A. Understand Drone Operations

If you plan on flying a drone, you need to follow all the regulations in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).

For starters, if your drone weighs 250 grams to 25 kg, you must hold a valid pilot certificate whether it is for basic or advanced operations.

For Basic operations, you must:

• Not flying in controlled spaces, around airports,
  government   buildings or military bases.
• Be over 14 years old
• Register your drone before you fly it
• Register and pass the Small Basic Exam
• Have a Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations

As for advanced operations, you must:

1. be over 16 years old
2. Take and pass the Small Advanced Exam
3. Pass the in-person flight review before you can qualify to
   apply for a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations
4. Pay a $25 fee
5. Submit the results to Transport Canada. They will confirm that you meet all these qualifications, and will
   issue the Pilot certificate for advanced operations to you.
6. Fly a drone marked with a unique identification number or
   registration code provided by Transport Canada.

B. While Flying a Drone

You must have a pilot certificate while flying a drone and meet all the set regulations.
Failure to which you attract fines or penalties.
For instance, if you fly a drone without having a pilot certificate, yet it has a maximum takeoff weight of 250g to 25 kg, you will attract fines as shown in the table below.

Also, you should take time to understand all the features your drone comes with.

Most drones for example have a Return-to-Home (RTH) feature, that ensures that the drone returns to its starting point if the battery gets low or loses connection with the operator.

Other features include

1. Geofencing. It prevents your drone from flying into restricted areas.
2. GPS module. Shows the exact positioning data that the drone uses for RTH and geofencing
3. Cameras. They capture all the pictures and videos from an aerial point of view. Cameras are one of the most important and must-have features of a drone, So while flying your drone, ensure that the camera is working perfectly and if you can you can attach more with a high resolution.
4. Collision avoidance sensors. They assist in detecting any obstacles in the flight path and adjusting the drone to avoid crashes.

C. General Safety Rules

Other than flying with a pilot certificate, you must respect other people’s privacy when you fly.

Also, you must adhere to these drone safety regulations:

• Always survey the area you intend to fly to. This allows you to detect any obstacles, analyze any tricky terrain that may interfere with landing or takeoff, and confirm that there are no regulations or limits.
• If you plan to fly your drone at night, ensure you install lights on it so that you can see it well
• Fly your drone away from bystanders, emergency operations, forest fires, airports and outside controlled airspace
• Always keep your drone in sight ( Visual-line-of-sight or VLOS), less than 400 feet in the air.
• Never engage in reckless behaviour that might hurt people, animals, and other aircraft.
• Keep up with the latest regulations, as they are subject to change.

Enroll in a Comprehensive Drone Pilot Training Course

To better understand the basics of drone regulations and pass the online exams easily so that you can become a drone pilot, you need to enroll in a drone pilot training course with us.

At Coastal Drone, we understand that flying a drone requires a firm grasp of the subject matter.

So, we ensure that you receive hands-on training from experienced instructors who have the practical knowledge to guide you effectively.

And to avoid leaving you out in the cold after you finish the drone pilot training course, we also offer ongoing support or resources after the completion of the course.

Contact us today to book a slot in our drone pilot training course to take your first step in being part of the incredible world of drone flying.