NCR-024-2017
Pursuant to subsection 5.9(2) of the Aeronautics Act, and after having determined that the exemption is in the public interest and is not likely to adversely affect aviation safety or security, I hereby exempt persons conducting fly-ins at which no competitive and no aerobatic activities take place from the requirements of section 603.01 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), subject to the following conditions.
Section 603.01 states that no person shall conduct a special aviation event unless the person complies with the provisions of a special flight operations certificate - special aviation event issued by the Minister pursuant to section 603.02.
Interpretation
- Section 101.01 of the CARs
"special aviation event" - means an air show, a low level air race, an aerobatic competition, a fly-in or a balloon festival. (manifestation aéronautique spéciale)
- Standard 623.00- Interpretation
"fly-in" - means a prearranged meeting of a number of aircraft at a specified aerodrome which will take place before an invited assembly of persons and at which no:
- a) Competitive flying; and
- b) Aerial demonstration
will take place. (rassemblement d’aéronefs)
"invited assembly of persons" - means, pursuant to section 101.01 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, any number of persons who have been invited, by any means, to attend a special aviation event. The term excludes competition judges, the holder of a special flight operations certificate, members of a certificate holder’s staff and members of a participant’s support team. (rassemblement de personnes invitées)
Purpose
The purpose of this exemption is to allow persons conducting non-aerobatic and non-competitive “fly-in” activities to do so without applying for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) as required by section 603.01 of the CARs. In particular, this exemption permits the conduct of non-competitive activities such as “poker derbies” and “breakfast fly-ins”, provided no aerial demonstrations takes place, whether invited guests are present or not.
Application
This exemption applies to persons conducting fly-ins at which no competitive and no aerial demonstration activities take place in accordance with Standard 623 - Special Flight Operations.
This exemption does not apply to “fly-ins” where any of the following activities will occur:
- a) Aerobatics;
- b) Competitions;
- c) High speed low level passes;
- d) Non-standard circuit procedures;
- e) Spot landings;
- f) Flour bombing; or
- g) Aerial demonstrations.
This exemption ceases to apply to a person who breaches a condition of the exemption.
Conditions
- No person participating in a “fly-in” activity shall engage in competitive and aerobatic activities whether invited guests are present or not.
- Any person operating under this exemption shall comply with all the requirements of the Canadian Aviation Regulations not specifically exempted in this exemption.
Validity
This exemption is in effect from January 1, 2018 until the earliest of the following:
- a) December 31, 2020 at 23:59 (EST);
- b) The date on which section 603.01 of the CARs and Standard 623 – Special Flight Operations are amended.
- c) The date on which this exemption is cancelled in writing by the Minister, where he is of the opinion that the exemption is no longer in the public interest, or that it is likely to adversely affect aviation safety or security.
DATED at Ottawa, Ontario this 22nd day of December, 2017, on behalf of the Minister of Transport.
“Original signed by”
Aaron McCrorie
Director General, Aviation Safety Regulatory Framework
Civil Aviation
- Date modified: