Drone Zone / Zone de Drone
Transport Canada RPAS Team Newsletter /
Bulletin de l'equipe des SATP de Transports Canada
August 2020 / août 2020
Table of Contents
Transport Canada recently became aware of wallet-sized “Transport Canada Drone Pilot Certificate” and “Transport Canada Certificate of Registration” cards being sold online. These cards appear to be modified versions of TC’s RPAS pilot certificate and drone registration documentation and use TC logo and symbols to convey authenticity. They are being sold via eBay by a seller located in the United States.
TC does not accept these altered cards as valid RPAS pilot certificates or drone registration documentation.
Drone pilots are required to have access to their Basic or Advanced Operations Certificate, either printed or electronic version, as issued by TC while operating a drone. Modifying documents is unauthorized and these will not be accepted under s. 901.57 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, in the event a drone pilot is stopped and asked for their RPAS pilot certificate or drone registration information. Failure to properly comply with CAR 901.57 could result in a fine of up to $1,000 for an individual or up to $5,000 for a corporation.
Drone safety is everyone's responsibility. As a member of the drone industry, please take the time to educate your stakeholders on the importance of providing acceptable proof of certification and registration.
MONITORING NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES IN GASPÉ
??
Transport Canada’s RPAS project is a contribution to the integration of drones into Canadian airspace and the regulatory development for Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations. As part of this project, we are using drones to help with North Atlantic Right Whale monitoring in Gaspé, Quebec. This year's operation was planned over the past 9 months thanks to collaboration between the RPAS Team and NAV Canada. The operation has been approved via a SFOC, and will be conducted over the next 5 weeks.
To learn more about the RPAS project and the whale monitoring initiative, click here.
SPECIAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE TRENDS
There have been a steady number of Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) requests under 903.01 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. TC has observed the following trends in requests for SFOCs:
Transport Canada recognizes the significant opportunity drones can offer to remote communities, and their potential in supplementing emergency response activities to COVID-19. TC continues to triage Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs) that are in the public interest and has made increased efforts to vet industry proposals quickly, in some cases less than 24 hours. Several missions conducted in the service of a government authority have been approved to date, including applications to fly COVID kits and other resources to remote and isolated communities where access is limited. Drones offer a logistical solution where social distancing is possible and contact is minimal, making their use very attractive for small payloads in hard to reach communities.
Recently, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) created a drone team to provide rapid funding for favourable operations. ISC has committed to a project administered by the Province of Ontario's air ambulance organization, ORNGE. TC inspectors are on the drone team providing strategic advice and regulatory expertise. It is anticipated that a large-scale concept of operations will evolve over the next year in Northern Ontario that will integrate drones into the current medical logistics system in a gradual and risk-mitigated manner.
TC will continue to prioritize requests that originate from, or are endorsed by, a government authority and are operated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEETING RECENCY REQUIREMENTS
As we've entered the second year of Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations being in effect, the RPAS Team would like to remind our stakeholders and drone pilots of the importance in keeping your knowledge current and up to date. If you hold a Basic or Advanced Pilot Certificate, you must complete a recurrent training activity every 24 months to be able to operate your drone. Examples of recurrent training activities include:
DRONES BY THE NUMBERS
Curious about how many drones have been registered in Canada, or how many RPAS pilot certificates Transport Canada has issued? Check out the statistics below!
That's a wrap on updates from the RPAS Team. You can expect to receive the next edition of this newsletter late-October, as we aim to release a newsletter every 2 months.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you are interested in subscribing, please email [email protected] and you will be added to the distribution list.
Transport Canada RPAS Team Newsletter /
Bulletin de l'equipe des SATP de Transports Canada
August 2020 / août 2020
Table of Contents
- FYI: Unauthorized RPAS Pilot Certificates and Drone Registration Cards
- Monitoring North Atlantic Right Whales in Gaspé
- Special Flight Operations Certificate Trends
- Drones in COVID-19 Emergency Response Activities
- Reminder: Meeting Recency Requirements
- Drones by the Numbers
Transport Canada recently became aware of wallet-sized “Transport Canada Drone Pilot Certificate” and “Transport Canada Certificate of Registration” cards being sold online. These cards appear to be modified versions of TC’s RPAS pilot certificate and drone registration documentation and use TC logo and symbols to convey authenticity. They are being sold via eBay by a seller located in the United States.
