CAP Rant
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- Panama Jack
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CAP Rant
Do any others out there who have been using Jepp Charts for years and seen the enhancements figure that the good people who design and maintain the Canada Air Pilot deliberately try to maintain a tricky "ha ha. . .gotcha!" format (best case scenario) or are too thick to implement logical, human-factors friendly improvements (worst case scenario)? Arrrrrrrrghhhhh!
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Re: CAP Rant
I thought I had repressed the memories of the CAP pain until you brought it up. That's a lot of therapy down the drain.
For those using Lucifer's plates:
Write it up as a safety concern, see if your SMS is worth the paper its written on.
For those using Lucifer's plates:
Write it up as a safety concern, see if your SMS is worth the paper its written on.

Re: CAP Rant

I have always prefered Jepps, however, for a little bit of clarification, to what are you referring?
- Panama Jack
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Re: CAP Rant
A couple of, quick examples:
For Aerodrome Charts (departure procedures)
"SPEC VIS". WTF? Can't you just print the visibilities on the plate?
"NOT ASSESSED"- Jeppesen writes "Pilots are responsible for determining minimum climb gradient and/or routing for obstacle and terrain avoidance. Pilots may depart IFR by using a take-off visibility that will allow avoidance of obstacles on departure, in no case less than 1/2 miles" for these Cupcake Corner Aerodromes.
I am sure I could find more examples, but it is bed time here and my wife is already miffed that I am giving more attention to my iPad than her. Over to you Changes in Latitudes.
For Aerodrome Charts (departure procedures)
"SPEC VIS". WTF? Can't you just print the visibilities on the plate?
"NOT ASSESSED"- Jeppesen writes "Pilots are responsible for determining minimum climb gradient and/or routing for obstacle and terrain avoidance. Pilots may depart IFR by using a take-off visibility that will allow avoidance of obstacles on departure, in no case less than 1/2 miles" for these Cupcake Corner Aerodromes.
I am sure I could find more examples, but it is bed time here and my wife is already miffed that I am giving more attention to my iPad than her. Over to you Changes in Latitudes.
Re: CAP Rant
Isn't all this basic IFR stuff? You should know the A/C Categories and SPEC VIS for each (1, 1.5, 2 & 2)Panama Jack wrote:A couple of, quick examples:
For Aerodrome Charts (departure procedures)
"SPEC VIS". WTF? Can't you just print the visibilities on the plate?
"NOT ASSESSED"- Jeppesen writes "Pilots are responsible for determining minimum climb gradient and/or routing for obstacle and terrain avoidance. Pilots may depart IFR by using a take-off visibility that will allow avoidance of obstacles on departure, in no case less than 1/2 miles" for these Cupcake Corner Aerodromes.
I am sure I could find more examples, but it is bed time here and my wife is already miffed that I am giving more attention to my iPad than her. Over to you Changes in Latitudes.
Re: CAP Rant
For folks like us who don't remember Canadian regs since we operate under foreign ones, which are different than TC's, PJ has a very valid point.
Jepps are by far a superior product.
Jepps are by far a superior product.
- Beefitarian
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- Panama Jack
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Re: CAP Rant
Nark hit the nail on the head. The presentation of important information on CAP charts are so awkward and unique, that it can be easily argued that they are a hazard for foreign instrument pilots in Canada.
Canadian IFR regs have some very special nuances (speaking from an international aviation perspective) which can easily trap the unsuspecting pilot and the publications don't help much.
As an aside, I recently saw some Chinese local approach plates- information is all in Chinese. Thank God for Jepps!
Canadian IFR regs have some very special nuances (speaking from an international aviation perspective) which can easily trap the unsuspecting pilot and the publications don't help much.
As an aside, I recently saw some Chinese local approach plates- information is all in Chinese. Thank God for Jepps!
