The procedure change described below for issuing route amendment clearances in Gander Domestic airspace will be conducted as a trial between 5 May 2025 and 31 December 2025. Check current NOTAMs for any changes to this procedure.

Due to ATC workload and pilot confusion regarding oceanic route clearance changes issued through CPDLC, Gander Flight Information Region (CDQX FIR), Gander Domestic controllers will be issuing oceanic route amendments via VHF voice communications in lieu of CPDLC uplink route amendment clearance messages.

Post-implementation monitoring of the 4 December 2024 Oceanic Clearance Removal (OCR) by NAV CANADA has identified that some flight crews are confused by the new OCR procedures. Questions or route clarifications are being asked on ATC VHF voice communications frequencies within the Gander Domestic FIR. The volume of queries and ATC explanations of OCR procedures by Gander Domestic ATC has increased the workload and complexity of operations.

To mitigate this workload and pilot confusion, CDQX FIR Domestic ATC will issue oceanic route clearances and amendments via VHF voice communications in lieu of CPDLC loadable Route Clearance uplink messaging before an aircraft reaches its Oceanic Entry Point (OEP).

Other OCR procedures will continue unchanged, including Oceanic flight planning, RCL submission requirements and timing, and CPDLC route conformance monitoring. Route changes issued to aircraft once past OEP will continue to be issued by CPDLC or HF communications.

Source: AIP Canada Supplement 046/2025