204 - High Level Altitude Assignments

Question 1

Assigning Altitudes

Answer 1

When assigning altitudes to IFR or VFR aircraft, consider the elevation of the aerodrome and surrounding terrain. Assign cruising altitudes and flight levels as indicated in Assignable Altitudes and Flight Levels.

Question 2

Vertical Separation

Answer 2

Apply vertical separation to IFR and CVFR aircraft by assigning different altitudes.
Minima if Either Aircraft is a Non‑RVSM Aircraft
If either aircraft is a non‑RVSM aircraft, apply one of the following minima:
* 1000 feet when either aircraft is below FL290
* 2000 feet when both of the following conditions are met: ◦ Both aircraft are at or above FL290 ◦ Either aircraft is at or below FL590
* 5000 feet when both aircraft are above FL590
Minima if Both Aircraft are RVSM Aircraft
If both aircraft are RVSM aircraft, apply one of the following minima:
* 1000 feet when both aircraft are at or below FL410
* 2000 feet when both following conditions are met:
◦ Either aircraft is above FL410
◦ Either aircraft is at or below FL590
* **5000 feet **when both aircraft are above FL590

Question 3

ATS Surveillance Separation For Aircraft on Reciprocal Tracks

Answer 3

For aircraft on reciprocal tracks in an ATS surveillance environment, you may discontinue vertical separation if you observe on the situation display that the aircraft have passed, and one of the conditions indicated in the following table applies:

If ATS surveillance source is or includes DND-NWS > 5 miles

If ATS surveillance source includes MLAT/WAM, DND-NG, or RSE but does not inlcude DND-NWS and one of the following applies:
* Altitude readouts are displayed for both aircraft
* Both aircraft are at or below 15000 ft ASL
> PPSs do not overlap

All other situations > 3 miles

With ATS surveillance control service, a wake turbulence standard may be required.

Question 4

Glossary > Reciprocal Track

Answer 4

In the application of separation, a term used to indicate tracks that converge or diverge at an angle of 136° to 180° inclusive.

Question 5

Glossary > Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

Answer 5

The application of 1000 ft vertical separation between RVSM aircraft in RVSM airspace.

Question 6

Glossary > State Aircraft

Answer 6

Any aircraft used for military, customs, police or other law enforcement services of a state.

Question 7

Altitude Instructions > RVSM

Answer 7

Apply RVSM criteria and procedures to only RVSM aircraft operating within RVSM airspace. Do not provide RVSM criteria to a formation of aircraft

Question 8

Aircraft May Not Be RVSM Approved

Answer 8

If you suspect an aircraft is not approved to operate in RVSM airspace, ask the pilot to confirm RVSM approval status.
“Confirm RVSM approved [unable issue clearance into RVSM airspace, (maintain/descend to/climb to) (altitude)]”

Question 9

Altitude Assignments RVSM

Answer 9

Assign altitudes to RVSM aircraft in preference to non-RVSM aircraft.

Question 10

Altitude Instructions > RVSM

Answer 10

Do not clear a non-RVSM aircraft to enter RVSM airspace unless the aircraft is any of the following: * A state aircraft
* On an initial delivery flight
* An aircraft that was formerly RVSM-certified but has experienced an equipment failure and is being flown to a maintenance facility for repair/re-certification
* A mercy or humanitarian flight (flights requesting medical priority handling are considered to be mercy or humanitarian)
* A photographic survey aircraft (authorization to operate in RVSM airspace applies to the surveying or mapping areas and not flight to or from the areas)
* Conducting a flight check of a NAVAID (authorization to operate in RVSM airspace applies to flight check operations and not flights to or from flight checks)
* Conducting a monitoring/certification or developmental flight

Question 11

Provided a non-RVSM aircraft will be separated from other aircraft by the applicable vertical, lateral, or longitudinal separation minimum, you may do either of the following:

Answer 11

Provided a non-RVSM aircraft will be separated from other aircraft by the applicable vertical, lateral, or longitudinal separation minimum, you may do either of the following:
* Clear the aircraft to climb or descend through RVSM airspace.[10]
* Level-off the aircraft in RVSM airspace for traffic management

[10] Operators are permitted to file a flight plan to conduct the climb/descent through RVSM airspace only if the aircraft is capable of a continuous climb/descent through RVSM airspace at a normal rate and does not need to level off at an intermediate altitude for operational considerations

Question 12

Terminav > Vertical Navigation (VNAV)

Answer 12

An RNAV function that calculates, displays and provides guidance to maintain a vertical profile or path.

