Nav Canada Issues NOTAM for CYVR VFR Arrival Slot Times

 The BCGA is aware that many local pilots have been frustrated with the VFR restrictions at Vancouver International Airport over the past few months. The BCGA is not a lobby group, our primary function is to promote general aviation and the activities and community that surround it in our region.

The key lobby group for any of your aviation needs in Canada is COPA. If you have any issues they would like to hear from you.

In light of the frustration over the VFR restrictions at Vancouver International Airport it appears that NavCanada has issued a NOTAM to help alleviate some of the pressure by allowing VFR pilots both in private and commercial operations to call in an book a VFR arrival slot time. This should help to mitigate much of the frustration of the GA community.

NOTAM
171595 CYVR VANCOUVER INTL
  CYVR IN SUPPORT OF CYVR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE ALL VFR ACFT
DEP WITHIN VANCOUVER FIR DESTINED FOR CYVR, EXC CAM9 AND HEL TFC,
ARE REQUIRED TO CTC VANCOUVER ACC 1-877-987-2055 WITHIN 60 MIN
PRIOR TO DEP FOR APPROVED ARR TIME
1500-0200 MON-FRI
1708171500 TIL 1708310200

IN PLAIN ENGLISH
If you plan on flying into Vancouver International Airport VFR between August 17 – August 31st (Monday to Friday) during the hours of 0800 – 1900 Local time you will need to call 1-877-987-2055 within 1 hour of your departure time to get a VFR arrival slot into YVR.

The purpose of this article is to make BCGA members aware that systems have been put in place to allow VFR operations to occur at YVR. The only difference is that VFR aircraft will require a slot time much like IFR aircraft already do. To our knowledge there are 6-10 VFR arrival slot times available per hour.