✈️ New Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) Detected

AIC: AIC 005/2025

Published: 2025-03-06

🧠 What Changed (Summary)

NAV CANADA advises that all published horizontal geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude) in NAV CANADA aeronautical information/data products will be expressed in the World Geodetic System–1984 (WGS‑84) datum. This aligns with ICAO Annex 15 and Transport Canada TP 312 Ed. 5, and replaces the current AIP CANADA GEN 1.7 statement that Canada uses NAD83 (while acknowledging NAD83/WGS‑84 equivalency for aeronautical purposes).

All horizontal aeronautical coordinates published by NAV CANADA AIM will be expressed as WGS‑84.
ICAO Annex 15 specifies WGS‑84 as the horizontal reference system for international air navigation.
AIP CANADA GEN 1.7 currently states Canada uses NAD83, while recognizing NAD83 is equivalent to WGS‑84 for aeronautical purposes.
Where originators do not specify datum/epoch, NAV CANADA AIM has historically assumed NAD83; mixed NAD83/WGS‑84 data exists due to evolving standards (e.g., TP 312 Ed. 5).
Change is positioned as a conformance/standardization action; the circular notes accepted NAD83/WGS‑84 equivalency has been assured through extensive operational use.

✈️ General Aviation Impact (Highlighted)

Airspace / Procedures:

Expect published coordinates in NAV CANADA products (e.g., AIM-referenced data) to be stated as WGS‑84 going forward; instrument procedure design and charting already rely on the accepted equivalency noted in the AIC.

Operational Notes:

For most GA operations, NAD83 and WGS‑84 are treated as equivalent for aeronautical purposes; nonetheless, operators and data originators should ensure avionics/GNSS databases, flight planning tools, and any coordinate-based reporting or surveying workflows are using/recording WGS‑84 as the stated datum.
Data originators should continue to specify datum and epoch when providing coordinates to reduce ambiguity (AIC notes assumptions are made when not provided).

VFR Impact:

Minimal expected operational impact for typical VFR navigation and GPS use; primary change is the stated reference datum for published coordinates.

🔗 Official Source

👉 NAV CANADA AIC 005/2025 (PDF)

(official NAV CANADA document)

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