Mandatory frequency: the reports an uncontrolled aerodrome expects of you

Know which reports the Regulations require at an uncontrolled aerodrome inside an MF area, when each one is due, what each one must contain, and which of them carry a qualifier that changes the answer.

• You know what an MF area is: an area of specific dimensions covering the surface and the airspace in the vicinity of an uncontrolled aerodrome. CAR 101.01
• You know what a mandatory frequency is: the VHF frequency published in the Canada Air Pilot or the Canada Flight Supplement for radio-equipped aircraft operating in that area. CAR 101.01
• You know that these are the pilot-in-command's reports, not the operator's or the observer's. CAR 602.99

Five sections sit in a row and each one answers a different phase: 602.99 for the ground, 602.100 on departure, 602.101 on arrival, 602.102 for continuous circuits and 602.103 for flying through. Each places its duty on the pilot-in-command of an aircraft at, departing from, arriving at or flying through an uncontrolled aerodrome that lies within an MF area. CAR 602.99 CAR 602.100 CAR 602.101 CAR 602.102 CAR 602.103

Two definitions decide the boundaries. The manoeuvring area is that part of an aerodrome, other than an apron, that is meant for take-off and landing and for the movement of aircraft associated with them — so section 602.99's duty begins at the movement area, not at the airport fence. CAR 101.01

And the class of aircraft is not uniform across the five: sections 602.99 and 602.100 speak of a VFR or IFR aircraft, sections 602.101, 602.102 and 602.103 speak of a VFR aircraft — with section 602.103 speaking of "an aircraft" for the flying-through case. CAR 602.99 CAR 602.100 CAR 602.101 CAR 602.103

Then read the subpart, because it is the one that excludes you. All five sections sit in Part VI, Subpart 2 — Operating and Flight Rules, and section 602.01 says that subpart does not apply in respect of remotely piloted aircraft. The duties this lesson describes are imposed on VFR and IFR aircraft, which is the wording each section uses and the reason a remotely piloted aircraft pilot is not the addressee. CAR 602.01

What binds a remotely piloted aircraft at an uncontrolled aerodrome inside an MF area is the Part IX rule instead: the separation distances and the prohibition on operating in a manner that could interfere with an aircraft in the established traffic pattern, in section 901.47 — and, for an advanced holder flying inside the ring, the aerodrome's established procedure under 901.73. CAR 901.47

That does not make these five sections irrelevant, and the distinction is the point of this step: they describe what the crewed traffic on the frequency is doing and what it expects to hear, and the examination asks about them one paragraph at a time. Read them as the language of the aerodrome you are sharing, and check the subpart before treating any of them as a duty of your own. CAR 602.01

The pilot-in-command of a VFR or IFR aircraft operated at an uncontrolled aerodrome within an MF area must report their intentions before entering the manoeuvring area. It is a short section and its whole content is the timing: the report comes before the aircraft enters that area, not once it is on it. CAR 602.99

Section 602.100 lays out three obligations in order: CAR 602.100

When	What
Before moving onto the take-off surface	Report the departure procedure intentions CAR 602.100
Before take-off	Ascertain by radiocommunication and by visual observation that there is no likelihood of collision with another aircraft or a vehicle during take-off CAR 602.100
After take-off	Report departing from the aerodrome traffic circuit CAR 602.100

The middle one is the one candidates miss. It is not a report at all — it is a two-source check, radio and eyes, made before take-off. CAR 602.100

Section 602.101 requires a VFR aircraft arriving at an uncontrolled aerodrome within an MF area to report five times: CAR 602.101

When	What the report gives
Before entering the MF area — and, where circumstances permit, at least five minutes before entering	Position, altitude, estimated time of landing, and arrival procedure intentions CAR 602.101
When joining the aerodrome traffic circuit	Position in the circuit CAR 602.101
When on the downwind leg, if applicable	— CAR 602.101
When on final approach	— CAR 602.101
When clear of the surface on which the aircraft has landed	— CAR 602.101

