Drone License Canada

by Ian Wills | Nov 5, 2021 | Blog, General Info

BLOG – Drone License CAnada

Drone License Canada

Wondering how to get a valid drone pilot license? Then check out our certification courses that will help you get one.

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If you love photography or travelling (or both), then chances are you would want to operate a drone sooner rather than later.

The good news is that according to the Canadian aviation regulations of Transport Canada Civil Aviation (the national aviation authority), flying drones is a legal activity. However, flying drones that weigh between 250 grams and 25 kilograms requires a valid drone pilot certificate. Likewise, all such drones must be registered with Transport Canada and be marked with their respective registration numbers.

Now all this may sound overwhelming for first-time flyers, which is where we come into the picture. We at Coastal Drone Co. offer Basic and Advanced drone pilot certification courses to prepare you to reach the sky.

Here, we should mention that there are two types of drone exams- the small basic exam for people aged 14 years and above and the small advanced exam for people aged 16 years and above.

Coastal Drone Co. Online Drone Courses

1. Basic Pilot Certificate

Our basic online bundle is suitable for anyone looking to obtain a license for basic operations of drone-flying in uncontrolled airspace in Canada. Since flying a drone requires pilots to pass an online exam, this online study course aims to prepare you for that while teaching everything about safe and legal ways to fly your drone.

What’s Included In This Course?

This online course is a two-hour-long module that gives you a detailed overview of the essential skill and abilities to become a drone pilot. Not only that, but it also includes high-definition videos and animations to replicate in-person training activities.

Besides, our module is taught by one of the most experienced drone pilots in the country. Once the module is over, move on to the exam prep, which will give you an idea about the types of questions you should expect in the actual test.

The best part is that you can take this test as many times as required to feel completely comfortable and confident. Lastly, we have also included an easy-to-understand SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) guide that will help create a checklist according to the specific requirements of your drone operation.

Whether it’s for commercial or recreational purposes, our basic pilot certificate course is ideal for anyone who wants to get a basic license by passing the RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) exam.

Keep in mind that the basic license will only allow drone pilots to fly the drone at least 5.6 kilometres away from the airport and 30 metres away from people (measured horizontally). Likewise, they can’t fly it over people. But if you don’t want to limit your drone operation with such regulations, then our advanced pilot certificate course is the way to go.

2. Advanced Pilot Certificate

Our advanced pilot certificate bundle course includes everything from an in-person flight review to an extensive preparation guide. It’s more suitable for potential drone pilots who plan on conducting advanced operations in drone flying. As such, you should take this course if you want to fly drones:

within 5 kilometres of airports
less than 30 metres away from people (measured horizontally)
inside controlled airspace
over people (when properly equipped with a parachute and safety declaration)

What’s Included In This Course?

The advanced pilot certificate course is a 20-hour long, on-demand online ground school module that will help you become a trained RPAS pilot. Moreover, all of our ground school courses are compliant with TP15263, which is the formal document containing the Transport Canada knowledge requirements for becoming a drone pilot.

This course will cover everything that will help you fly your drone safely in controlled airspace by following legal regulations. From meteorology, radio operations, NAV Canada air traffic to the RPAS laws and safety tips – our expert faculty will cover all the bases.

So, even if you’re a novice, rest assured that successfully passing the Transport Canada exam will be possible if you apply yourself and study and use all the resources available in our course. At the same time, our high-end video content will minutely stimulate the experience of classroom teaching from the comfort of your home.

Furthermore, our exam prep feature comes with over 350 sample questions to help you prepare for everything that the exam may throw at you.

Here again, you can take the mock test multiple times. What’s more, we will help you understand why the right answer is right, which is fundamental for strengthening the basics of an advanced drone flight operation. And our SOP guide will simplify the checklist for your flight operation.

You will also be glad to know that our certification courses are highly recommended and have been attended by persons from Transport Canada itself.

3. In-Person Flight Review Prep Course

Since obtaining an advanced pilot certificate requires you to pass a “flight review,” our team at Coastal Drone Co. maintains a network of flight reviewers and test sites located all across the country. This in-person test is essential to determine your knowledge about drone flight techniques, aviation laws, and related practical skills like map reading.

You can easily pay the fee on our website to book the test according to your convenience. Plus, you will receive a complimentary online course to help you prepare to successfully pass the test.

