Blog

Understanding Drone Insurance
Is the Mavic Mini actually 249g? Read on to find out!

Coastal Drone Co launches Drone Training to Best Buy Canada Ltd Customers.
Blog(Vancouver, BC) 07/10/2020 - Coastal Drone Co, a part of the Westlund Group of Companies, have partnered with Best Buy Canada to offer “Drone Pilot Ground School | Basic” to all Best Buy Canada drone customers going forward. This innovative initiative will serve a...

TP15263 Foreign Pilot Course
If you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a corporation which is incorporated by, or under federal or provincial jurisdiction, this course is for you! IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK 1. Take a TP15263 compliant ground school 2. Apply for your SFOC with...

New RPA AIM
Is the Mavic Mini actually 249g? Read on to find out!

COVID-19 Update
Covid – 19 Update

Coastal Drone Podcast Episode: Foreign Pilot Process Update
The PodcastFlying A Drone In Canada if you are not a permanent resident, or Canadian Citizen. The process to get certified to fly in Canada if you are not a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident has changed. There is a bit of a stir online as Transport Canada has...

DJI Mavic Mini: Busting Rumours!
Is the Mavic Mini actually 249g? Read on to find out!

Canadian Airspace Classes
From A to G – we have you covered!

Drones for Christmas: What you need to know!
Getting or Gifting a Drone for Christmas? Read this first!

DJI Mavic Mini: What can you do with a 249g drone?
What can you do with a DJI Mavic Mini? Lots, it turns out!

How well do you know the Canadian drone regulations?
How well do you know the Canadian drone regulations? Take this quiz to find out!

UNREGULATED Drones?
DJI’s new sub 250g drone: what does it mean for you?

Flying a Drone in the Maritimes
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

Flying a Drone in the Prairies
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

Flying a Drone in Quebec
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

Flying a Drone in Alberta
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

Flying a Drone in Northern Canada
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

An Ode to the Misinformed: A Poetic Rant
BLOG You call it all a cash grab But what you haven’t seen Is the thousands of hours of prep and processing That Transport Canada has done for free Literal THOUSANDS of SFOC applications Without any fees Not to mention requests and...

Flying a Drone in BC
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

Flying a Drone in Ontario
With new drone regulations in force, there’s one question we get more than any other – WHERE CAN I FLY MY DRONE? Read on to find your answer!

Standard Operating Procedures: An Overview
Did you know?
Standard Operating Procedures are required for both Basic and Advanced Category pilots! Learn what needs to be included in our blog!

Meet the Team: Adam
Blog At Coastal Drone Co, our team is what sets us apart from the rest. We are proud to have some of the most knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced people in the business with us. We are excited to introduce you to the people who work every day to help you become...

Site Survey Primer
We get a lot of questions from people wondering how to properly conduct a site survey.
Wonder no more!
We’ve made a video that will run you through the site survey requirements, resources to use and how to efficiently and safely prepare for flights.

Meet the Team: Alec
Blog At Coastal Drone Co, our team is what sets us apart from the rest. We are proud to have some of the most knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced people in the business with us. We are excited to introduce you to the people who work every day to help you become...

Meet the Team: Kate
Blog At Coastal Drone Co, our team is what sets us apart from the rest. We are proud to have some of the most knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced people in the business with us. We are excited to introduce you to the people who work every day to help you become...

Flying As A Foreign Operator
Blog CHANGES AS OF MARCH 9, 2020 Recreational flying by foreign pilots is now restricted due to the number of applications received by Transport Canada. Foreign operators If you are a foreign operator (that is, you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a...

Best Drones for 2019
Blog Summer is coming, and that means drone (well.. technically RPAS) season is upon us! The good weather is going to lead to a lot of fantastic opportunities to get footage with your RPAS but it’s important to make sure that when you fly, you are obeying all the...

How to Get Your Advanced Certification
Blog If you are someone who enjoys flying drones, you’ve probably been looking forward to summer all year long! As the good weather approaches, flying conditions get more reliable and the opportunity to do cool things with your RPAS is always nearby. As of June 1,...

How to Get Your Basic Certification
Blog If you are someone who enjoys flying drones, you’ve probably been looking forward to summer all year long! As the good weather approaches, flying conditions get better, the weather gets more reliable, and the opportunity to do cool things with your RPAS is always...

Transport Canada RPAS Information Session

3 Things I’ve Learned From Drones
Blog (and the stories behind the lessons) I’m an instructor on drones and in airplanes so I have lots of opportunities to teach aviation. Every once in a while, though, aviation flips right back around and returns the favour. Here are 3 lessons I’ve learned from...

