How does the US's Class B, C, D, and E airports/airspace compare to Canada's C, D, and E airports/airspace?
Posted by The_Arsonist1324@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I'm an American aviation student and I've been wondering about Canada's airspace. I know that the US and Canada handle airspaces differently, but I want to know how these classifications are different and how they are similar. Is Canada's Class C more similar to the US's Class C or Class B? Are D and E 1:1?
CaptainMajka@reddit
Canada uses class F airspace in situations where the USA has alert areas and restricted airspace.
flyingron@reddit
The Canadian class F is unlike the real icao class F. It’s more akin to a us restricted area.
Lootdit@reddit
whats the icao class F
flyingron@reddit
Admittedly, ICAO class F is a hack. It's a special class of uncontrolled airspace in which traffic advisories are available. You are not required to participate in it.
Lootdit@reddit
i forgot what that was called in the US but its not a class of airspace here right
flyingron@reddit
To recap:
US doesn't have class F at all.
Canada uses class F for something that is entirely different from the ICAO class F.
ICAO class F is uncontrolled airspace with (voluntary) advisory service.
propell0r@reddit
Class A: the same between the 2 countries. IFR only, 18000 - 60000 ft.
Class B: Canada - only exists between 12500-18000 ft in certain locations. IFR or what they call Controlled VFR. USA - Class B can exist from the Class A floor all the way down to the ground for the countries busiest airports. In both countries, VFR aircraft need a clearance to enter and are required to obey ATC clearances and instructions.
Class C: Canada - Canada’s version of USA Class B. Used for the busiest airports, VFR aircraft require a clearance to enter and to obey ATC clearances and instructions. You’ll see terminal areas of busy airports be class C. ATC provides separation from IFR aircraft only, VFR aircraft are only given conflict resolutions and traffic advisories (workload permitting). USA - Used for less busy airports, and typically only out to 10nmi and 4000ft AGL of said airports. 2-way communication established is required to enter, not specifically a clearance. IFR and VFR aircraft are both provided separation within US Class C.
Class D: Canada - Canada’s version of USA Class C. Used for less busy airports, only 2-way communication required to enter. ATC will provide conflict resolution to VFR aircraft upon request. USA - No separation to VFR aircraft at all, comes with an aircraft speed restriction of 200kts below 2500ft within 4nmi of the class D airport. Both - may revert to Class E airport-dependant on traffic volumes and hours of operation.
Class E: Both generally the same, provide the ability to control IFR aircraft without placing limitations on VFR aircraft. USA has an ADS-B mandate for certain sections of class E airspace.
Class G: Both the same, uncontrolled, you’re on your own.
Between the two countries, these are some of the more prominent differences in their purposes. Weather minimums, dimensions, and altitudes vary between the two countries as well but you can read about those in the respective AIMs.
bguitard689@reddit
Maybe you meant to say that Class D in Canada is similar to FAA Class D, not FAA Class C
propell0r@reddit
Nope, I said what I said.
FAA Class C and TC Class D are more similar in that no clearance for VFR aircraft are required to enter (TC Class C req), they’re both typically only used as a control tower airspace designation (TC Class C is typically used for the terminal environment of the class C airport as well. The one exception I can think of off the top of my head is Halifax’s terminal airspace I believe is class D). TC class D and FAA class C will also provide conflict resolution between VFR and IFR aircraft, and in the FAA class C’s case, separation between VFR and IFR aircraft. Whilst TC class D and FAA class D share a lot of similarities, FAA class D does not provide and separation services to VFR aircraft. FAA class D specifically has a low level airspeed limitation, whereas TCCA’s low level airspeed limitation (3000ft AGL, 200 kts, 10nmi) applies to all controlled aerodromes, not just class D specifically.
You could take TC class D and basically split it up into FAA class C and D, but honestly a lot more characteristics line up between TC class D and FAA class C
bguitard689@reddit
In simple terms, Class D airspace in both Canada and US are control tower airspace, without a radar approach control. US Class C has radar approach.
propell0r@reddit
There are class Ds in Canada with radar approach control. Halifax and Trenton are 2. Winnipeg used to be before it upgraded to C (based on traffic volume, not gaining an approach control).