4. 24-Month RPAS Recency Training

Even if you’re certified for basic or advanced drone operation, Transport Canada mandated undergoing “recency training” every 24 months to stay updated with the recent regulations and technologies. And our recency training is approved by Transport Canada, which is why we back it with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Contact Us

Simply click on the “contact us” section located at the top right corner of the website and fill a short e-form with your name, email address, and a short message. One of our customer service representatives will get back to you.

Alternatively, you can click on the chat box icon (at the bottom right corner of the screen) and type in your query. You can also call us on the given number at our office at Langley (BC).

Become a Drone Pilot

If you’re ready to take the next step, jump over to our course selection page for more information about becoming a certified drone pilot.

View our Courses

FAQs

1. What Are The General Rules For Operating Drones In Canada?

The guidelines for flying drones in the Canadian airspace will largely depend on the type of operation (basic or advanced). Other than that, pilots should ensure that the drone:

Can be seen at all times while in air
Flies below 122 metres in the air
Is away from any aircraft, helicopters, or other drones
Doesn’t fly above or near forest fires, concerts, or parades
Doesn’t fly near any emergency sites

Pilots should also ensure that they respect the privacy of the people in and around the area where they plan to operate the drone. Similarly, it may be a good idea to survey the area beforehand to get an idea about any obstacles, like buildings and powerlines, which may get in the way of the flight.

And don’t forget to carry your drone pilot certificate and registration proof of the drone, as you may have to produce them during sudden inspections.

2. Can You Fly Your Drone Anywhere In The Country?

Certain sites like the airspace surrounding airports and airfields, busy or populated areas, national parks, and border crossings may prohibit drone operations. Hence, you should always check the regulations and seek necessary permissions from Transport Canada to fly drones in these areas.

Furthermore, there are specific guidelines for flying drones in different Canadian cities, the details of which are available on our website under the “flying your drone in Canadian cities” section.

3. Do You Need A Certificate To Fly A Drone On Your Property?

No matter where you want to fly the drone, a basic or advanced certificate is required to operate it in the permissible Canadian airspace if the drone weighs more than 250 grams.

Drone Laws in Canada

by Ian Wills | Nov 5, 2021 | Blog, General Info

BLOG – Drone Laws in CAnada

Drone Laws In Canada

Wondering if you can use a drone in Canada? You will require more than just a Basic Drone Certificate, so check out this informative guide to know more.

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Overview

The job of drone pilots may sound exciting, but it requires a fair share of qualifications and experience. Considering how flying drones can be risky and illegal in some cities, not many know how to get started. Thus, in this blog post, you will find detailed information about drone laws in Canada.

From the required certification to the rules to abide by- we’ll ensure that you fly your drone safely, confidently, and legally!

TL;DR:

Transport Canada Civil Aviation is the regulatory body for all modes of transportation in the country. You will be allowed to fly a drone in Canada as long as you do so according to the regulations laid by the agency. You will be required to pass the exam conducted by the body for flying drones legally.

Updated Drone Laws In Canada

Technically, drones (a.k.a. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) are aircraft… just a lot smaller. While flying drones, you are a part of the commotion up there, among other drones and airplanes. Hence, maintaining safety and following the legal rules is crucial.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the new Canada Drone Laws-

Legal Requirements For Drone Pilots

Going through the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), specifically, Part IX – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, is a must for aspiring drone pilots. It lists down all the rules that govern drone flying.

Moreover, it is mandatory to carry a valid drone pilot certificate while operating drones. The certificate must be an electronic document or, in printed form, issued by Transport Canada. Drone pilots should also ensure that the drones are marked and registered.

On the other hand, if you’re operating a drone, weighing less than 250 grams, you do not require any certification or registration. Further, if you are a member of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) and meet the conditions in Exemption NCR-011-2019, you may be exempted from the regulations set in Part IX.

Finally, here are some more points to note before flying drones for the first time-

Read the Criminal Code, with the most crucial sections being Offences against Air or Maritime Safety, Breaking and Entering, and Mischief.
Check the trespass act of your city/province, and laws for privacy and voyeurism.
Respect others’ right to privacy when flying a drone.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation reserves the right to involve the local police and investigate the unsafe flying of drones in Canada.

Drone Safety

By operating a drone safely, you can ensure the safety of others around you. Let’s take a look at some safety measures required while flying drones in Canada.