Question 13

Glossary > Conflict

Answer 13

… with respect to ATC service, the actual or predicted convergence of aircraft that violates one or more separation minima.

Question 14

Amending Clearances or Instructions

Answer 14

If a pilot requests a flight plan change:
* Approve the change and include the exact nature of the change in the clearance.
* If you are unable to approve the change, provide the following to the pilot:
◦ The reason for non-approval
◦ If appropriate, a suggested alternative

Question 15

Denying Pilot Requests

Answer 15

When a request from a pilot is denied, provide a reason. The pilot’s situational awareness is improved when you provide a reason.

Question 16

Glossary > Crossing Track

Answer 16

In the application of separation, a term used to indicate tracks that converge or diverge at an angle of 45° to 135° inclusive.

Question 17

Position Reporting

Answer 17

Confirm that all information in position reports and flight plans is valid and accurate.

Question 18

Appropriate Altitude for Direction of Flight Confirmation

Answer 18

Confirm that the altitude in position reports and flight plans is appropriate for the direction of flight.

Question 19

Appropriate Altitude for Direction of Flight

Answer 19

If the altitude is not appropriate for the direction of flight, inform the pilot.[17]
* For aircraft that are in and will remain in controlled airspace, or are in uncontrolled airspace but will enter controlled airspace at some point, issue a clearance to the appropriate altitude:
“For direction of flight, would you prefer (altitude) or (altitude)”
* For aircraft that are in and will remain in uncontrolled airspace:
“For direction of flight, you should be at an (even/odd) altitude”
* For VFR aircraft:
“For direction of flight, you should be at an (even/odd) altitude plus five hundred feet”

[17] Although the pilot is responsible for conforming to Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), ATC can assist by detecting and reporting any discrepancy.

Question 20

Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment

Answer 20

You may assign an altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight in the following situations:
* The following conditions apply:
◦ No alternate separation minima can be applied.
◦ The altitude has been approved by affected sectors/units.
◦ The aircraft will be cleared to an appropriate altitude as soon as the conditions permit.

Question 21

Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment

Answer 21

You may assign an altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight in the following situations:
* The airspace is structured for one-way traffic flow

Question 22

Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment

Answer 22

You may assign an altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight in the following situations:
* An aircraft is doing any of the following:
◦ Transitioning to or from oceanic airspace within 200 miles along the aircraft track from the oceanic entry or exit point

Question 23

Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment

Answer 23

You may assign an altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight in the following situations:
* A pilot requests the altitude because of icing, turbulence, or fuel considerations and the following apply:
◦ The pilot informs you of the time or location that the aircraft can be cleared to an appropriate altitude[21]
◦ The altitude has been approved by affected sectors/units (“fuel considerations” means a pilot will make a request only to avoid a fuel situation that might cause an otherwise unnecessary technical stop short of flight planned destination)

[21] If the information provided is not precise, obtain sufficient information to determine with which sectors/units approval must be coordinated.

Question 24

Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment

Answer 24

You may assign an altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight in the following situations:
* An aircraft is doing any of the following:
◦ Holding
◦ Arriving
◦ Departing
◦ Conducting a flight check of a NAVAID
◦ Operating within an altitude reservation
◦ Engaged in an aerial survey, mapping flight, or test flight
◦ Operating on a polar route
◦ Transitioning to or from oceanic airspace within 200 miles along the aircraft track from the oceanic entry or exit point

Question 25

Glossary > Polar Route

Answer 25

A northbound or southbound route that enters or exits Canadian Domestic Airspace via designated Russian polar fixes located north of 75°N. Routes are defined as northbound when aircraft are flying a track of 315° clockwise to 045° and southbound when tracking 135° clockwise to 225°.

