We're just as lucky in Canada I can fly in class B, C, D and E airspace, VFR, although for all Classes B and C I need an altiture reporting transponder, and for most class D and some class E as well. Some exceptions to the transponder rule are possible. For example two years ago my transponder's altitude reporting encoder failed. I had to fly to YQB to an avionics shop to have it fixed as it was a wiring problem and not the encoder itself. I called YQB tower ahead and was given permission to arrive with no mode C on the transponder. We really are lucky in N. America, most flights don't even require a flight plan. Technically in Canada flights over 25 n.m. require either a flight plan or flight itinerary (filed with a "competent" person which can be your wife or a friend). I've flown into major int'l airports though now flying into YVR or YYZ is very difficult VFR (there is a reservations system in place). But there are so many satellite airports in Vancouver or Toronto that as a practical matter, this really isn't an issue. Mike Gammon -----Original Message----- From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kees de Lezenne Coulander Sent: Friday, September 26, 2003 6:42 PM To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Light aircraft use commercial airspace Bahadir Acuner <bahadiracuner@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >More info is needed to digest this press release. But from the >perspective of a pilot/flight instructor, I don't see anything wrong >with it. I am sure the person who wrote the article doesn't know >anything about the airspaces and entry requirements. > >This is the first time I hear that a commercial aircraft and general >aviation aircraft DOESN'T use the same airspace. Weird.. Baha, You don't realize how lucky you are. In the Netherlands (and I think it is the same in most of Europe) controlled airspace is much more extensive and usually classified one step higher than in the U.S.A. IFR traffic into Schiphol Airport is certainly not expected to mix it with VFR flights. The Schiphol TMA (Class A) has a floor of 1500 ft for 20 or 30 miles from the airport. compare that with the Seattle or Los Angeles TMAs. The TMAs of the regional airports (Rotterdam, Groningen, Maatricht) are officially Class E (i.e. VFR permitted). But if too many people would actually take advantage of this, it would be used as an excuse to increae the classification. Catch 22. Kees de Lezenne Coulander -- C.M. de Lezenne Coulander Aircraft Development and Systems Engineering B.V. Hoofddorp, the Netherlands