Are You Allowed To Fly A Drone In Canada?

If your drone weighs anywhere between 250 grams and 25 kilograms, you must obtain a drone pilot license before flying a drone. However, you must be at least 14 years old to obtain a basic license, and 16 years old to upgrade it to an advanced level.

Anyone younger than 14 years of age who wishes to indulge in recreational drone use must be supervised by a license-holder. Hence, such activities among younger teenagers are only allowed in camps, youth groups, and clubs.

Prerequisites For Flying A Drone In Canada

Check the legal requirements before you fly your drone, and know the difference between Basic and Advanced operations.
Acquire the TP15263 knowledge requirements for a drone (remotely piloted aircraft system) pilot and obtain the drone pilot certificate.
Choose a suitable drone and get it registered.
Don’t forget to check the drone manufacturer’s instructions.
Ensure that you fly your drone in one of the approved operations only, and check for obstacles like buildings, pillars, etc.
For conducting advanced operations in controlled airspace, you must acquire RPAS Flight Authorization from NAV CANADA.

Where Can You Fly A Drone?

Here’s an exhaustive list of places where you can fly drones in a safe and responsible manner-

below the height of 400 ft./122 meters
away from advertised or emergency operations like concerts, forest fires, etc.
5.6 km (3 nautical miles) away from airports and 1.9 km (1 nautical mile) away from heliports
at least 30 meters away from bystanders while conducting basic operations
away from other aircraft
outside controlled airspace (basic operations)

And last but not least, fly your drone where it is comfortably visible to you at all times. However, you must also avoid the Terminal Control Area near large airports with heavy traffic if you’re carrying a basic certificate.

Penalties

The rules governed by Transport Canada and enforced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) ensure strict implications for individuals and corporations that break drone laws in Canada. Some of the actions that can lead to serious penalties are as follows-

flying without a drone pilot certificate
posing a threat to any type of aircraft and people in the vicinity
flying and operating unregistered or unmarked drones

Note that breaking more than one rule can result in multiple penalties and even jail time.

Canada Drone Laws For Foreign Operators

A foreign operator is one who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a corporation working for provincial or federal bodies, but wants to fly a drone in Canada. Such individuals must be certified and registered to fly drones in their home country.

Moreover, they must bear an approved Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) for any drone flying. Consequently, they must include their country’s authorization to apply for the SFOC.

Basic Drone Flying In Canada

Canada Drone Laws do not specify a clear distinction between professional and recreational drone use. However, there are different rules for pilots conducting basic and advanced operations. Note that the aforementioned rules apply to all kinds of operations, and the following rules are differentiated based on the type of operation.

Pilots Conducting Basic Operations

If you fly a drone in uncontrolled airspace, horizontally 30 metres away from bystanders, you’re conducting basic operations. However, you must not fly it over any bystander. Not meeting any one of these conditions will place you in an advanced drone operation.

Rules For Basic Operations

Get your drone registered by Transport Canada and mark it with the registration number.
Qualify the Small Basic Exam.
Acquire your Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations and registration proof.

Commercial Drone Flying In Canada

Since commercial drone use includes both basic and advanced operations, the rules are consistent for both commercial and recreational operations. Examples of commercial operations include photography and videography, remote sensing, home inspection, and much more.

Here are the general rules that apply to all drone pilots-

All drones between 250 g to 25 kg in weight must be registered by Transport Canada.
Pilots must bear a drone pilot certificate and mark their drones with the registration number.
The drone must be visible at all times and should never fly over 122 metres in the air.
The drone must be operated away from other aircraft.
Drone pilots must avoid flying near emergency sites and advertised events.
They must maintain a distance of at least 30 metres from bystanders.
They must respect everyone else’s right to privacy.

Besides these rules, drone pilots must follow other conditions according to the type of operation.

Pilots Conducting Advanced Operations

Advanced drone operations include flying in controlled airspace not over bystanders while maintaining a horizontal distance of 30 metres. If bystanders are to be flown over, the drone must be equipped with a parachute and have a safety declaration allowing such operation.

Rules For Advanced Drone Operations

Register your drone from Transport Canada and mark it with the registration number.
Pass the Small Advanced Exam.
Pass an in-person flight review with a flight reviewer.
Get permitted by NAV CANADA to fly in controlled Canadian airspace.
Carry your Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations and registration proof every time you operate drones.
Ensure that your drone flies within the operational limits only.
The drone must meet the safety declaration requirements for the respective operations.