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Re: CAP Rant
Mmmyeap, it is, so here's a cookie for you because you know everything and have a leather jacket to prove it.GTAFI wrote:
Isn't all this basic IFR stuff? You should know the A/C Categories and SPEC VIS for each (1, 1.5, 2 & 2)
But, say that you didn't, and its a dark and stormy night, and you had a concern about a certain procedure. Let's say to your left is a stack of CAPS, to your right is me, First Officer Stoopid

We choose things for safety and efficiency in this business; not to ego-pump your IFR knowledge. The jepp charts are the choice and I sure appreciate them when flying overseas.
- Cat Driver
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Re: CAP Rant
Flying IFR is far more than being a whiz kid on how to interpret the cluster @#$! that Canada has developed in their charts and never ending rules.
Jepps are the charts of choice because you can actually figure out the format.
Anyhow it looks like you might be a relatively new comer to aviation GTAFI, maybe even a graduate of one of the aviation colleges.
Here is a situation we ran into one day in southern Brazil....I forget what city it was but we had overnight ed there and had planned on going to Sao Paulo that morning...but...our employer called us on the sat phone and said we were to pick him up at the Embrarier factory in Sao Jose Dos Campos Brazil.
We could not find our IFR charts for that airport so I went to a local charter company and asked them if they could copy the charts for me, no problem..
...until I looked at them, they were in Portuguese.
So what would you have done GTAFI?
The weather forecast for that destination was borderline IMC.
Jepps are the charts of choice because you can actually figure out the format.
Anyhow it looks like you might be a relatively new comer to aviation GTAFI, maybe even a graduate of one of the aviation colleges.
Here is a situation we ran into one day in southern Brazil....I forget what city it was but we had overnight ed there and had planned on going to Sao Paulo that morning...but...our employer called us on the sat phone and said we were to pick him up at the Embrarier factory in Sao Jose Dos Campos Brazil.
We could not find our IFR charts for that airport so I went to a local charter company and asked them if they could copy the charts for me, no problem..
...until I looked at them, they were in Portuguese.
So what would you have done GTAFI?
The weather forecast for that destination was borderline IMC.
- Beefitarian
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Re: CAP Rant
Great attitude bud! I don't know eveything and neither does anyone here.Changes in Latitudes wrote:Mmmyeap, it is, so here's a cookie for you because you know everything and have a leather jacket to prove it.GTAFI wrote:
Isn't all this basic IFR stuff? You should know the A/C Categories and SPEC VIS for each (1, 1.5, 2 & 2)
But, say that you didn't, and its a dark and stormy night, and you had a concern about a certain procedure. Let's say to your left is a stack of CAPS, to your right is me, First Officer Stoopid, holding the Jepp version of the same procedure. Who's going to clean your ego up off the floor when F-O Stoopid clarifies the situation before you can even get the metal spindley things to line up to open the damn page on the CAP?
We choose things for safety and efficiency in this business; not to ego-pump your IFR knowledge. The jepp charts are the choice and I sure appreciate them when flying overseas.
Well, I am not new (or too new to aviation) and I did not go to one of those colleges either Cat.Cat Driver wrote:Flying IFR is far more than being a whiz kid on how to interpret the cluster @#$! that Canada has developed in their charts and never ending rules.
Jepps are the charts of choice because you can actually figure out the format.
Anyhow it looks like you might be a relatively new comer to aviation GTAFI, maybe even a graduate of one of the aviation colleges.
Here is a situation we ran into one day in southern Brazil....I forget what city it was but we had overnight ed there and had planned on going to Sao Paulo that morning...but...our employer called us on the sat phone and said we were to pick him up at the Embrarier factory in Sao Jose Dos Campos Brazil.
We could not find our IFR charts for that airport so I went to a local charter company and asked them if they could copy the charts for me, no problem..
...until I looked at them, they were in Portuguese.
So what would you have done GTAFI?
The weather forecast for that destination was borderline IMC.