New Drone Regulation FAQs
Haven’t had a chance to view the new regulations? Check out our other post with a link to download the Gazette. Now that many have had a chance to review the regulations published by Transport Canada on January 9th, inevitably many questions have been raised. Quick note before we get into this – the new […]

Transport Canada’s Regulatory Update from UC18
NOTICE: check out our new post about the rules that are now in effect! At the end of October, Transport Canada presented a regulatory update at Unmanned Canada- Unmanned System Canada’s fall conference in Vancouver, BC. While specifics such as release dates for the highly anticipated regulations were not a part of the announcements, we […]

3 Steps to Successfully Implement Drones in your Business
It’s easy to get excited about drones. Unless you have an Aston Martin equipped with missile launchers in your garage, drones are the closest thing to a Bond gadget that you can actually buy. There are ample predictions estimating the global drone industry to be worth over a hundred billion dollars within the next two […]

Sensors and Payloads: The Way Drones Make Money
When it comes to making money with your drone, it all comes down to the payload. Really, the drone is just a tool for putting the camera or another sensor into an area that was too expensive or prohibitive to do otherwise. This is where the drone industry gets exciting. What applications can you dream […]

Transport Canada’s UAV Exemptions
There’s a Canadian Aviation Regulation that says all UAV flights need to have an SFOC or Special Flight Operations Certificate. 602.41 No person shall operate an unmanned air vehicle in flight except in accordance with a special flight operations certificate or an air operator certificate. To allow some low-risk fights to happen without needing to […]

Where Can I Fly My Drone? A Primer on Canadian Airspace

Regulation Update from Transport Canada
On Wednesday, May 23rd 2018, Transport Canada (TC) hosted approximately 40 unmanned aerial system stakeholders across the spectrum of industry, training providers, non-profits, manufacturers, and operators to discuss proposed changes to the regulations proposed in Canada Gazette 1 (CG1). A summary document from TC was stated to be published shortly following the session. It should […]

How To Check The Weather For Flying
Checking the weather is a vital step in analyzing a flight area, but it’s more than just sticking your head out the window. There are a lot of resources out there to help you evaluate effectively. I’m here to familiarize you with them and increase your confidence in assimilating data, including speaking to NavCanada agents […]

Clearing Up Drone Misconceptions
By now, most people, especially if you live somewhere scenic like the Pacific Northwest, have seen drones flying over their hiking path or lake view. They’ve heard the buzzing of the machine as its propellers zip through the air. They’ve seen one or two get too close for comfort or land in a tree branch […]

Living Up to Our Name
Coast to Coast to Coast With accurate flight records, extensive training, good timing and a sprinkle of luck, Coastal Drone Co. became the first (or so thinks our Transport Canada inspector) holder of a National Special Flight Operation Certificate (SFOC) in Canada. This certification allows us to better serve our large clients who operate in multiple […]

How to Travel With Your Drone
Securing the Aircraft and All the “Bits” Most aircraft come with a box, bag, or some sort of carrying case. If that won’t provide the protection you need, check out hard cases with foam cutouts to protect your gear. You can buy laser cut foam that is specific to your machine, or craft your own […]

FAQ for Prospective Drone Pilots
So you’re interested in becoming a drone pilot? Or maybe you are just looking to hire drone services? Before you take the jump, we’re here to answer your questions. What are drones good at? High quality aerial shots (that have way more detail than google maps) Video tours of facilities or sites Showcasing equipment, locations, or […]
8: Episode 8 – How to earn money as a new drone pilot.
Going from pilot certification to professional With Keaton Lawlor of Edgestone Media. Visit https://www.coastaldrone.co
7: Episode 7 – Starting Your Own Drone Company
In episode 7, Coastal Drone's president Alec Wilson sits down (virtually) with Ali Miri, the Co-Founder & CEO of UAViation to discuss the process of starting a successful drone company. The two industry experts also discuss their thoughts on the future of the...
6: Episode 6 – Tips and Pet Peeves from Flight Reviewers
Kate and Ops Manager Vince discuss the good, the bad and the ugly they've seen in flight reviews. This is a great listen for anyone preparing for their own review!
5: Episode 5 – An Interview with Travis Harvey
Ever want to fly over an entire city? This guy has done it! Check out Kate's conversation with Aerovision's Travis Harvey on this project and other industry observations.
Episode 4 – An Interview with Mike Morellato
Kate gets to chat with Strategic Natural Resource Consultant's Mike Morellato about industry growth, challenges and exciting new directions it's headed.
Understanding Drone Insurance
Is the Mavic Mini actually 249g? Read on to find out!
Coastal Drone Co launches Drone Training to Best Buy Canada Ltd Customers.
Blog(Vancouver, BC) 07/10/2020 - Coastal Drone Co, a part of the Westlund Group of Companies, have partnered with Best Buy Canada to offer “Drone Pilot Ground School | Basic” to all Best Buy Canada drone customers going forward. This innovative initiative will serve a...
TP15263 Foreign Pilot Course
If you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a corporation which is incorporated by, or under federal or provincial jurisdiction, this course is for you! IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK 1. Take a TP15263 compliant ground school 2. Apply for your SFOC with...
New RPA AIM
Is the Mavic Mini actually 249g? Read on to find out!
COVID-19 Update
Covid – 19 Update