Important Terms

Once you acquire a valid drone pilot certificate and want to pursue drone flying as a career, you must know certain jargon.

1. Bystander

Everyone excluding the pilot and the crew should be known as a bystander. In simpler terms, they are people who are not a direct part of the drone operation.

2. Visual-line-of-sight (VLOS)

As mentioned earlier, your drone should be visible to you at all times. This implies it should be within the visual line of sight without you requiring any visual aid like binoculars. Hence, even partial obstructions like trees and buildings should be avoided.

3. Drone and Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

The words “drone” and “Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)” are often used interchangeably. However, there are multiple other terms for this technology such as UAV or UAS.

Final Thoughts

Performing drone operations is more than just capturing cool aerial shots! Hence, you must become a certified drone pilot and get your drone registered before flying it.

And if you’re wondering where and how to get started, look no further. Check out Coastal Drone’s online training programs that will help you pass Transport Canada’s exam with flying colours.

So, what are you waiting for? Enroll now and get ready to take off!

The Mavic 3, First Impressions.

by Ian Wills | Nov 4, 2021 | Blog, General Info

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DJI Mavic 3 – First Impressions

Four Years of Innovation? – By: Ian Wills

2 Pro + 2 Zoom + Phantom 4 = Mavic 3? They did the math.

It’s been nearly four years since we saw a new drone from DJI carrying the words “Mavic” and “Pro” on the same piece of plastic, with the last do-it-all-and-then-some “Pro” drone sporting a folding airframe launching in 2018. Today, DJI pulled the curtain back on their latest offering, the Mavic 3. Dropping the “Pro” moniker, the new Mavic comes initially bundled in three flavors: Base, Fly More, and Cine.

In the meantime leading up to today’s launch, we’ve seen a shift in product offerings from DJI and a movement into a more Apple-esque release cycle with a major release followed by a slightly refreshed offering 12 months later (The Mavic Air 2 in 2020, the Air 2S in 2021; the Mini 1 in 2019, the Mini 2 with a software update in 2020).

So, with 4 drone releases in the past two years, why hasn’t the Mavic Pro or Phantom 4 Pro seen as frequent a release cycle as other offerings from DJI? Pure speculation, but if something isn’t broken, why fix it? At the time of its release, the Mavic 2 Pro offered the largest sensor in a folding drone, 10-bit color, high resolution, and pro features that few other competitors were able to bundle into an appetizing price point. Likely the closest competitor, Autel Robotics, came close with 6K resolution but failed to integrate the larger 1” sensor of the DJI offering until it launched the Evo 2 Pro in 2020.

Within DJI’s offering, trickle down capabilities started to present themselves in the Air 2 (loosely based on a Mavic 1 Pro airframe and sensor with updated software and ADS-B), and subsequently the Air 2S drones (a 1” sensor, 4K HDR at 60fps) which started to erode the consumer appeal of the still-more-expensive Mavic 2 Pro. However, variable aperture, sideward obstacle avoidance and a Hasselblad-tuned color profile remained exclusive to the Pro series throughout.

So, bringing us to today, and the spec-for-spec comparison of the next installment in the Pro series, the Mavic 3, let’s compare the base offering.

	Mavic 2 (Pro)	Mavic 3
Weight	907g	895g
Temperature Limits	-10 to +40C	-10 to +40 C
Max Duration	31 Minutes (no wind at 15.5mph)	46 Minutes (No Wind at 15.5mph)
Camera	1” CMOS, 20MP FOV 77* (28mm equivalent) Aperture f/2.8-f/11 Focus 1m to infinity	Wide Camera: 4/3” CMOS, 20MP *FOV 84 (24mm equivalent) Aperture f/2.8-f/11 Focus 1m to infinity (Autofocus) Telephoto Camera: ½” CMOS, 12MP FOV 15* (160mm equivalent) Aperture f/4.4 fixed Focus 3m to infinity (fixed)**
ISO Range	Video: 100-6400 Photo: 100-3200 (auto) 100-12800 (manual)	Telephoto: Video – 100-3200 Photo – 100-3200 Wide-Angle Video – 100-6400 Photo – 100-3200 (auto) 100-12800 (Manual)
Shutter (Electronic)	8-1/8000s	Telephoto: 1-1/8000s Wide-Angle: 8-1/8000s
Aircraft Battery	3850 mAh LiPo	5000 mAh LiPo 4S 15.4V
Flight Control App	DJI Go 4	DJI Fly