TC does not accept these altered cards as valid RPAS pilot certificates or drone registration documentation.
Drone pilots are required to have access to their Basic or Advanced Operations Certificate, either printed or electronic version, as issued by TC while operating a drone. Modifying documents is unauthorized and these will not be accepted under s. 901.57 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, in the event a drone pilot is stopped and asked for their RPAS pilot certificate or drone registration information. Failure to properly comply with CAR 901.57 could result in a fine of up to $1,000 for an individual or up to $5,000 for a corporation.
Drone safety is everyone's responsibility. As a member of the drone industry, please take the time to educate your stakeholders on the importance of providing acceptable proof of certification and registration.
MONITORING NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES IN GASPÉ
??
Transport Canada’s RPAS project is a contribution to the integration of drones into Canadian airspace and the regulatory development for Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations. As part of this project, we are using drones to help with North Atlantic Right Whale monitoring in Gaspé, Quebec. This year's operation was planned over the past 9 months thanks to collaboration between the RPAS Team and NAV Canada. The operation has been approved via a SFOC, and will be conducted over the next 5 weeks.
To learn more about the RPAS project and the whale monitoring initiative, click here.
SPECIAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE TRENDS
There have been a steady number of Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) requests under 903.01 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. TC has observed the following trends in requests for SFOCs:
- The number of foreign applications for recreational purposes has dropped significantly after a temporary restriction was imposed in March of this year.June 2019 - August 2019: 598 applications received
June 2020 - August 2020: 14 applications received - Applications from industry members looking to conduct special drone operations has slightly increased for the following categories: BVLOS operations, flights above 400 feet AGL, and larger drones weighing 25 kilograms or more.June 2019 - August 2019: 63 applications received (for these categories)
June 2020 - August 2020: 76 applications recieved (for these categories)
Transport Canada recognizes the significant opportunity drones can offer to remote communities, and their potential in supplementing emergency response activities to COVID-19. TC continues to triage Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs) that are in the public interest and has made increased efforts to vet industry proposals quickly, in some cases less than 24 hours. Several missions conducted in the service of a government authority have been approved to date, including applications to fly COVID kits and other resources to remote and isolated communities where access is limited. Drones offer a logistical solution where social distancing is possible and contact is minimal, making their use very attractive for small payloads in hard to reach communities.
Recently, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) created a drone team to provide rapid funding for favourable operations. ISC has committed to a project administered by the Province of Ontario's air ambulance organization, ORNGE. TC inspectors are on the drone team providing strategic advice and regulatory expertise. It is anticipated that a large-scale concept of operations will evolve over the next year in Northern Ontario that will integrate drones into the current medical logistics system in a gradual and risk-mitigated manner.
TC will continue to prioritize requests that originate from, or are endorsed by, a government authority and are operated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEETING RECENCY REQUIREMENTS
As we've entered the second year of Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations being in effect, the RPAS Team would like to remind our stakeholders and drone pilots of the importance in keeping your knowledge current and up to date. If you hold a Basic or Advanced Pilot Certificate, you must complete a recurrent training activity every 24 months to be able to operate your drone. Examples of recurrent training activities include:
- Rewriting either the Basic of Advanced Exam
- Successfully completing a Flight Review
- Completing a TC-endorsed safety seminar or self-paced study program
DRONES BY THE NUMBERS
Curious about how many drones have been registered in Canada, or how many RPAS pilot certificates Transport Canada has issued? Check out the statistics below!
- Number of drones registered: 50,281
- Number of Basic Pilot Certificates issued: 42,989
- Number of Advanced Pilot Certificates issued: 4,062
That's a wrap on updates from the RPAS Team. You can expect to receive the next edition of this newsletter late-October, as we aim to release a newsletter every 2 months.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you are interested in subscribing, please email [email protected] and you will be added to the distribution list.