Full_Wind_1966@reddit
Bagotville also is
propell0r@reddit
Im guessing the rest of the military fields are too. Cold Lake, Comox, Greenwood, Moose Jaw
The_Arsonist1324@reddit (OP)
Thank you, this is pretty much what I was looking for
BeaconSlash@reddit
The US aligned their airspace classification to the current alphabet system back in 1993 to align with ICAO and standardize procedures for pilots, so Class C in the US has the same basic regulatory requirements for entry as, say Class C in France or Canada, or wherever.
The major difference is how prevalent and large the other airspace classes are, and how they are structured. Each country has its own ideas on ideal way to structure the alphabet airspace for safety and efficiency, but again, the letter will tell you the general nature of entry and what services to expect.
The Wikipedia article on Airspace covers it pretty well:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspace
Distinct_Pressure832@reddit
This isn’t quite accurate. In Canada you need a clearance to enter class C where you only need two way radio contact in the USA. Canada’s Class C is more like America’s Class B, Canada’s Class D is like America’s Class C.
canuck791@reddit
Kinda, except C is all over the place in smaller airports as well where it would never be a Bravo like in the USA.
Distinct_Pressure832@reddit
You need to hear “cleared into the Charlie airspace” to enter, pretty sure that’s more or less the definition of a Bravo in the US. The question was what are the similarities and differences between the two countries and whether Canada’s Class C is similar to America’s Class C. I’m assuming they were referring to how a pilot handles the airspace not traffic density and as far as the pilot is concerned Canadian Calss C needs to be treated like a Bravo.
ThePrambler@reddit
This is the right answer. As far as I know, the US does not have the Class B control zone that the Canadian Airspace system allows for. That being said, we don't have any Class B control zones in Canada yet.
BeaconSlash@reddit
Thank you for that. I have edited accordingly.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
Another large difference between US and ICAO airspace classification that you only need to establish radio contact to enter Class D airspace in USA, whereas explicit clearance is required under ICAO rules.
randombrain@reddit
Correct, in the USA having established two-way comma is the only requirement to enter Class C and Class D airspace. Per ICAO rules you should need an explicit clearance, but you don't.
However, that isn't the main purpose of different classes of airspace. The main point of airspace is to define where separation services are provided by ATC.
In Canada, in the USA, or in France, two IFR aircraft are provided separation in Class D. But an IFR-VFR pair are not.
In Canada, in the USA, or in France, an IFR-VFR pair are provided separation in Class C. But a VFR-VFR pair are not.
As BeaconSlash said, what airspace exists at what altitudes might vary from country to country. But whatever the airspace class happens to be, the services provided in it should be the same.
The_Arsonist1324@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
canuck791@reddit
In Canada we don't have Bravo airspace. That's a big difference.
Ruepic@reddit
I prefer this diagram for Canadian airspace. https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/files/migrated/tc_6010_airspaceposter_e.pdf
EliteEthos@reddit
Did you read what was posted? Both diagrams detail the respective airspaces.
I’m not sure I understand what your question is… you’re provided your own answer.
RaiseTheDed@reddit
Sorry, I commented something a bit snarky not realizing that OP posted two diagrams.
EliteEthos@reddit
No worries. Been there done that.
happyherbivore@reddit
The diagrams OP posted cover some but not all of the info that differs between countries, notably Northern and Arctic control areas.
RaiseTheDed@reddit
It seems you didn't read the question. They're asking what the difference between the US airspace and Canada's airspace.
happyherbivore@reddit
I can't speak to this in great detail as my knowledge isn't current and was from unsuccessful ATC training in Canada a while back.
It looks fairly similar for the southern control area for classes C thru G. Class B seens to be different, we have it based at 12 500 ft, up to class A everywhere in the SCA. SCA is generally the part of Canada closer to the border, as a band from coast to chat over most of the populated areas, where most of the domestic flying occurs.
It gets different in Northern and Arctic control areas, with class G extending to FL230 and FL270 respectively, which has class A above and no class B.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I'm an American aviation student and I've been wondering about Canada's airspace. I know that the US and Canada handle airspaces differently, but I want to know how these classifications are different and how they are similar. Is Canada's Class C more similar to the US's Class C or Class B? Are D and E 1:1?
Please downvote this comment until it collapses.
Questions about this comment? Please see this wiki post before contacting the mods.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.