by Mark Braithwaite, Acting CFI, Rockcliffe Flying Club
Due to the Battle of Britain and Wings Over Gatineau-Ottawa event, the weekend of September 14-16, 2012, the following NOTAMS have been issued.
Please read and abide by them accordingly.
121197 CZUL MONTREAL FIR
CZUL PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.1 OF THE AERONAUTICS ACT, THE AIRSPACE WITHIN THE AREA BOUNDED BY A CIRCLE OF 7 NM RADIUS CENTERED ON 453118N 753349W (OTTAWA/GATINEAU AD), SFC TO 8000 FT MSL, IS RESTRICTED (AIRSHOW), EXCLUDING CYR538, CYOW CTL ZONE AND THE AIRSPACE S OF THE N SHORE OF THE OTTAWA RIVER BLW 1200 FT MSL. NO PERSON SHALL OPR AN ACFT WITHIN THE AREA DESCRIBED UNLESS AUTH BY THE AIRSHOW COORDINATOR AT 819-790-1639 EXC FOR MEDEVAC AND POLICE OPS WITH 10 MIN PN. SEE AIC 32/12 FOR MORE INFO. SEP 14, 1730-2000, SEP 15 AND 16 1400-2200.
1209141730 TIL 1209162200
121198 CZUL MONTREAL FIR
CZUL DAH IS AMENDED AS FLW:
CYR650 CLASS F RESTRICTED AIRSPACE IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THAT PORTION OF THE GATINEAU CTL ZONE N OF THE OTTAWA RIVER. IN ADDITION TO NORMAL REGULATIONS IN THE GATINEAU CTL ZONE AND MF AREA, ACFT INBOUND FOR OTTAWA/GATINEAU AD MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION TO ENTER THE CZND CTL ZONE FROM OTTAWA TML ON FREQ 127.7, APCH VIA THE CUMBERLAND OR CHELSEA DAM REPORTING POINTS AND BE EQUIPED WITH A FUNCTIONNING MODE C TRANSPONDER. NO CONTINUOUS CIRCUITS OR SIMULATED IFR APCH ARE PERMITED. CONTROLLING AGENCY: NAV CANADA, OTTAWA TML FREQ 127.7, PHONE 800-633-1353 DLY 1200-1400
1209151200 TIL 1209161400
121199 CZUL MONTREAL FIR
CZUL DAH IS AMENDED AS FLW:
OTTAWA TCA IS RECLASSIFIED CLASS C AIRSPACE
1209151000 TIL 1209162359
6 comments:
I'm confused. If they don't want folks like me to try and sneak into Rockcliffe under the restricted airspace why don't they close Rockcliffe for the time of the airshows? Clearly I would be sticking my neck out trying to fly legally under the 1200 feet MSL floor in the Orleans area, let alone in Rockcliffe's airspace.
Why temp me? KISS seems to have escaped the NOTAM's authors.
I'm not even debating the limited need to close Rockcliffe because there is an airshow in the airspce 7 miles north east. While I find that dubious I am more concerned about the way the NOTAM is worded.
One guy's view.
It seems clear to me that operating in and out of Rockcliffe will be difficult during the airshow at Gatineau and that is if everyone stays where they are supposed to be. May be there is an easier and clearer way to do it?
Confusing? Yes.
The NOTAMs imply that RFC and CYRO are “open” next weekend, while Gatineau airspace North of the river is restricted iaw the NOTAMs. This still leaves the regular access into Rockcliffe from the North West (the VOR) open.
The RCAF website for the Battle of Britain event at the Aviation Museum states that “this is not an airshow” and that only a flypast will take place.
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/or-re/bb-ba/page-eng.asp?id=969
If this is the case, then RFC and visiting aircraft would still be allowed to fly. However the RCAF Battle of Britain website is suggesting that access to the Club will be closed:
“The Rockcliffe Pathway near the Canada Aviation and Space Museum will be temporarily closed between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.”
A couple years ago, a very junior Air Force officer arrived at RFC around 1000 and demanded that flying cease. When he was asked for the NOTAM, there wasn’t one. Nobody had submitted one. We stopped flying because the police closed the access road, but visiting aircraft continued to arrive during the flypasts. It got very exciting, with AirBoss yelling on the radio at the approaching aircraft. Most of them had no radios. As far as the visiting pilots knew the aeroport was officially open and they landed.
It was one of the most entertaining Sunday mornings at RFC!
It's nice to see someone reads this blog. While I agree with your comments I also fear that we are not thinking through the ramifications of the NOTAM.
I would not consider a 1200 floor of restricted airspace over Rockcliffe as "regular access from the North West". Pilots will not be able to over fly Rockcliffe at the normal 1700 to verify wind, runway and traffic before joining the circuit. Everyone will be forced below 1200 feet. With that floor one must do the circuit below 1200 MSL.
In my view the NOTAM should either exclude Rockcliffe's airspace, or close it. The goal is not to suck pilots into poor judgment.
My comment was not about the feasability of flying into Rockcliffe during the airshow, but that the RCAF was probably going to close the airspace at CYRO for the duration of the BoB ceremony.
That is what happened, a third NOTAM was issued for the Sunday flypasts ("not an airshow") and the road leading to RFC was closed for the duration.
I see your point Tony, not that I like to see airspace closed but if in the interests of the safety of folks in the air and on the ground we need to close airspace so beit.
You are correct that I was focused on activities during the airshow at Gatineau while you were concerned with the BoB fly past at CYRO.
It is my understanding that the requirement for a 7 mile radius was for the SnowBirds. The rest of the performers, likely could get by with less.
As well, I understand that initially the BoB fly past at CYRO was thought to be a normal activity and not requiring a NOTAM. But with groups of planes focused on their own formation it seems appropriate to limit their potential exposure to other conflicting traffic, hence the BoB NOTAM.
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