Flight Information Region (FIR)

A Flight Information Region (FIR) is a specified region of airspace within which flight information service and alerting service are provided. Canada is divided into seven FIRs, each associated with an Area Control Centre: Gander, Moncton, Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

FIR Boundaries

FIR boundaries divide the Canadian domestic airspace and extend from the surface to unlimited altitude. International FIR boundaries govern who provides ATC services for oceanic flights — Canada manages portions of the North Atlantic and Arctic FIRs jointly with other states under ICAO arrangements.

Flight Information Region vs. Control Area

The FIR defines who provides information and alerting service across all airspace — controlled and uncontrolled. A control area is a subset of the FIR where ATC separation service is actually provided. Uncontrolled (Class G) airspace is within a FIR but is not a control area.

Related Terms

See also: Area Control Centre, Flight Information Centre, Controlled Airspace.