Let’s get down to the meat and potatoes. The Mavic 2 Pro sported a single 1” CMOS sensor camera that was roughly equivalent to a 28mm field of view on a full-frame camera, and shot stills at 20 megapixels, video at 4K / 30fps, and featured 10-bit Log profile footage at a maximum bitrate of 100mbps. Not too shabby, for 2018.

With the Mavic 3, DJI has effectively melded the Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom into one drone, by combining two fixed focal lengths. The main wide camera has been enlarged to a 4/3 sensor, roughly 1.7x larger than the outgoing 1” sensor, while maintaining 20MP digital resolution. This means the pixel pitch has increased (the distance between each light sensitive pixel) which should mean reduced image noise at higher ISO speeds.

Originally rumored to have included a mechanical shutter on the wide camera, a feature previously exclusive to the Phantom 4 Pro series, it appears that the Mavic 3 will stick to an electronic shutter in both cameras. Mapping operators will take note as the mechanical shutter would have allowed for reduced distortion when capturing nadir imagery for mapping and photogrammetry. Despite the electronic shutter, it will be interesting to see if the Mavic 3 Pro takes the Phantom 4 Pro V2’s mapping crown with its increased flight time and sensor size, allowing for drone operators to capture larger areas between battery changes.

Switching to video, the resolution on the Mavic 3 has been bumped to 5.1K at 50fps, with a 4K bump to 120fps. Maximum video bitrate has been increased to 200mbps for H.264 and H.265 format. The “Cine” version of the Mavic 3 adds Apple ProRes 422HQ as a native recording format and a 1TB onboard SSD to capture the much higher bitrate 10-bit footage. Of note, the high resolution and high frame rate formats appear to be limited to the wide camera only, with the telephoto camera being limited to 4K or 1080P at 30 frames per second.

APAS 5.0 touts omnidirectional (all directions) obstacle avoidance, and advanced return-to-home functionality. In the past, Skydio has reigned king with dynamic obstacle avoidance in dense foliage, so increased sensor coverage is a welcome improvement but we will have to wait and see how it stacks up in the real world.

What I’m most intrigued about is the 4G connectivity dongle, and what that could mean for BVLOS operations down the road.

There’s lots more to cover in the coming days, including enhanced WiFi connectivity, a switch to the DJI Fly App, a beefier Ocusync 3+ transmission standard, and we’re excited to get our hands on one as soon as possible to share how it flies, and figure out any quirks that might come from a dual-lens setup.

Where to Buy:

Best Buy Canada

If you’re looking to buy one, the Mavic 3 is now available for pre-order at Best Buy for $2669 CAD, with one battery, controller, charger, and a spare set of propellers, shipping November 30th. Heads up, If you bundle our courses with purchase of a drone, you can save 40% at checkout.

The Mavic 3 Fly More combo, which includes three batteries, a battery charging hub, a set of ND filters, two sets of propellers and a nice carrying bag is $3639 CAD at Best Buy.

The Cine Premium combo, which includes everything in the Fly More combo, plus the onboard 1TB SSD and support for ProRes 422HQ, also includes the new RC Pro smart controller, and a second set of ND filters for $6049 CAD at Best Buy.

DJI Online Store

If you’re looking to buy one today, the Mavic 3 is now available on DJI.com for $2049 USD with one battery, controller, charger, and a spare set of propellers.

The Mavic 3 Fly More combo, which includes three batteries, a battery charging hub, a set of ND filters, two sets of propellers and a nice carrying bag is $2799 USD.

The Cine Premium combo, which includes everything in the Fly More combo, plus the onboard 1TB SSD and support for ProRes 422HQ, also includes the new RC Pro smart controller,and a second set of ND filters for $4649 USD.

What’s not included in any of the combos is the 15.5mm (35mm equivalent) Wide-Angle lens adapter, available for purchase separately at a price of $149 USD.

Canadian Drone Services – Options, Pros and Cons

by Ian Wills | Jun 22, 2021 | Blog, General Info

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Canadian Drone Services

Options, Pros and Cons

As drone services become more and more prevalent, how do you plan on leveraging this innovative new technology for your business?