Two of those rows carry qualifiers, and both are exam material: the five-minute lead is required only where circumstances permit, and the downwind report is the one qualified by "if applicable". CAR 602.101

An aircraft doing continuous circuits is not repeating the arrival sequence. Section 602.102 asks a VFR aircraft carrying out continuous circuits to report three times: when joining the downwind leg; when on final approach, stating the pilot-in-command's intentions; and when clear of the surface on which it has landed. CAR 602.102

Note where the intentions go here. On departure they are reported before moving onto the take-off surface; in the circuit they are attached to the final approach report. CAR 602.102 CAR 602.100

An aircraft flying through an MF area reports twice: before entering the MF area — and, where circumstances permit, at least five minutes before — giving its position and altitude and the pilot-in-command's intentions; and again when clear of the MF area. CAR 602.103

This is the pair to keep apart from arrival. The arrival report before entering the area carries an estimated time of landing as well, because the aircraft is staying; the through report carries intentions and no landing estimate, because it is not. CAR 602.101 CAR 602.103

Three qualifiers decide more answers than the reports themselves: CAR 602.101

• "Where circumstances permit" attaches to the five-minute lead time in both section 602.101 and section 602.103. It is not an absolute five minutes in every case. CAR 602.101 CAR 602.103
• "If applicable" attaches to the downwind-leg report in section 602.101 and to nothing else. CAR 602.101
• "An aircraft" in section 602.103 is wider than the "VFR aircraft" of sections 602.101 and 602.102. CAR 602.103

Section	The phase	The reports it requires
602.99	Before entering the manoeuvring area	Intentions, before entering that area CAR 602.99
602.100	Departure	Departure intentions before moving onto the take-off surface; the radio-and-visual collision check before take-off; departing the circuit after take-off CAR 602.100
602.101	Arrival	Before entering the area (position, altitude, ETA landing, arrival intentions); joining the circuit; downwind if applicable; final approach; clear of the surface CAR 602.101
602.102	Continuous circuits	Joining downwind; final approach with intentions; clear of the surface CAR 602.102
602.103	Flying through	Before entering the area (position, altitude, intentions); clear of the MF area CAR 602.103

• Every report is made by the pilot-in-command, on the mandatory frequency CAR 602.99
• The five-minute lead is claimed only where circumstances permit CAR 602.101
• The downwind report is the one qualified "if applicable" CAR 602.101
• The pre-take-off check is radio and visual, not radio alone CAR 602.100
• The arrival pre-entry report carries an ETA for landing; the through report does not CAR 602.101 CAR 602.103

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
A question says the five-minute lead is always required	The words are "where circumstances permit"	Answer from the qualifier CAR 602.101
You are asked which report is "if applicable"	Only one is	The downwind-leg report CAR 602.101
A question asks when intentions are reported on departure	There are two different intention reports	Before moving onto the take-off surface CAR 602.100
The pre-take-off check is answered as a radio call	The section requires two sources	Radiocommunication and visual observation CAR 602.100
The through report is confused with the arrival report	They differ in content	Arrival adds the estimated time of landing CAR 602.101 CAR 602.103
The duty is attributed to "the pilot" generally	Every one of the five says pilot-in-command	Attribute it to the PIC CAR 602.99

Practise: Airspace mf reporting before manoeuvring area

Practise: Aerodromes mf departure reporting

Practise: Aerodromes mf arrival reporting

Practise: Aerodromes mf circuit reporting

Practise: Aerodromes mf through reporting

• CAR 101.01 — Interpretation (manoeuvring area; MF area; mandatory frequency)
• CAR 602.99 — MF Reporting Procedures before Entering Manoeuvring Area
• CAR 602.100 — MF Reporting Procedures on Departure
• CAR 602.101 — MF Reporting Procedures on Arrival
• CAR 602.102 — MF Reporting Procedures When Flying Continuous Circuits
• CAR 602.103 — Reporting Procedures When Flying through an MF Area