Coastal Drone

Since June 1, 2019, anyone flying a drone outside in Canada which weighs more than 250g will require a pilot certification, regardless if the purpose of the flight is for fun or work. There are two types of pilot certifications – Basic and Advanced. The type of certification you require depends on where you want to fly, and how close to bystanders.

They are no joke! Transport Canada has some tricky questions in there, and it can get overwhelming. Taking our Exam Prep course is a great way to get yourself ready and confident to pass.

RPAS stands for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System. It’s the technical term for “drone” and it is the official government term you will see in any laws or regulations related to drones or model aircraft (anything remotely piloted). Previously, Transport Canada referred to these aircraft as UAV so many provincial and municipal bylaws will still reference drones this way, but it means the same thing.

There are two types of pilot certifications in Canada – Basic and Advanced. 1) BASIC is for flying in un-controlled airspace (far away from airports), and further than 30m from bystanders. 2) ADVANCED is for flying in controlled airspace (close to airports, and populous areas), and closer than 30m from bystanders. If you are going to be flying frequently or for work, we recommend getting an Advanced certification. The Advanced certification gives the pilot the most freedom to operate

Flying without a pilot certification can lead to hefty fines. Individuals caught flying without a license can face fines of up to $3000 for their first offence. For organizations, those fines can go up to $15,000! Worst case scenario is being charged with a criminal offence.