Canadian Drone Services

Are you looking to add drone services to your offerings? Want to include aerial data in your products or services? There are a few ways to bring the value of drone services to your clients. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each!

In-house Drone Pilots

Piloting your company’s own drones sounds like a great (and fun!) opportunity at first blush. Like many new technology adoptions, there’s a bit more to it than just acquiring the new tech, though.

In Canada, drone pilots will need a certification in most cases which may be a great benefit you can offer to your employees! Aside from the time and effort required in getting certified, expect to also need to spend on related gear (vests, cones, emergency equipment) in addition to the drone itself! Remember too – it’s one thing to know how to fly a drone and a whole other to know how to collect reliable, quality data! You’ll likely want training beyond the basics to scale your drone services.

Pros

Pilot certification as a continued learning opportunity
Flexibility

Cons

Investment in aircraft (and other gear)
Time and resource investment in training
Worker flying drones means other work not getting done

Contracted Drone Pilots

Hiring certified drone pilots is another way to add aerial drone services to your portfolio. The benefits here include not needing to invest time, effort or money in sourcing a drone, training or any of the related gear. You also won’t need to worry about getting employees trained and certified!
Challenges arise though in first finding qualified drone pilots and then ensuring they’re up to your standards! Will the same pilot be available to fly your jobs regularly? Will they be able to provide repeatable results? Can they prioritize your work when you need them to? Do you have to pay out the nose to get the answers you want to those questions?

Pros

No hardware purchases
No pilot certifications required

Cons

Expensive
Quality assurance
Inconsistencies

Remote Pilot Network (RPN) Pilots

RPN pilots come vetted by industry experts to ensure their capabilities. Not only are they certified, but they’re supported by comprehensive end-to-end software that enables scalable, repeatable, and quality data to be captured when you need it, as often as you need it. There’s no need to purchase drones, training or other equipment to create a drone services program within your organization!
While your employees might have liked to have company-sponsored training provided, they’ll certainly appreciate being able to focus on their regular job and initiatives, knowing they have access to the aerial drone data they need.

Pros

No hardware purchases
No pilot certifications required
Repeatable and scalable
Vetted pilots

Con

Employees not certified

Join our nation-wide network of drone pilots and clients with the RPN – a collaboration between Coastal Drone Co and Spexi Geospatial. Click to read on to find out more information about the Remote Pilot Network and how you can begin leveraging the largest system of pilots to do work for your business.

RPN - LogoArtboard 12 copy 4Vinyl Labs Proof

Understanding Drone Insurance

by Ian Wills | Aug 20, 2020 | Blog, General Info

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Understanding Drone Insurance

with help from our friends at SkyWatch

As you begin building your business, drone insurance will become an important asset as it will protect you, your equipment, and your investment. Unlike other types of coverage, activating, and managing drone insurance is easier than ever.

Establishing yourself as a commercial drone pilot means being professional, detail and safety-oriented. After you’ve invested in your training and drone gear, and you will begin getting hired for jobs in which you will have to specifically prepare and plan for each mission. But (as many drone professionals know) no amount of time spent planning a mission can prepare you properly for a drone accident if you don’t have a liability policy to cover you or your customer’s loss.

Luckily, today more than ever, drone insurance is simple, intuitive, and easy to manage. Before seamlessly activating your drone insurance policy, it is important to first understand the following basic key terms and concepts.

Here are all the important definitions that can help you understand what is included in your insurance policy:

*Please note: the following glossary is according to SkyWatch.AI Drone Insurance Policies.

Coverage Breakdown

Aviation Liability Insurance

A portion of the insurance policy which provides coverage against physical or property damage to a third party entity caused by drone operations.

Hull Insurance

An optional portion of the insurance policy which provides physical damage coverage to the drone in use. Includes drone loss, theft, flyaway, disappearance.

Aviation insurance provides the following types of liability coverages:

Property Damage: Liability protection for physical damage to property caused by a pilot’s operations
Bodily Injury: Liability protection against physical damage or trauma to an individual resulting from an accident by the drone pilot
Personal injury: Liability for an injury to an individual arising from libel, slander, invasion of privacy, etc.

