Canadian Aviation Regulations

602.13 (1) Except if otherwise permitted under this section, section 603.66 or Part VII, no person shall conduct a take-off, approach or landing in an aircraft within a built-up area of a city or town, unless that take-off, approach or landing is conducted at an airport, heliport or a military aerodrome.

(2) A person may conduct a take-off or landing in an aircraft within a built-up area of a city or town at a place that is not located at an airport, heliport or a military aerodrome where

• (a) the place is not set apart for the operation of aircraft;

• (b) the flight is conducted without creating a hazard to persons or property on the surface; and

• (c) the aircraft is operated

  • (i) for the purpose of a police operation that is conducted in the service of a police authority, or

  • (ii) for the purpose of saving human life.

(3) A person may conduct a take-off in a balloon within a built-up area of a city or town from a place that is not located at an airport, heliport or a military aerodrome, where

• (a) permission to use the place as a launch site has been obtained from the land owner;

• (b) a special aviation event is not being held at that place at the time of take-off;

• (c) no written objection in respect of the use of the place as a launch site has been received by the Minister from a competent land use authority;

• (d) the diameter of the launch site is no less than the greater of

  • (i) 100 feet, and

  • (ii) the greatest dimension of the balloon, be it the length, width or height, plus 25 per cent; and

• (e) the take-off point within the launch site is upwind of the highest obstacle in the take-off path by a horizontal distance equal to the height of that obstacle, and the take-off is conducted

  • (i) using a positive rate of climb to a minimum altitude of 500 feet above the highest obstacle located within a horizontal distance of 500 feet from the balloon, or

  • (ii) where the flight path of the balloon is directly over residential or commercial buildings or over an open-air assembly of persons, using the maximum rate of climb possible, considering operational and passenger safety.

(4) A person may conduct a landing in a balloon within a built-up area at a place that is not located at an airport, heliport or military aerodrome, where

• (a) the landing is necessary to avoid endangering the safety of the persons on board; and

• (b) the pilot-in-command contacts the appropriate air traffic control unit or flight service station, either prior to landing or as soon as possible after landing, and provides

  • (i) the balloon’s nationality mark and registration mark,

  • (ii) the estimated or actual, as applicable, time and location of the landing, and

  • (iii) the reasons why it is believed that the safety of the persons on board is or was endangered.