As for the Brazil issue, I probably would have been more preapred than that, in either case knowing spanish helps with the portuguese

Re: CAP Rant
Simple...Google translateCat Driver wrote:
Here is a situation we ran into one day in southern Brazil....I forget what city it was but we had overnight ed there and had planned on going to Sao Paulo that morning...but...our employer called us on the sat phone and said we were to pick him up at the Embrarier factory in Sao Jose Dos Campos Brazil.
We could not find our IFR charts for that airport so I went to a local charter company and asked them if they could copy the charts for me, no problem..
...until I looked at them, they were in Portuguese.
So what would you have done GTAFI?
The weather forecast for that destination was borderline IMC.

- Cat Driver
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Re: CAP Rant
Of course it is nice to be prepared but when you are flying from country to country year after year eventually something goes wrong with the charts and all the rest of the stuff you might need.As for the Brazil issue, I probably would have been more preapred than that,
In that case I found an English speaking pilot who translated enough words on the chart so we could use it.
As it turned out the weather was not that bad and we broke out way above the altitude we had set to miss the approach.
As an aside I ended up detained by the Brazilian Federal Police a few months later in Brasilia because they found my airspace use paper work had expired a few weeks earlier.....lucky for us we were flying for someone with real good leverage with the feds and we were released after about half a day.
I'm finished with all that B.S. now and wish I had retired years before I did.
If I had to fly again I would go back to FAA part 91....so much more sane than all the B.S. Canada generates.
Re: CAP Rant
There currently is a CAP/RCAP Improvement Project underway at NAV CANADA. I also heard (unofficial rumour mill) that the next cycle will see some of the changes. One can be hopeful.
PAJ
PAJ
Re: CAP Rant
Jack, I can appreicate your level of patience using charts you're not familiar with. I get pretty grumpy too when there is a difference that I don't understand when I'm abroad, I also share the feeling (when in the heat of the moment or shortly there after) that the folks making the charts are purposely trying to make it difficult or that there is no quality control. Although after the situation settles I realize it is usually my haste somewhere along the line that caused the stress.
The CAP is to be used with its suppliment the CAP GEN. The CAP GEN will answer all your questions when you don't understand something. It's best to review it before reaching 30 knots.
The CAP is to be used with its suppliment the CAP GEN. The CAP GEN will answer all your questions when you don't understand something. It's best to review it before reaching 30 knots.
Re: CAP Rant
Please elaborate!Panama Jack wrote:Canadian IFR regs have some very special nuances (speaking from an international aviation perspective) which can easily trap the unsuspecting pilot and the publications don't help much.
Re: CAP Rant
Photofly:
Noise abatement departure procedures 1 and 2
Approach Ban (we are allowed to follow FAA rules in that respect)
Canadians also talk funny on the radio. Most notably how we depart IFR, "On Departure fly runway heading contact switch to 123.45" oooh kay...
YYZ always does this, but they clear us for ILS in a none standard way. More than once we look at each and wonder aloud if that was a clearance.
Oh, and Roger, roger, Roger, roger...
Noise abatement departure procedures 1 and 2
Approach Ban (we are allowed to follow FAA rules in that respect)
Canadians also talk funny on the radio. Most notably how we depart IFR, "On Departure fly runway heading contact switch to 123.45" oooh kay...
YYZ always does this, but they clear us for ILS in a none standard way. More than once we look at each and wonder aloud if that was a clearance.
Oh, and Roger, roger, Roger, roger...
Last edited by Nark on Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: CAP Rant
Right off the top of my head are the arrivals into the Toronto. It is the only place in the world I've ever been to that you aren't allowed to descend to the altitude you're cleared to without some sort of heads up. They will clear you for the STAR and then somewhere down the line they will clear you to, say 4000. You can't just go ahead and descend to 4000, you have to descend via the altitude restrictions in the STAR. Everywhere else in the world will clear you to "descend to 4000 via the STAR".photofly wrote:Please elaborate!Panama Jack wrote:Canadian IFR regs have some very special nuances (speaking from an international aviation perspective) which can easily trap the unsuspecting pilot and the publications don't help much.