Liability limits range anywhere from $100,000 to $5,000,000. Canadian Drone regulations state that you must be certified for all drone operations, including recreational and commercial flights. When it comes to activating an insurance policy above $2M in liability, you will be asked to confirm that you have the required Pilot certificates for performing commercial RPAS operations. Secondly, while hull insurance is an optional coverage, it is only available for annual insurance policies and cannot be purchased short term, i.e by the hour or month.

*Note that Aviation Liability insurance includes coverage specifically to your drone operations – which is not always covered by standard General Liability policies.

Certificates and Documentation

After purchasing drone insurance you want to make sure you are provided with two essential documents. First, you need a policy document which declares all the conditions, specific coverages, and exclusions. Secondly, a Certificate of Insurance (COI) will serve as proof of coverage for clients and local authorities. The COI is a flexible working tool that can be modified during the policy period to include your additional insured as well as the specific language required by certain clients.

Coverage Details

Insurance jargon can be confusing. In order to simplify this, we’ve gathered some of the most frequently used terms in drone insurance policies to make sure you truly understand what it’s all about.

Additional Insured

An individual, business, co-pilot or entity that is added to the policy in order to be protected by the drone pilot’s insurance policy

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

A legal document providing important coverage details and serves as proof of coverage. This document is produced immediately after activating your policy.

Claim

An incident submitted by the drone pilot to the insurance company which needs to be covered for a loss.

Your Coverage Duration

The time period in which the policy is active. Hourly policies provide coverage for a given time of day at an hourly rate while monthly/annual policies provide longer coverage periods. While policies can be pre-booked for a future date it is important to make sure that the coverage duration is stated clearly on your policy and COI.

Your Title Deductible

A portion of the loss in which the drone pilot will be expected to pay in the event that a claim is filed.

Endorsement

Upon making changes to an active insurance policy, an endorsement is used as a legal extension to prove that the contract has been amended.

For example, if you add hull coverage midway through your policy period, a new endorsement with the drone details will be produced and attached to the original policy.

Liability limit

The maximum limit for which an insurance policy will provide liability coverage.

The limit you select should be based on the requirements of your client, or the risk associated for your operation. The bigger the production, the bigger the risk. The most standard liability policy is the $1,000,000 limit; however, it is important that each pilot considers the risk of his/her operations and chooses the liability accordingly.

Name Insured

The person(s) to whom the policy is issued.

The name insured can also be the name of your business. If the named insured is your company’s name, then any employee of that company will be included under the policy.

On-Demand Policy

A type of policy that can be activated at any time.

Premium

A total payment or a periodic portion of it which is used to keep the policy active over time.

For drone insurance policies, there are separate premiums. Every drone insurance policy will include a premium for the liability portion. Other coverages, such as optional hull insurance, will have an additional premium to be paid.

Waiver of Subrogation

A legal waiver that states the name insured has waived the rights of the insurance company to seek compensation for losses paid to the third party.

Often times clients will request that pilots provide this specific waiver when conducting operations on their behalf. This waiver will be required in order to get some operations approved.

More definitions can be found online at SkyWatch.AI’s drone insurance dictionary.

When working in a fast-paced environment such as the drone industry, the insurance demands and requirements are ever-changing. For this reason, drone insurance is designed to be flexible. As clients needs’ change, pilots can always modify and manage their insurance.

For more information visit https://www.skywatch.ai/ca/home

The SkyWatch.AI support team is happy to help you get your policy activated and answer any questions you may have at any time.

1-888-364-5033

[email protected]

New RPA AIM

by Ian Wills | Apr 3, 2020 | Blog, General Info

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New TC AIM RPA Section

Guidance for RPA Pilots

What is the AIM?

The AIM or Aeronautical Information Manual is a 500+ page online and print resource published by Transport Canada twice a year (March and October) to provide guidance and detailed information not available in the CARs.

Read the AIM here

Excellent Reference Tool

While this document may not be something you want to sit down and read cover to cover, it’s an excellent reference tool when questions pop up regarding airspace, flying at night or SFOC requirements. Keep it bookmarked and definitely have open when you’re writing your certification exams!

Coastal’s Contribution

Coastal Drone is proud to have contributed to the content and editing of the new RPA AIM section! Collaboration with Transport Canada in this way helps ensure the industry gets the information it needs so we’re grateful for the ongoing opportunities to work closely with TC!