Gander Oceanic Transition Area - Fact Fridays

It's Friday again! Time for another Fact Friday, where we bring you some interesting facts from over the Atlantic.

Did you know: In 2015, NavCanada were able to implement more advanced means of surveillance technology over an area of the north-west coast of Canada, now known as the GOTA (Gander Oceanic Transition Area). Even though this area is considered Oceanic Airspace, all flights crossing the GOTA above FL290 is controlled by the Gander Domestic facility, who have access to the extended radar surveillance over the GOTA area!

However, aircraft below FL290 are still serviced by the Gander Oceanic facility. This is because, such aircraft likely do not hold the relevant surveillance capabilities that aircraft above FL290 would have, so many of these still rely on the more old-fashioned method of oceanic operations - namely, position reports.

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