Nark also posted the very valid point of the disaster known as the approach ban. The wonderfully Canadian rule which will allow a back course circling approach but disallow an ILS all at the same one runway airport.
Re: CAP Rant
I can't think of anywhere in the world where you can disregard a SID or STAR altitude if you are cleared to a lower or higher one. Certainly not unique to Toronto as the rules apply anywhere in Canada. We've had this discussion here already.
As for noise 1 or 2, it's also the same anywhere in the world. I don't see how the CAPs have anything to do with them, they are ICAO.
Approach Ban? Yes the first many editions of the CAP that contained the new rules was backwards but they've got it fixed up now and besides, that's a TC thing. We're still the laughing stock of the world for the way that was rolled out.
Now RVOP/LVOP values being in the CFS and not in the CAP is beyond stupid. A value that could only matter to IFR pilots that can only be found in the VFR publication.
The biggest problem with the CAP is the lack of proofreading before publication but hey, we've got to save money somewhere. Have to pay for the last and the next Air Canada bankruptcies somehow right?
Yes it would be nice if SPEC VIS listed the vis, but I don't see how this is any more cryptic that all the different landing minima in depending on aircraft category in any plates including Jepps.
I think the problem is more with the cryptic rules of procedure design rather than the CAPs. NO PT comes to mind.
The only big difference I see between Jepps and CAPs is the nice block at the top with all the critical information in a easy to brief format. Doesn't help when your SOP requires an epic and deranged approach briefing such as mine does but it is nice for checking everything after a runway change.
As for noise 1 or 2, it's also the same anywhere in the world. I don't see how the CAPs have anything to do with them, they are ICAO.
Approach Ban? Yes the first many editions of the CAP that contained the new rules was backwards but they've got it fixed up now and besides, that's a TC thing. We're still the laughing stock of the world for the way that was rolled out.
Now RVOP/LVOP values being in the CFS and not in the CAP is beyond stupid. A value that could only matter to IFR pilots that can only be found in the VFR publication.
The biggest problem with the CAP is the lack of proofreading before publication but hey, we've got to save money somewhere. Have to pay for the last and the next Air Canada bankruptcies somehow right?
Yes it would be nice if SPEC VIS listed the vis, but I don't see how this is any more cryptic that all the different landing minima in depending on aircraft category in any plates including Jepps.
I think the problem is more with the cryptic rules of procedure design rather than the CAPs. NO PT comes to mind.
The only big difference I see between Jepps and CAPs is the nice block at the top with all the critical information in a easy to brief format. Doesn't help when your SOP requires an epic and deranged approach briefing such as mine does but it is nice for checking everything after a runway change.
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Re: CAP Rant
They've fixed the RVOP/LVOP thing with the latest edition. Now they state any levels of service less than standard at the bottom of the airport diagram, just above the departure minima. Putting it in the CFS was idiotic.
One thing I'm curious about is why the RVR approach ban even exists at this point, considering that in virtually every situation in which it can apply a landing is already disallowed due to the operating vis minimums (exception being LVOP runways).
Proofreading is a huge problem. Fixes missing names, wrong minima or missing stepdowns, etc. Used one of the NDB/DME approaches at Chatham as a pop quiz for a student last week - in the 'so tell me what's wrong with this plate' sense. At least the upshot is that they have to know how to read the things inside and out so that they're able to spot the errors..
One thing I'm curious about is why the RVR approach ban even exists at this point, considering that in virtually every situation in which it can apply a landing is already disallowed due to the operating vis minimums (exception being LVOP runways).
Proofreading is a huge problem. Fixes missing names, wrong minima or missing stepdowns, etc. Used one of the NDB/DME approaches at Chatham as a pop quiz for a student last week - in the 'so tell me what's wrong with this plate' sense. At least the upshot is that they have to know how to read the things inside and out so that they're able to spot the errors..

