1
$\begingroup$

enter image description hereI'm planning my first real life cross country trip from KFRG to CYKZ. But I'm very confused by the Toronto airspace. My main question is around how to approach ButtonVille airport from the south (say from Buffalo).

  • Option 1: Buffalo - Hamilton - hug the coast and drop from 3500ft to below 1700ft - ask CYTZ tower to transition thru to CYKZ airspace.

  • Option 2: Buffalo - Hamilton - Burlington Exec ( CZBA ) - Brampton Caledon ( CNC3 ) - ButtonVille ( CYKZ )

  • Option 3: I have flown from KFRG (Long Island) to N51 ( Solberg, New Jersey). This was done with my CFI who contacted New York Approach, told them where we were going and then the controllers ( we got handed off to several different controllers ) guided us over JFK and on to Solberg. Is this even an option? I don't see an option to contact Toronto Approach on the sectional.

  • Option 4: Just for the sake of completeness, there is the option to fly over the water, direct. But this is not recommended in single engine planes for safety reasons.

Can someone who has flown VFR to this airport before advise on this?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ Not directly related to the question, but I'm not sure that it's legal to land at CYKZ if you're arriving from outside Canada. According to the Canada Border Security Agency, "General aviation aircraft must land at an approved airport of entry (AOE) during the CBSA's hours of business." CYKZ is not an airport of entry. (CYHM is, though, so you could presumably land there, check in with CBSA, and then proceed.) $\endgroup$
    – Michael Seifert
    Jan 25, 2018 at 19:22
  • $\begingroup$ @MichaelSeifert On the Toronto VFR Navigation Chart ( which I purchased ) CYKZ is enclosed in a dashed square box which as per chart legend means that customs are available at this airport. CYYZ is also enclosed in a dashed square box on the same chart. $\endgroup$
    – Prashant Saraswat
    Jan 25, 2018 at 20:10
  • $\begingroup$ My apologies — I was looking at the "AOE" list on the CBSA website. Looking at the "AOE/15" list, it is in fact listed. (The "15" means general aviation aircraft with 15 people or fewer.) $\endgroup$
    – Michael Seifert
    Jan 25, 2018 at 20:22
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for confirming. Your question planted a seed of doubt in my mind earlier :) $\endgroup$
    – Prashant Saraswat
    Jan 25, 2018 at 20:35

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
6
$\begingroup$

I fly out of CYTZ and know the area fairly well. A few things to keep in mind. If you'd like to transition through CYTZ airspace to Buttonville, you'll find controllers there pretty accommodating. Getting in touch with Toronto Terminal is not a problem, you're not asking to cut through Pearson, but you'll be sticking along the shoreline so I wouldn't worry too much.

I would recommend against flying at 1700 feet. That's awfully low. Here's what I would recommend.

Get a VTA sectional for Toronto. This will have much greater detail for the area as well as recommended VFR routes.

Hug the coastline at 2500'. Contact Toronto Approach at 133.4 before entering the zone. Ask for clearance through the zone to Buttonville via the shoreline and city centre. Follow the coast line until you're about 10 miles outside of City Centre (YTZ). There Approach will transition you to Tower if you're at 2500 or below. They will clear you to Buttonville by staying east of the DVP/404. That's the major highway cutting N/S through downtown, east of the airport. Once you're clear of City Centre, you'll get passed over to Buttonville for your landing. As long as you follow DVP/404, you'll find the airport easily. I believe there's a landing fee as well.

enter image description here

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ you are a godsend. 133.4 seems to be correct but it is not listed on the sectional. It is however listed in the Canada Flight Supplement and I missed it. I have uploaded the Toronto VFR Navigation chart but it doesn't show VFR routes. Where did you get the chart that you uploaded? $\endgroup$
    – Prashant Saraswat
    Jan 26, 2018 at 17:51
  • $\begingroup$ You have a VFR chart but you need the VTA. The VTA is the expanded chart for the local Toronto area and will have a lot more detail $\endgroup$
    – pedram
    Jan 27, 2018 at 18:30
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks again. Can you also comment on the departure procedure? When exactly am I supposed to contact Toronto Departure? $\endgroup$
    – Prashant Saraswat
    Jan 27, 2018 at 19:26
0
$\begingroup$

I recently flew into CYKZ. The simple answer is that Option 3 is best. Just get flight following and they will eventually hand you off to the Toronto City Center Control. These controllers direct all VFR traffic along the coast. And they are all very nice :)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .