06-Feb-07 Transport Canada
Mr. Grant,

I originally sent this to Mr. Piche, but received an 'out of office' reply.

The Dakota Dunes Casino is planning to erect and operated 7 high-powered spotlights shining unimpeded up into the sky in the shape of a teepee.  The casino is located 23 kilometers south south west of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on the Chief Whitecap First Nation.  In testing of lights in September and October 2006, two beams were of solid white light and were reported visible from 60 kilometers away.  Because these lights are so bright, we are wondering if these lights are subject to permitting according to the Canadian Aviation Regulations, Section 601.20 and 601.21.  To this end can you please advise if the Dakota Dunes Casino, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations (FSIN), the Saskatoon Tribal Council or the Chief Whitecap First Nation has filed for and been awarded such a permit.  

The architect, I believe, is Thalden Boyd.  
http://www.thaldenboyd.com/ .  I am uncertain of the names of the two local contractors.

Sincerely,

Richard Huziak
Saskatchewan Light Pollution Abatement Committee
Projection of Directed Bright Light Source at an Aircraft
601.20  Subject to section 601.21, no person shall project or cause to be projected a bright light source into navigable airspace in such a manner as to create a hazard to aviation safety or cause damage to an aircraft or injury to persons on board the aircraft.
Requirement for Notification
601.21  (1) Any person planning to project or cause to be projected a directed bright light source into navigable airspace with sufficient power to create a hazard to aviation safety shall provide written notification to the Minister before the projection.

(2) On receipt of the notification, the Minister may issue an authorization if the projection of the directed bright light source is not likely to create a hazard to aviation safety.

Requirement for Pilot-in-command
601.22  (1) No pilot-in-command shall intentionally operate an aircraft into a beam from a directed bright light source or into an area where a directed bright light source is projected, unless the aircraft is operated in accordance with an authorization issued by the Minister.

(2) The Minister may issue the authorization if the operation of the aircraft is not likely to create a hazard to aviation safety.
Regards,

rick
... RESPONSE...............................
Subject: Dakota Dunes Casino Spotlights
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 14:05:43 -0500
From: "Grant, Bob" <GRANTB@tc.gc.ca>
To: "Richard Huziak" <huziak@sedsystems.ca>

Dear Mr. Huziak,
Thank you for your interest in aviation safety. The Dakota Dunes Casino operator has contacted Transport Canada, through our regional office in Winnipeg, with a request to operate the lighting system in question. We are satisfied that the system will be operated with due regard for safety and in compliance with Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) 601.20 and  601.21.
Thank you again for your concerns.

Bob Grant
Civil Aviation Inspector, AIS & Airspace Standards
Inpsecteur aviation civile, Normes AIS et espace aérien
Telephone / téléphone (613) 990-5443
Facsimile / télécopieur (613) 998-7416
grantb@tc.gc.ca
Transport Canada / Transports Canada
Place de Ville (AARNBC), Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada


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