1.1 Definitions & Exemptions

This lesson covers the foundational language of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and the specific exemptions granted to hang gliders.

Note

In the CARs, regulations that apply to all aircraft use the word aircraft, regulations that apply to all gliders use gliders, and regulations that apply specifically to hang gliders use the term hang glider.

1. Definitions

Here are some definitions that are important in understanding the CARs:

• Aircraft: Any man-made object that flies is an aircraft. A glider is an aircraft. Hang gliders are gliders and paragliders are hang gliders. Other types of aircraft include balloons, airships, rotor-wings (helicopters and autogyros), airplanes, dirigibles, parachutes, drones (unmanned aircraft), etc.

• Aerodrome: An aerodrome is any facility used for the take-off and landing of aircraft – it can be on land or water. An aerodrome can be registered and will appear in the CFS and on VNC charts. An airport is a certified aerodrome i.e. one that meets strict safety requirements.

• Airport: A certified aerodrome.

• Heliport: An aerodrome for aircraft capable of vertical take-off/landing.

• Controlled aerodrome: An aerodrome where there is a tower providing ATC services.

• Aerodrome traffic: All traffic on and around the aerodrome.

• Day: The time between the beginning of morning civil twilight and the end of evening civil twilight.

  Note

  Civil twilight is when the centre of the disk sun is 6 degrees below the horizon.

• Night: The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.

• VFR and IFR flights: A VFR flight is conducted by an aircraft following visual flight rules. An IFR flight is conducted following instrument flight rules.

• Air Traffic Control (ATC): ATC units provide service to IFR aircraft (and to some VFR aircraft in Class B and C) in controlled airspace. An ATC unit can be a control tower which controls traffic within a Control Zone (CZ), a terminal control unit which controls traffic within a Terminal Control Area (TCA) or an area control centre which controls IFR traffic in controlled airspace outside of CZs and TCAs.

  ATC provides advisories, clearances and instructions. An advisory is information that is useful to a pilot (e.g. weather, altimeter setting, number and type of aircraft around an airport). A clearance is an authorization that allows a pilot to do something (e.g. take off, land, climb to a specific altitude). An instruction is an action to be executed without delay.

• FICs and FSSs: Flight Information Centres (FICs) and Flight Service Stations (FSSs) are NavCan points of contact to obtain weather/NOTAM info and file flight plans and they can be reached by telephone on the ground and by radio in the air. FIC provide regional services and FSS provide local services. All of these services are also available online on NavCan’s Flight Planning Portal.

• “FL” or “flight level”: Altitude expressed in hundreds of feet, indicated on an altimeter set to 29.92 inches of mercury or 1 013.2 millibars. For example, FL 240 is 24,000 ft.

• Mandatory Frequency (MF) Area: An area in the vicinity of an uncontrolled aerodrome where the use of a specific radio frequency is prescribed. MFs are identified in the CFS and on VNCs.

• NOTAM: A Notice to Airman concerning the establishment or condition of, or change in, any aeronautical facility, service or procedure, or any hazard affecting aviation safety, the knowledge of which is essential to personnel engaged in flight operations. NOTAMs are available on NavCan’s Flight Planning Portal.

2. Exemptions from the CARs

Hang gliders are gliders which are aircraft. However, TC recognizes that hang gliders are not your typical aircraft, so the following exemptions have been granted:

• Hang glider pilots are exempt from rules requiring pilot licenses or permits.
• Hang gliders are exempt from registration.
• Hang gliders are exempt from airworthiness certification requirements meaning that a Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) or a flight permit is not required.
• Hang gliders are exempt from displaying nationality and registration marks.
• Hang gliders are exempt from maintaining and carrying log books.
• Hang gliders are exempt from carrying Day VFR instruments (except for a compass and altimeter in some situations).
• Hang gliders are exempt from the safety belt and safety harness requirements.
• Hang gliders need not be equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT).

Did you know?

Many aspects of hang gliding in Canada are “self-regulated” by HPAC/ACVL (e.g., pilot certification).

It is important to understand that TC has not delegated its regulatory responsibilities to HPAC/ACVL. The HPAC/ACVL regulations apply only to its members and nobody else.

TC’s decision not to over-regulate hang gliding is based on the existence of HPAC/ACVL and its assumption that the HPAC/ACVL makes effort to educate Canadian HG/PG pilots to share Canadian airspace safely with other aircraft. If the time comes that TC loses trust in the ability of the HPAC/ACVL to do so, it could impose rules.