NAV Canada ADS-B Out: Do you know about ICAO Flight Plan changes?

Effectivity: Global and Challenger aircraft 

ATA: 34-00 

By: Lahcene Bensalem – Technical Services  

The ICAO Flight Plan (FPL) documents posted on the Customer Portal were recently updated to reflect the latest NAV Canada flight planning requirement. This demonstrates compliance with the Canadian Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) mandate within Canadian domestic airspace, effective as of Aug. 10, 2023. 

Aircraft operators are expected to file the following ADS-B equipage in item 10b of the ICAO FPL:   

• B1 ADS-B with dedicated 1090 MHz ADS-B Out capability; or  

• B2 ADS-B with dedicated 1090 MHz ADS-B Out and In capability 

In addition to the B1 or B2 code, aircraft equipped in accordance with the Canadian ADS-B Out mandate will also need to include the following new entry in item 18 of the flight plan:   

• SUR/CANMANDATE  

However, even if the flight does not plan to enter the airspace where ADS-B has been mandated, aircraft operators are still encouraged to include SUR/CANMANDATE as soon as the aircraft is appropriately equipped. 

Although the mandate was effective as of Aug. 10, 2023, a 90-day transition period from Aug. 10 to Nov. 8, 2023 has been granted to offer aircraft operators more time to acclimate to the new mandate. 

Operators should familiarize themselves with the most recent information contained in the ICAO FPL guidance documents available on the Bombardier Customer Portal. Click on Services > Operations > Challenger or Global > ICAO Flight Plans.  

The Compliance Countdown Matrix documents (located in Services and Operations) may also be used to establish whether your aircraft model meets the NAV Canada requirement from the factory or if a Service Bulletin is required. 

Additional information on ADS-B and related website links can be found in this NAV Canada Aeronautical Information Circular 17/23: AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION CIRCULAR 17/23 (navcanada.ca).