Question 26

Wrong Way Altitude Communications with Pilot

Answer 26

Do not use the words WRONG WAY when communicating with pilot.

Question 27

If a cruising altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight is assigned:

Answer 27

• Instruct the pilot to make position reports.
• Identify the altitude as WRONG WAY for any of these coordination tasks:
  ◦ Passing and receiving a control estimate
  ◦ Giving and receiving a handoff
  ◦ Coordinating with an adjacent sector/unit
• Post warning indicators by using the wrong-way altitude alerting function, if possible.[27][28]
• Before transferring control, inform the receiving controller of the reason for the assignment.

[27] Either manual or automated indication of wrong-way altitude is acceptable.
[28] The wrong-way altitude alerting function is determined locally.

Question 28

Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment > Vectors

Answer 28

Issue vectors or offset tracks to establish an aircraft at least 5 miles from the centreline of the airway or published track otherwise authorized if:
* The aircraft is in high-level surveillance-controlled airspace.
* You are assigning an altitude inappropriate to the direction of flight in one of the following situations:
◦ No alternate separation minima can be applied.
◦ A pilot requested an inappropriate altitude because of icing, turbulence, or fuel considerations, and has informed you of the time or location at which the flight can be cleared to an appropriate altitude that has already been approved by affected sectors or units.
* The airway or published track is shown on the display.

Question 29

ATS Surveillance Separation Using Parallel Offset

Answer 29

You may use parallel offset techniques[1] in a ATS surveillance environment, provided:
* The pilot confirms the capability to offset.
“Advise if able to proceed parallel offset”
* The minimum offset value ensures the appropriate ATS surveillance separation minimum will exist. [3]
“Proceed offset (number) miles (left/right) of centreline (track/route) at (significant point/time) until (significant point/time)”
* You cancel the parallel offset when it is no longer required.
“Cancel offset”

[1] Use parallel offset techniques only if an operational advantage is gained.
[3] Aircraft will not normally diverge to the offset track by more than 45°. Some RNAV systems are limited in the offset distance.

Question 30

Block Altitude

Answer 30

On pilot request, you may assign a block altitude, provided that you adhere to procedures contained in Wrong-Way Altitude Assignment, and one of the following two conditions applies:
* There are icing, turbulence, or fuel considerations, and the following apply:
◦ The pilot informs you of the time or location that the aircraft can be cleared to an appropriate altitude. [30]
◦ The altitude has been approved by affected sectors/units.
These provisions are not required for approving special military activity within block altitudes.
* The pilot is on an IFR training flight, MEDEVAC flight, or is flight-checking a NAVAID.

[30] If the information provided is not precise, obtain sufficient information to determine with which sectors/units approval must be coordinated.

Question 31

When to identify block altitudes for coordination tasks:

Answer 31

If the aircraft is conducting an aerial survey, mapping flight, test flight, or special military activity, you may approve a block altitude, provided that you identify the altitude as BLOCK for any of the following coordination tasks: [32]
* Passing and receiving a control estimate
* Giving and receiving a handoff[33]
* Coordinating with an adjacent sector/unit

[32] Flight Data Coordination; Photographic and Mapping Survey Flights
[33] Transferring Controller

Question 32

A320

Answer 32

Cruise altitude:
Cruise speed:

Question 33

DAH > RVSM Airspace

Answer 33

All airspace within the CDA extending from FL290 up to and including FL410.

Question 34

Wake Turbulence Separation Table

Answer 34

(First aircraft > Second aircraft)
Super > Super = 4 miles
Super > Heavy = 6 miles
Super > Medium = 7 miles
Super > Light = 8 miles
Heavy > Super = 4 miles
Heavy > Heavy = 4 miles
Heavy > Medium = 5 miles
Heavy > Light = 6 miles
Medium > Light = 4 miles