NAV CANADA, the country's provider of civil air navigation services, conducted an aeronautical study that reviewed the requirements for non-directional beacons (NDBs) and very-high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional rangefinders (VORs).
The study concluded that given the comprehensive radar surveillance coverage, and the capabilities of area navigation (RNAV) with global navigation Satellite system (GNSS) equipped aircraft, many navigation aids (NAVAIDS) are no longer required and should be decommissioned.
Where a current NAVAID identified in the study serves as an instrument approach aid or anchors an airway segment, NAV CANADA will ensure that a RNAV (GNSS) instrument approach procedure (IAP) or RNAV airway segment is published, where required, before the identified NAVAID is removed.
Implementation is ongoing and will progress for the next several years. Subsequent Notices will be published for each upcoming phase.
The Fort McMurray (MM) NDB will be decommissioned.
This change will take effect May 19, 2022 at 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The appropriate aeronautical publications will be amended.