Standard 821 – Air Traffic Flow Management

Table of contents

821.01 Interpretation

Definitions

(1) The words and expressions used in this Standard have the same meaning as in the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations with the following additions:

  • Flow control. Measures used to adjust the flow of traffic into a given airspace, along a given route, or operating at a given aerodrome, to ensure the most effective utilization of the airspace or aerodrome.
  • Metering. A flow control measure whereby a minimum interval is established between aircraft over a specific fix, into a defined airspace, or to a specific unit.
  • Operational capacity. A dynamic, time-specific capacity value derived from strategic capacity, to be updated as required and used in pre-tactical and tactical air traffic flow management (ATFM).
  • Strategic capacity. A measurement of the ability of the ATC unit to provide safe, orderly, and efficient service to aircraft during normal circumstances expressed as the number of aircraft entering a specified controlled airspace or operating at a specific aerodrome in a given period of time.

  • Traffic management initiative (TMI). Technique used to manage air traffic demand for an airspace, along a given route, or at an aerodrome, to ensure the most effective utilization of the available airspace or aerodrome capacity. It is a measure that is applied temporarily without changing the level of service of an ATC unit.

    Note: A TMI can be a short-term measure that is applied when circumstances limit capacity for a few hours, or it can be medium term when capacity is limited for a few weeks. In both cases, it is possible to predict when capacity will return to normal without changing the level of service.

821.02 – Capacity Management - Staffing

(1) Staffing of ATC units shall be done by making every effort to provide sufficient capacity to cater to both normal and peak traffic levels while ensuring that an acceptable level of aviation safety will be met. The following shall be considered:

  1. (a) the daily staffing requirements to meet the expected demand for service;

    Note: The daily staff requirement may vary to accommodate usual patterns of higher or lower demand throughout the year. For example, there might be a higher/lower demand during certain hours or days of the week, or higher/lower demand during certain months or weeks of the year.

  2. (b) the total number of qualified individuals required to address the daily staffing requirements; and
  3. (c) anticipated retirements, sick leave patterns, leave entitlements, non-control duties and training requirements.

(2) The traffic demand and staffing requirements shall be re-assessed at least yearly.

(3) A procedure to augment staff must be in place to provide sufficient capacity to cater to traffic levels and must include alternative actions if sufficient staff is not available.

821.03 – Strategic Capacity Determination

(1) Strategic capacity shall be based on historic traffic demand and anticipated demand for the forthcoming year or planning period.

(2) Stakeholders shall be consulted to identify potential impacts on daily staffing requirements. These impacts could include but are not limited to:

  1. (a) airspace limitations or restrictions;
  2. (b) planned equipment outages or maintenance;
  3. (c) planned runway closures;
  4. (d) airport construction projects;
  5. (e) special aviation events;
  6. (f) local events that could generate higher than normal traffic demand;
  7. (g) planned ATM infrastructure or system upgrades;
  8. (h) flight schedules; or
  9. (i) flight training.

821.04 – Operational Capacity Determination

(1) Operational capacity shall be determined by assessing the near-term demand and ATC capacity by taking account of circumstances that may affect demand or capacity, including but not limited to the following:

  1. (a) tactical airspace limitation or restriction;
  2. (b) significant weather event;
  3. (c) unplanned runway closure;
  4. (d) runway availability and configuration;
  5. (e) unplanned equipment outage;
  6. (f) ATC staffing;
  7. (g) contingency events; or
  8. (h) any other event that might unexpectedly increase demand or ATC workload.

(2) A traffic management function shall be established to:

  1. (a) in coordination with applicable ATC units, determine operational capacity;
  2. (b) in coordination with concerned stakeholders, determine requirements for flow control of IFR traffic;
  3. (c) coordinate with appropriate ATC units and ATFM units when flow control is implemented outside of Canadian Domestic Airspace (CDA);
  4. (d) maintain up to date public notification of capacity for the airports listed in 821.05(1); and
  5. (e) ensure flow control information affecting operations in Canadian Domestic Airspace and in the Gander Oceanic Control Area is available to affected stakeholders.

(3) Individuals performing traffic management functions shall be competent in the following:

  1. (a) operation of all systems and equipment used;
  2. (b) understanding of areas of responsibility within the CDA and adjacent airspace;
  3. (c) operational impact of different types of weather events or conditions;
  4. (d) understanding of how the different flow management options are applied and their operational impact;
  5. (e) metering;
  6. (f) knowledge of human performance and limitations relevant to air traffic control;
  7. (g) knowledge of traffic flows and airspace agreements between an area control centre and other underlying and adjacent air traffic control units;
  8. (h) understanding of NOTAMs and their operational impact;
  9. (i) maintaining situational awareness when coordinating TMIs; and
  10. (j) maintaining situational awareness of demand at the airports listed in 821.05(1).

(4) A record of how the competency of items listed in (3) are achieved and maintained shall be maintained for each individual performing traffic management functions.

821.05 – Notifications of Capacity

(1) The strategic capacity must be made publicly available daily between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00 local time for the following airports:

  1. (a) Toronto - Lester B. Pearson International
  2. (b) Montréal - Pierre Elliot Trudeau International
  3. (c) Calgary International
  4. (d) Vancouver International

(2) In the application of (1), the operational capacity must be displayed when it differs from the strategic capacity.

821.06 – Flow Control

(1) Procedures shall be established for each ATC unit to:

  1. (a) advise individuals performing traffic management functions when the expected IFR traffic demand will exceed the operational capacity of that ATC unit;
  2. (b) apply flow control when requested to do so by the traffic management function;
  3. (c) in coordination with concerned stakeholders, develop procedures for flow control of VFR traffic; and
  4. (d) Implement the procedures developed in accordance with (c) when VFR traffic demand exceeds capacity.

(2) Procedures shall be established to :

  1. (a) determine operational capacity;
  2. (b) implement TMIs;
  3. (c) temporarily increase operational capacity to exceed the strategic capacity;
  4. (d) keep a record when TMIs are implemented at airports listed in 821.05 (1);
  5. (e) as of January 1st, 2028, keep a record when TMIs are implemented in Class A, B, C or D airspace for any period exceeding one hour, or when a NOTAM is issued in respect to the TMI;
  6. (f) ensure the availability of the records referred to in (d) and (e) to affected stakeholders; and
  7. (g) schedule daily communications with stakeholders to plan, revise, and make publicly available, the operational capacity in a defined airspace or route when required, and the operational capacity at the airports listed in 821.05(1).

(3) Retain TMI records made in accordance with (2) (d) and (e) for a period of at least 5 years.

Date modified: