NOTAM 

What does NOTAM stand for in Canada?

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight.

Why is it important to file NOTAMs for Highlines?

We as highliners are setting up lines between cliffs,hills and mountains,which creates potential hazards to aircrafts. Transport Canada requires file NOTAM for every highline exceeding 60m from the ground at any point. For an increased layer of safety and awareness,Transport Canada would like to evaluate every highline, which can potentially cause hazards and decide if a specific highline required NOTAM. Technically every highline can be a hazard along a flight route,especially for helicopters,while operating close to the ground or in case of rescue. Highlines can be very hard to see from a pilots perspective without any markings. Anytime we go through this process, we also have to set up a visibility line next to our line. This is so pilots can actually see the lines we rig.

MARKING (Visibility line)

Transport Canada is very specific about what kind of markers we use and what color they are. For highline marking we agreed with Transport Canada of using helipad size windsocks. We were evaluating sizes and material options for our application and we decided to go for helipad size windsocks (24” Dia. x  6’ length lace-on style, international orange-white ),which is big enough to be seen from a distance. Windsock will be most of the time hanging vertically rather than horizontally. It is packable and light enough for our application.

Highline visibility line is defined - NONSTANDARD MARKING - ORANGE AND WHITE WINDSOCKS (IMAGE SAVED TO RDIMS 16758453 ACCEPTED BY TRANSPORT CANADA)

There are 11 windsocks in our community,individually owned by members. Our plan is to buy them back or buy new ones and have them available for BCSHA members when needed. General rule is one windsock every 50 - 100m, using more windsocks is always good practice. Each highline requires a different amount of windsocks, depending on length and location.

NOTAM Process 

As a community there's been some confusion about why and when we need to go through this process, but we should all be familiar with these regulations. We established a process with Transport Canada to make it easy and straightforward for our community. All highlines which require NOTAM + visibility line are pre-filled for the season and accepted and approved by Transport Canada and only need to be activated. No need to wait for approval by Transport Canada.

Simply contact us and one of our designated directors will activate Notam for you and provide information on how many windsocks to use on the visibility line.

Please see the pre-filed Notam lines list here:

Cheakamus (170,420,Lower 360)

How to activate pre-filled NOTAM?

Please email this information to info@bcsha.ca 3-5 businesses day before setting up.

  • Location and length of the line.

  • Date and time of setting up, rigging 

  • Date and time  of taking down , de-rigging

  • Rigging team contact information (names, cell phone number,)

Notam will be activated for the requested period. Please give your-self extra time and plan accordingly.

If the dates or time need to be changed, due weather conditions or you want to keep the highline up longer or take down early, please contact us (info@bcsha.ca or Discord) as soon as possible and one of our director will help you with that and inform Transport Canada to modify or cancel NOTAM.

How to file a new Notam?

If you want to establish and rig a new highline, please fill up the Aeronautical Assessment Form.

The current form is at the following link:  Aeronautical Assessment Form for Obstacle

https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Corp-Serv-Gen/5/forms-formulaires/download/26-0427_BO_PX

  • Location and length of the line.

  • Date and time of setting up, rigging 

  • Date and time  of taking down , de-rigging

  • Rigging team contact information (names, cell phone number,)

Please email this information to info@bcsha.ca at least 10 business days before setting up. When approved by Transport Canada, it will be added to the pre-filled Notam line list and activated for the requested period. Please give your-self extra time and plan accordingly.

More information from Transport Canada : Marking and lighting of obstacles to air navigation 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/general-operating-flight-rules/marking-lighting-obstacles-air-navigation