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VFR in Airspace C/D

VFR Crossing of Controlled Airspace

General Guidelines

When a VFR aircraft requests to cross Class C or D airspace, the following conditions must be met:

  • The aircraft must be identified (assigned a squawk code).
  • The flight route and altitude should avoid direct passage through arrival and departure sectors.
  • The pilot must be informed of entry and exit clearances for the controlled airspace.
  • Separation requirements:
    • Class C: IFR-VFR separation required. Traffic information is provided for other VFR flights, with traffic avoidance upon request.
    • Class D: Traffic information provided to IFR and VFR flights.

Phraseology for VFR Airspace Crossings

Crossing Clearance

French English
"TRAVERSÉE [DE L'ESPACE AÉRIEN CHARLIE (ou DELTA)] AUTORISÉE VIA (route) (nombre) PIEDS (ou NIVEAU DE VOL (altitude))" "CROSSING [OF AIRSPACE CHARLIE (or DELTA)] APPROVED VIA (route) (number) FEET (or FLIGHT LEVEL (level))"

Proceeding Along a Radial

French English
"PROCEDEZ SUR LE RADIAL (trois chiffres) DE (nom du VOR) JUSQU’À (point significatif)" "PROCEED ON RADIAL (three digits) OF (name of VOR) TO (significant point)"

Exiting Controlled Airspace

French English
"QUITTER L’ESPACE AÉRIEN CHARLIE (ou DELTA) DIRECTION (ou CAP (trois chiffres), ou À (nombre) PIEDS (ou NIVEAU DE VOL (altitude)) [(raison)]" "LEAVE AIRSPACE CHARLIE (or DELTA) DIRECTION (or HEADING (three digits), or AT (number) FEET (or FLIGHT LEVEL (level)) [(reason)]"

Phraseology Examples

VFR Crossing of Class C Airspace

Step Pilot ATC
1 Approach, [Callsign], 5 miles north of [VFR waypoint], VFR at 3400 feet, request crossing Class C airspace via [route], 4000 feet. [Callsign], squawk 4133.
2 Squawk 4133, [Callsign]. [Callsign], identified at 3400 feet. Crossing approved via [route], maintain flight level 60.
3 Crossing approved via [route], maintaining flight level 60, [Callsign]. [Callsign], you are entering Class C airspace.
4 Roger, [Callsign]. [Callsign], you are leaving Class C airspace. Approved to leave frequency, squawk VFR, goodbye.
5 Approved to leave frequency, squawk VFR, [Callsign].

VFR Crossing of Class D Airspace (Non-CTR)

Step Pilot ATC
1 Approach, [Callsign], 5 miles west of [VFR waypoint], VFR at 3400 feet, request crossing Class D airspace southbound via [waypoints], 5000 feet. [Callsign], squawk 4133.
2 Squawk 4133, [Callsign]. [Callsign], identified at 3400 feet. Crossing approved via [waypoints], maintain block flight level 60 to flight level 70.
3 Crossing approved via [waypoints], maintaining block flight level 60 to 70, [Callsign]. [Callsign], you are entering Class D airspace.
4 Roger, [Callsign]. [Callsign], you are leaving Class D airspace. Approved to leave frequency, squawk VFR, goodbye.
5 Approved to leave frequency, squawk VFR, [Callsign].

Explicit Airspace Exit Instruction (Due to Traffic)

Step ATC Pilot
1 [Callsign], leave Class C airspace heading 180 at 2500 feet or below due to traffic. Leaving Class C airspace heading 180, at 2500 feet or below, [Callsign].
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