🎖️ Wingman Wednesday: Controlled Airspace Isn’t Always What It Seems

📅 Published: May 13, 2025 | Category: Pilot Ops | Tags: #WingmanWednesday #RPASCanada #AirspaceAwareness #AdvancedPilotOps #SkyCommander | Theme: Know Your Stack — Fly with Intent

You filed through NAV Drone. You got the green light. But does that really mean you’re clear?

This week on Wingman Wednesday, we’re digging into one of the easiest ways even Advanced RPAS pilots can get blindsided: layered airspace confusion. Controlled airspace isn’t flat, and knowing what’s above and around your mission is what separates confident pilots from close calls.

Whether you’ve flown a hundred ops or are prepping for your first post-cert mission, this one matters. Here’s what too many pilots learn after they need to.

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🧠 Clearance ≠ Clarity

You planned the flight. You got NAV Drone approval. You’re under 400 feet AGL. What could go wrong?

Turns out: plenty. Many areas across Canada — especially suburban zones — have layered airspace. It’s easy to miss where one class ends and another begins. If you don’t know the vertical limits and lateral dimensions, you might think you’re flying legally when you’re creeping into regulated zones.

And remember — even if you’re authorized, you’re still accountable.

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📚 Know Your Layers: Understanding Canadian Airspace

Airspace in Canada is structured like a cake — stacked, complex, and occasionally confusing. Here’s a quick refresher on what each airspace class means for RPAS ops:

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🟢 Class G – The RPAS Sweet Spot

• Uncontrolled
• No ATC
• Most rural ops happen here. Just stay below 400 ft AGL and out of restricted areas.

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🟡 Class E – Controlled, But Light

• Often starts at 700 or 1,200 ft AGL
• Surrounds smaller airports
• You need: Advanced cert + NAV Drone authorization
• Gotcha alert: This class often hides just above your max altitude. Stay sharp.

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🟠 Class D & C – Talk to Me (But Don’t)

• Found near controlled airports
• ATC controls traffic here — full separation in Class C
• You need:
  • Advanced certification
  • NAV Drone approval
  • Awareness of nearby ATC comms
• Pro tip: Class D may upgrade to Class C during busy hours. Check NOTAMs.

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🔴 Class B – High Altitude, Out of Reach

• Starts at 12,500 ft ASL
• You won’t fly here — but it’s good to know what’s overhead

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⚠️ Class F – The Wildcards

• CYR (Restricted) — stay out unless authorized
• CYA (Advisory) — use caution; avoid during active hours
• Reminder: Always check the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH) or VFR charts. These often don’t appear clearly in NAV Drone.

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🧭 Layered Example: A Hidden Trap

Let’s say you’re flying in a suburban area that looks like Class G. But at 300 feet AGL, Class E kicks in. And 500 feet above that? Class C tied to a nearby airport.

Now you’re operating under two stacked airspace classes. And if a medevac or commercial aircraft descends into your path? That’s not just a wakeup call — it’s a reportable incident.

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🧩 Check 6: Situational Awareness Quick Hits

• Don’t just check what’s above you — scan what’s inbound
• Monitor 126.7 MHz near uncontrolled aerodromes
• Assume all helipads (especially hospital rooftops) are active unless proven otherwise
• Confirm vertical airspace class limits — not just surface zones
• Add a 60-second “Airspace Stack Scan” to every flight plan

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✈️ Wingman Tip: NAV Drone Isn’t the Whole Map

NAV Drone gives you clearance — but not full context. Use it as your gatekeeper, not your guide.

Pre-flight checklist:

1. Confirm NAV Drone authorization
2. Cross-check the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) for helipad/aerodrome info
3. Review NOTAMs, CYR/CYA zones
4. Check the DAH for vertical/lateral limits

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🔧 The Mindset: Fly Like Someone’s Watching

Being an Advanced pilot means more than holding a certificate — it means flying like someone’s watching, even when they’re not.

Every controlled zone you enter is someone else’s airspace too. Every decision you make reflects on all of us.

That’s how professionalism earns its wings.

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🚨 Real Talk: Why It Matters

Flying into stacked airspace without understanding the rules doesn’t just put your drone at risk. It puts your ops, your reputation, and the industry under a spotlight.

NAV Drone clearance isn’t a license to stop thinking. It’s a signal to start planning like a pro.

Know your stack. Respect the airspace. Fly with intent.

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✉️ Got a Story or Lesson Learned?

Have you ever flown into airspace that surprised you? Had a close call that taught you something? We’d love to hear it — and share it (anonymously or proudly) in a future Wingman Wednesday.

📬 Send your story to: wingman@skycommander.ca
Because smart pilots help other pilots stay smart.

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📢 Call to Action

✈️ Got questions about airspace layers or pre-flight planning? Drop a comment, tag a fellow pilot, or shoot us an email. Let’s keep each other sharp.

#KnowYourStack #WingmanWednesday