- complexintentions
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Re: CAP Rant
Lots of regional variances with procedures around the world, Canada isn't anything unique in that regard. For example, in Australia, if you are flying a STAR, and then ATC clears you direct to a waypoint further down on the STAR, you are expected to still comply with any speed/altitude restrictions abeam the waypoints you are now bypassing!
Jepps are great, but we switched to LIDO charts several years ago company-wide and now I quite like them. Again, some things to hate, but some things done much better than Jepp.
https://www.lhsystems.com/solutions-ser ... anual.html
Every format has its quirks, including Jepps. No need to hate on the CAP, maybe just learn it better? It's like changing a/c types, you have to figure out the idiosyncrasies. Otherwise the saying about the carpenter blaming his tools comes to mind...
Jepps are great, but we switched to LIDO charts several years ago company-wide and now I quite like them. Again, some things to hate, but some things done much better than Jepp.
https://www.lhsystems.com/solutions-ser ... anual.html
Every format has its quirks, including Jepps. No need to hate on the CAP, maybe just learn it better? It's like changing a/c types, you have to figure out the idiosyncrasies. Otherwise the saying about the carpenter blaming his tools comes to mind...
- Panama Jack
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Re: CAP Rant
complexintentions, I always appreciate your wise input and your positive, professional attitude.
The point to this rant is that Jeppesen (and I assume LIDO) are products that follow goal of continuous improvement to make their products easier to use. I don't mean for sloppy or unprofessional pilots. However, we are talking about publications which play an important role in operational safety. Remember the checklists of old which were hammered out by some secretary on a ribbon-type office typewriter? How about Smoke in the cockpit checklists that you needed to squint to read, or, my favorite, Airbus QRH checklists which had the applicable tail number in very fine print at the bottom of the checklist (so that half way through the emergency procedure, you realized you were doing it for the wrong aircraft).
We learned so much about the typography of cockpit documentation and approach plate design and presentation is just an extension of that. As numerous other forum members have identified, there are quality control issues at play here and, now that Nav Canada is assumedly privatized, customer service issues too. Yes, I consider myself a professional, and I will do my best to figure out the byzantine ways of CAP, but I will also continue to express my dissatisfaction. Nav Canada could learn some stuff from Jeppesen and Lido and things could be a LOT better.
The point to this rant is that Jeppesen (and I assume LIDO) are products that follow goal of continuous improvement to make their products easier to use. I don't mean for sloppy or unprofessional pilots. However, we are talking about publications which play an important role in operational safety. Remember the checklists of old which were hammered out by some secretary on a ribbon-type office typewriter? How about Smoke in the cockpit checklists that you needed to squint to read, or, my favorite, Airbus QRH checklists which had the applicable tail number in very fine print at the bottom of the checklist (so that half way through the emergency procedure, you realized you were doing it for the wrong aircraft).
We learned so much about the typography of cockpit documentation and approach plate design and presentation is just an extension of that. As numerous other forum members have identified, there are quality control issues at play here and, now that Nav Canada is assumedly privatized, customer service issues too. Yes, I consider myself a professional, and I will do my best to figure out the byzantine ways of CAP, but I will also continue to express my dissatisfaction. Nav Canada could learn some stuff from Jeppesen and Lido and things could be a LOT better.
- Big Bird Anonymous
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Re: CAP Rant
the Canada Air Pilot charts are a spinoff of the NOAA charts. Both are government commissioned legal documents.
Jeppesen charts were developed as a package with the Universal Avionics suite of products. It's a free market company with major industry influence.
It's not likely the NOAA or CAP charts will adapt to the free market standard since legal ramifications drive the process.
Jeppesen charts were developed as a package with the Universal Avionics suite of products. It's a free market company with major industry influence.
It's not likely the NOAA or CAP charts will adapt to the free market standard since legal ramifications drive the process.
Re: CAP Rant
I got my first look at some LIDO charts not too long ago and at first glance they look excellent.