saskatchewan.ca/fire

Wildfire Airspace

Aircraft Contracted to Assist in Fire Suppression ActivitiesCompletion of the Pilot's Handbook Exam is mandatory for all contract pilots prior to assisting Wildfire Management in any wildfire suppression activities.

Entry into airspace where aircraft are known to be working a wildfire is strictly prohibited until contact has been established.

Contact must be established with the Bird Dog (if present) or incident dispatch five minutes prior to entering the airspace on an assigned frequency, or via the link frequency of 122.85 MHz AM.

To make your plane detectible by aircraft equipped with Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), turn on your transponder, set to Mode C (if equipped) and turn on all external lights.

saskatchewan.ca/fire

Pilots are valuable assets for reporting wildfires in remote areas and Wildfire Management encourages assistance from the public in spotting and reporting all wildfire activity.

To report a wildfire, call Firewatch1-800-667-9660

Firewatch | 1-800-667-9660 Firewatch | 1-800-667-9660

Information for aviators

No Drone Zone

The area around a wildfire is often hectic, with aircraft focused on protecting properties or suppressing the fire. It is definitely not a place for sightseeing aircraft, and those that venture near the fire do so at considerable risk. Air tankers, helicopters and float planes can be anywhere in the area, flying to and from the fire, or picking up water from lakes and rivers.

Aircraft working the fire are often hidden by smoke and are monitoring discrete, unpublished radio frequencies. Beyond the risk of collision, unauthorized aircraft can seriously disrupt the work of wildfire personnel.

Section 601.15 of Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) provides that no unauthorized person shall operate an aircraft (including remotely piloted aircraft systems/drones) over a forest fire area, or over any area that is located within five nautical miles (NM) of a fire, at an altitude of less than 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL).

Forest fire airspace restrictions

A NOTAM does not need to be issued for an airspace restriction to be in effect.

However, when airspace modifications are required to accommodate fire control operations, the Minister of Transport Canada, or a delegated representative, may issue a NOTAM under CAR 601.15 (a) to increase or reduce the size of the area.

The NOTAM will help ensure that fire suppression air traffic is isolated from all other air traffic. A number of factors will be addressed when a NOTAM is created:

· Proximity to centres of aviation activity such as airports, float bases, fly-in tourist operations, military airspace and air routes;

· Extent of skimmer aircraft operations; i.e. scooping from lakes greater than five NM from the wildfire perimeter;

· Large-scale wildfires with extensive air operations, especially with multiple types of aircraft;

· Potential for reduced visibilities from extensive smoke.

In many cases, small fires or a fire with little smoke can be the centre of intense aviation activity. Pilots are reminded to check NOTAMs before flying during wildfire season.

Pilots can also check and click saskatchewan.ca/firethe Current Wildfire Map to check the location of up-to-date wildfire activity.

Notice to airmen (NOTAM)

General aviation and forestfire airspace

It is important to understand that the existence of a wildfire invokes automatic airspace restrictions under CAR – regardless of the presence or apparent absence of suppression aircraft.

In fact, fire suppression aircraft may be circling above the restricted airspace. Prior to flying above the airspace, it is strongly advised that a call be made on 122.85 MHz AM.

WE CAN’T FLY

If you’re in the sky . . .

5 nautical milesfrom fire’s edge

3,000 feetAGL

Airspace restrictions