Ottawa (with files from UAV Isabella Lee)- As of June 1, Canada’s national aviation authority, Transport Canada, put into place, new drone regulations.
Failing to comply could mean a fine up to $5000.
Transport Canada’s Drone webpage is here.
The new rules are broken down into two subcategories: basic and advanced operations. The changes will apply to drones that:
- weigh 250 grams (g) up to and including 25 kilograms (kg), and
- are operated within the drone pilot’s visual-line-of-sight
Commercial drone pilots operating a drone that weighs more than 25 kg are required to obtain a special flight operations certificate (SFOC). A drone pilot MUST:
- Attend a mandatory training through an approved drone flight school
- Complete an Application for a Special Flight Operations Certificate form
- Send the form and other required documents to the Civil Aviation regional office
For the most part, these drones are used close to populated areas.
Recreational drone pilots who operate a drone that weighs less than 35 kg do not need to undergo any training BUT they have to follow the same courtesy rules.
With basic operations:
- You fly your drone in uncontrolled airspace
- You fly your drone more than 30 meters (100 feet) horizontally from bystanders
- You never fly your drone over bystanders
If you do not meet any one of the above three conditions, you are conducting advanced operations.
With advanced operations:
- You want to fly in controlled airspace 9populated areas, close to airstrips etc.
- You want to fly over bystanders
- You want to fly within 30 meters (100 feet) of bystanders (measured horizontally)
