Micro-Drone Operations

The “This Feels so wrong it must be illegal” category.

Micro-drone operations fall under the radar of normal Canadian small drone laws, with some exemptions that preclude them from going any deeper than the preliminary rules published in CARS 900.

Rule 1 – Don’t be an idiot.

Okay, so that’s paraphrased, but wouldn’t life be simple if that were the case? 

The actual CARs referenced is 900.06 – Reckless or Negligent Operation – which is quoted as to say:

“No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system in such a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of any person.”

Further, micro-drones are considered navigable aircraft, so flight into Class F Restricted (CYR on the Map) airspace is also forbidden without permission from the airspace operator.  Typically, this airspace exists surrounding forest fires, natural disasters, airshows, prisons, and military facilities.  You can find a directory of all airspace in Canada in the TP1820E – Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH). 

Here’s an example of Class F – Restricted Airspace:  

 

In the picture, the orange areas show places where you can fly a micro drone, but you need to be careful.

These areas have some dangers like:

1. Airplanes and helicopters flying in the sky from 500 feet up, or even from the ground in some places. There’s no specific lowest height for them in certain situations, like when they’re practicing or in remote areas. Drones must always give way to these manned aircraft.
2. Drones can’t fly in Class F CYR and CYD airspace. You’ll find these areas near places like prisons, wildfires, military training zones, or other places that you might not know about until it’s mentioned in a special notice (NOTAM). In Class F CYA airspace, you should also be cautious because there might be low-flying aircraft around.

You can fly a micro drone near people, even above them, but you have to follow CARS 900.06 and be careful not to hurt anyone. You don’t need a parachute for drones under 250 grams, but make sure your drone won’t hurt anyone if it lands.

You can fly a small drone within 3 miles of airports and 1 mile of certified heliports, but you should also check CARS 901.73 and follow those rules along with CARS 900.06.

It’s not a good idea to fly your drone high above 400 feet in controlled airspace. You might get in the way of airplanes and helicopters coming to and from airports. Pilots can’t see drones easily, and even a tiny drone under 250 grams could damage an aircraft’s windshield and make the pilot unable to fly safely.

Free drone tools you should use:

Before you fly a drone, even a micro-sized one, it’s essential to check the area where you plan to fly. This is called a “site survey.” You need to know what’s above you and how you can fly safely.

Small Drone Operations

Most drone operations in Canada over 250 grams will fall under this category.

The entirety of CARS 901 (Part IX Subpart 1) is dedicated to small drone operations which means, any remotely piloted aircraft system that weighs from 250 grams up to 25 kg.

These operations are broken down into two categories:  Basic Operations, and Advanced Operations.  Basic Operations are intended for low-risk drone flights that are well separated from urban activity and airport operations, and outside of controlled airspace.  In order to fly any 250g+ drone in Canada, the pilot must have at least a Basic Pilot Certificate, in addition to registering the drone with Transport Canada.

Within the small drone weight category, operations are categorized under a risk-based approach, in the sense that the closer you get to risk, the higher the certification and oversight required becomes.  As you get closer to people, airports, heliports, and controlled airspace, you will need to obtain an Advanced Pilot Certificate.

Advanced RPAS Operations:

Upon registration of a drone weighing 250 grams or more, and upon completion of the Advanced Online exam and in-person flight review, a drone pilot in Canada may perform the following flights with an Advanced Pilot Certificate:

• Flights near and over Airports with coordination with the operator.
• Flights near and over Heliports with coordination with the operator. 
• Flights in controlled airspace with approval from the Air Navigation Service Provider
• Flights near and over people, with appropriate manufacturer’s safety assurance declaration.
• Drone must be kept within visual line of sight at all times. (This includes FPV, where a spotter must be used.)
• Drone must not be flown more than 400′ above ground at any time, except within 200′ of a structure, and only 100′ above that structure.

How to obtain your Advanced Pilot Certificate:

If you haven’t already been flying under Basic operations, create a profile on the Drone Management Portal, and register your drone.

 You will need to be a minimum of 16 years of age to qualify for the Advanced Pilot Certificate.

Study for the Advanced Online Exam with our online, on-demand training course and sample test questions, and write the exam with a passing grade of 80% or better.

Develop your own checklists and standard operating procedures for site surveys, pre-flight, flight, and emergencies as required by CARS with help from our included SOP Guide.

Demonstrate your operational procedures, knowledge, and skills with a Transport Canada-approved flight reviewer in person.

Every 24 months, ensure you maintain your pilot certificate by completing an approved recency exercise.

The Special Flight Operations Certificate

 

CARS 901, or IX Subpart 1, covers normal drone operations, or VLOS drone operations within the 250g to 25kg weight category.  The limitations within that category are well defined, as well as the consequences for ignoring the laws.

However, there may be a legal need for you to break the law, so to say, or fly beyond the limits of CARS 901.  Enter CARS 903, or IX Subpart 3, which is a section of drone laws reserved for complex drone operations that require a special flight operations certificate, or SFOC.

SFOCs are issued by Transport Canada in a limited fashion for novel circumstances that justify flights beyond current routine operations.  This may include emergency services, testing, agriculture, and cinematography.

Typically, as of most recent information from Transport Canada, these SFOCs are issued for a 12-month period and take a minimum of 30 business days to process, upon receipt of the complete application package.

As of recent stats, only about 150 or so SFOCs have been granted in the preceding year, so you can certainly understand the level of complexity and novelty required for the certificates to be issued.

SFOCs are typically requested for flights:

• beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS),
• flights near military aerodrones,
  
• over 400′ in uncontrolled airspace,
• aerial application of agriculture products,
• heavy-lift operations over 25kg,
• flights carrying hazardous payloads,
• or for flights over and near advertised events or special aviation events.

Foreign pilot SFOCs are also regularly requested, in order to operate a drone that is not domestically owned.  More information about the updated foreign pilot information can be found in our Foreign Pilot SFOC guidance package.