not have the responsibility nor authority to control IFR traffic in Class G airspace. However I recently had a discussion with someone who was insisting that you must get a clearance from ATC in order to fly under IFR. I was fairly certain he was mistaken, but I wanted to get some input on this from Canadian pilots on the chance that I might be missing something and not complying with some legal requirement.


As a follow on question; there is a requirement to have filed a flight plan or a flight itinerary for any flight, including an IFR flight in uncontrolled airspace:


and

Putting those together, would a flight plan with our dispatch center fulfill the requirement to file a flight itinerary with a "responsible person" ? (assume a flight which does not enter the ADIZ. )

Yes absolutely.

It seems like your friend needs to look up what ICAO Class G airspace is, and what “uncontrolled” implies.

It’s not necessarily his fault- they do a bad job teaching this in groundschool.

It means that no air traffic control or separation services are provided, although Flight Information Services are provided (if you can reach them). This applies anywhere you find Class G, beit in the USA, Canada, or even at FL360 in Mogadishu FIR. YOU are responsible for not hitting other IFR or VFR traffic.