Radar Coverage

[Driving Comet]

Long time reader, short time poster.

Just moved to the CYOW area. I would like to do my CPL cross country from Rockcliffe (CYRO) to Sarnia (CYZR). In terms of staying within radar coverage to utilize surveillance from I guess Montreal and Toronto Centre, how high would I need to plan for. Is there a golf ball at YOW?

[wingandaprayer]

That kind of depends, where are your two stops at?

[Driving Comet]

I definitely wanted to stop at Lindsay with cheaper fuel than other places. My other stop was either Buttonville, where I did my PPL, or somewhere closer westbound. I know the general requirements around Toronto for radar coverage, just not familiar with the Ottawa to around Peterborough area.

Are these the types of questions that should be forwarded to someone (shift manager?) at the ACCs with a call? Or would FIC be able to answer a question like that?

[Pratt X 3]

It has been awhile since I have done any low level flights along that route, however, if I recall, there is a RADAR gap at lower altitudes between the Ottawa VOR (YOW) and the Coehill VOR (VIE). The gap would be at the point where you would not be visible to the RADAR site at CYOW as well as the site at CYTR (Trenton). I have heard (as well as had happen to me) IFR aircraft be told that RADAR service was terminated while flying along V300 but can't recall when they were told to expect RADAR contact. As you asked, try contacting the shift supervisor at the Montreal ACC if you really need to know where and at what altitudes the gap exists. They should know. I doubt the FIC would be aware of that information.

[Braun]

Westbound we will have you radar at 4500' both ways.

[Driving Comet]

It has been awhile since I have done any low level flights along that route, however, if I recall, there is a RADAR gap at lower altitudes between the Ottawa VOR (YOW) and the Coehill VOR (VIE). The gap would be at the point where you would not be visible to the RADAR site at CYOW as well as the site at CYTR (Trenton). I have heard (as well as had happen to me) IFR aircraft be told that RADAR service was terminated while flying along V300 but can't recall when they were told to expect RADAR contact. As you asked, try contacting the shift supervisor at the Montreal ACC if you really need to know where and at what altitudes the gap exists. They should know. I doubt the FIC would be aware of that information.

Thanks.

Westbound we will have you radar at 4500' both ways.

That's great, thanks. I was planning higher than that as well. Are you in CZUL/CZYZ? (Just wondering)

[Braun]

Yup and YOW terminal is controlled from the YUL ACC just in case you were wondering. If you were planning above 4500 for sure you will have coverage the whole way.

[Driving Comet]

Yup and YOW terminal is controlled from the YUL ACC just in case you were wondering. If you were planning above 4500 for sure you will have coverage the whole way.

I wanted to shoot up to CZUL this summer and see if I could get a tour of the ACC. That's down the drain now though, as my car got stolen last week. Thanks for the response.

So heres a question for the controllers, no point in making a new topic. I always thought that you were really only going to find bilingual ATC in quebec. After listening to Ottawa tower, this is evidently not the case. Are there regulations in Canada as to which ACC/TWRs are suppose to be bilingual? I know a couple controllers in the Toronto area, and they are english only, so clearly its only particular regions. I have no problem with bilingualism, I'm just wondering if NAVCAN has sections that must be.

[Braun]

Well if ever you find your car and want a tour just let me know. As for the bilingual stuff Ottawa tower and terminal are indeed bilingual and I think it may be the only site outside quebec that is bilingual. Oh and yes there is a radar its to the southeast of the airport between the 32 and 25 intersections.

[yrp]

Westbound we will have you radar at 4500' both ways.

I used to fly that route a couple of times each summer. It has been 2 years, and Braun would know better than me, but I seem to recall a small gap - only around 20 miles. Thought that was true at 4500 but maybe just 35. Anyway, it is a small gap if any.

[Aeros]

So heres a question for the controllers, no point in making a new topic. I always thought that you were really only going to find bilingual ATC in quebec. After listening to Ottawa tower, this is evidently not the case. Are there regulations in Canada as to which ACC/TWRs are suppose to be bilingual? I know a couple controllers in the Toronto area, and they are english only, so clearly its only particular regions. I have no problem with bilingualism, I'm just wondering if NAVCAN has sections that must be.

There is a list of the various units that provide service in both French and English in CAR 602.134. All of the ATC units and FSS provide services in English (CAR 602.135) so that list really is a list of the ones that also provide service in French.

[NJ]

It's Montreal Centre, all the ATS units in Quebec plus Ottawa Tower. If you are flying between the Magdelin [sic?] Islands and Quebec along some airway there, Radio Magdelin will provide translation of your clearance relayed from Moncton ACC.