gwengler wrote:

Yes, if you cancel IFR, Canadian ATC will give you the option of changing
the rest of your flight plan to VFR.

I believe that is incorrect. If I remember correctly, you have to
file an entire new VFR flight plan. It is not possible to "convert"
IFR into "VFR". Some years ago, I flew at night IFR from Regina to
Saskatoon, got into icing conditions halfway, turn back to VMC and
than had to air-file a complete new VFR flight plan.

Possibly because of a route change? Here's what the AIP says about the
issue (RAC 3.12.2):

When flying IFR, use of the phrase "Cancelling IFR" results in ATC
discontinuing the provision of IFR separation, but it does not
automatically close the flight plan or flight itinerary. Therefore,
alerting service with regards to search and rescue notification is still
active and is based upon the information submitted in the original flight
plan or itinerary. Because the pilot is now flying in accordance with
Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the flight plan or itinerary must either be
closed prior to landing, or an arrival report filed after landing, with an
air traffic control unit, a flight service station or a community
aerodrome station.

Normally, I cancel IFR only when I'm close to my destination and want to
avoid a lot of vectoring around for IFR separation, but when I have
cancelled earlier in a flight, ATC has asked me explicitly if I wanted to
keep my search-and-rescue time (i.e. convert to a VFR flight plan).


All the best,


David