Have the flight paths changed?

Changes to flight paths are very rare and require a lengthy process. In fact, the last major airspace redesign around Toronto Pearson took place in 2012 to increase the efficiency and consistency of aircraft operations.

On November 28, 2022, NAV CANADA introduced airspace enhancements known as Required Navigation Performance – Authorization Required (RNP AR) for two runway ends at Toronto Pearson. RNP AR provides the opportunity to design shorter, more direct arrival routes, enabling aircraft to turn towards the airport sooner. These procedures will support environmental sustainability efforts by significantly reducing greenhouse gases and the overflight of residential areas. Some communities may notice changes to air traffic patterns overhead.

Smaller changes in flight paths were also implemented in 2018 when NAV CANADA introduced new nighttime arrival and departure routes that overfly fewer people as part of the Six Ideas: A Quieter Operations Roadmap. Changes such as this can only be implemented following a comprehensive public consultation as outlined in the Airspace Change Communication and Consultation Protocol.

Flight paths are like highways in the sky that have been carefully designed to allow aircraft to fly safely and efficiently between airports.

So if changes to flight paths are rare, why can it seem like aircraft are flying different routes?

The airport is a dynamic space and aircraft may fly over different areas depending on the traffic flow that is in effect – westerly, easterly, northerly or southerly. Some areas may be overflown by more than one traffic flow.

The flow of air traffic can change for many reasons. For example, a runway may be unavailable due to routine maintenance, or strong winds from a different direction, requiring the airport to change the flow in which it is operating. This change in traffic flow can make it seem like aircraft are flying different routes.