XC Flying & Airspace

More info to come on this page - this page will end up containing tips and info on how to improve your Cross Country Flying.

Southwestern Ontario Airspace (Picture of a Sectional Map here)

I did some more digging around on the local airspace. I was surprised that I only received one response (from Peter Morgan) on trying to explain the airspace around us. I called the FIC (Flight Information Center) and they were ZERO help. I am not sure if I got the wrong guy or the night janitor (it was 10:30PM) or what but he told me to call the Kitchener airport tower. They are in operation til 11PM so I figured why not! This guy was a lot more help and I was surprised how many times he had to interrupt our conversation with incoming and outgoing traffic at Kitchener at this time of night.

I'll try to lay out what I think is correct dimensions of airspace. I was concerned as there are rings around both Kitchener and Toronto that are REALLY close to Belwood and the info I laid out below in my original email to this YahooGroup is way off. Remember, hang gliders are only allowed in class G airspace if you don't have HAGAR and ARE allowed in class E IF you have HAGAR and IF you call in to flight services to let them know you are there.

Watch the AGL vs ASL below.

Kitchener (London and Sarnia would be the same)
- within 5NM - from ground to 4000' ASL (2900' AGL) is class C
- within 15NM (which is about 2NM south of where we tow from) - G from ground to 700' AGL; E from 700' AGL to 12,500' ASL; C above that
- outside of 15NM - G from ground to 2200' AGL; E from 2200' AGL to 12,500' ASL; C above that

Toronto
- within 10NM - from ground to 2500' ASL (1700' AGL) is class C
- within 12NM - 1700' - 2000' ASL and up is class C
- within 15NM - 2000' - 2500' ASL and up is class C
- within 19NM - 2500' - 3500' ASL and up is class C
- within 26NM - 3500' - 12500' ASL and up is class C
** I believe anything UNDER those areas is class E so theoretically (if I am right) you COULD fly a hang glider within 8NM of the tower at YYZ if you can stay below those ceilings.

I've heard a few people talk about flying XC due South from Belwood as there is a sliver of airspace between the Kitchener and Toronto airports. It's about a 15 mile long and a 5 mile wide (at it's largest part) strip that runs just East of Guelph. That area is in the 26NM area of the Toronto area and the guy at the Kitchener tower confirmed that class E is from the ground to 4500' ASL. He perked up when I talked to him about this area as he was surprised to hear that I was even considering flying thru there (he had no idea hang gliders were allowed in class E). He said there is so much traffic in that area with the Kitchener, Toronto airspaces, it's right over the Guelph airport and a busy area for transitioning traffic from all the other airports including London, Hamilton and Brampton. I reiterated that we do have the 'right' to go in there if we call FIC and submit our flight plan but his come-back was that there is 'legal' and 'safe' flying. He mentioned the Rockton glider port area to the SE of Kitchener and he said there are almost daily occurrences of powered aircraft having to do what he termed as 'evasive maneuvers' to avoid the sail-planes.

I'll have to think pretty hard about going thru that area...it doesn't sound like fun.

I am glad I called....I was reluctant on doing so but the guy was great and of course enjoyed talking to another form of pilot. I'd recommend calling them if you have any questions. It's too bad that we 'should' be calling FIC (1-800-INFO-FSS) on every flight we do (since we are towing to over 2200' AGL on every flight (which also means that if you do tow over 2200' AGL, you need HAGAR)) but it was also good to hear that we DO show up on their RADAR as 'unconfirmed traffic' and they are required to re-route traffic around us. We show up on their RADAR but they can't tell altitude but have to divert any traffic around it.

Waypoints for your GPS/Flight Computers
Below are some files that you can load onto your GPS or instruments. The .g7t is a G7 to Windows file that includes proximity alarms for airspace restrictions. and the other files are for Flytec & Brauninger flight computers. The .fa5 draws proper airspace restrictions on your map page and the .fw5 file is other waypoints I've been using for XC destinations.

These were last updated on May-22-2008 but I don't guarantee 100% accuracy...get to know your airspace maps to ensure you are flying where you are allowed.

NavCanada "VFR Aircraft Operations" Supplement
June 5, 2008 - a note from Michelle at NavCanada:
"Attached is a final copy of the Toronto VFR Operations brochure for 2008. Thank you to those who provided input for its design.

As discussed at the most recent Recreational & Flight Training consultation session we are asking for your help to distribute these to VFR pilots who may operate in the Toronto area. A soft copy is attached, and will also be available to be downloaded from the internet here.

See the R&FT downloadable document attached below:

I've simplified the NavCan issued document to highlight the areas that concern us hang glider pilots. Download the .PNG file below and print it...it's a bit fuzzy when you print it so get to know the online version for more detail:

Here is a map of some XC tasks centred around MacPat's. Click on the coloured lines/shapes for a bit more info on the task. Zoom out to see some pubs to fly to! :)

View MacPat Tasks in a larger map

The attached KML file should always be used to get the most up-to-date coordinates but, as of July 29, 2009, here are the updated coordinates if you need to punch them into your GPS manually.

MacPat N43º 48.621' W80• 26.119'
10k-TRI SW - 43º 47.505' W80º 27.703'
10k-TRI NW - 43º 49.207' W80º 28.792'
25k-TRI SW - 43º 45.134' W80º 31.523'
25k-TRI NW - 43º 50.100' W80º 32.880'
50k-TRI SW - 43º 45.122' W80º 39.085'
50k-TRI NW - 43º 54.847' W80º 36.524'
100k-O&R - 43º 48.357' W80º 05.001'

Use this handy tool to convert the most up-to-date Google Map to a GPX file to upload to your Garmin GPSs. (courtesy of Ryan Wood). Use the direct URL of http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=108668056140... to do the conversion.