Whatever you choose to call them—drones, RC planes, or mini-robots in the sky— these electronic aerial vehicles are on the rise.
The value and importance of drones are expanding fast. Controlling them is as easy as using a remote, which can be accessed via smartphone or fly independently to explore inaccessible locations. This generally requires little to no people and requires little in the way of money, time, or energy.
Drones are being used for many purposes by private citizens, businesses, and even governments, such as:
- Photos are taken from a plane
- The use of expedited shipping services
- Real-time, granular crop analysis
- Robotic transfer of cargo
- cinematography and videography
- Analyzing terrain and creating maps
- 3D Models, etc.
Canada Drone Laws
Some of the world’s toughest regulations on drone use can be found in Canada. In many cases, preflight planning is required before piloting a drone. You should identify and comply with Canada drone laws, get a pilot’s license, register your drone, and fly safely.
Rules And Regulations Of Canada Drone Laws
- Drones less than 250 grams in weight can be flown without a pilot’s license or registration by following all necessary safety procedures.
- Drones weighing between 250 grams and 25 kilograms are subject to Transport Canada registration and marking requirements in advance of taking off with their identifying number.
- Drone pilot certificates are required for operators of drones weighing between 250 grammes and 25 kg.
- Drones are prohibited from being flown higher than 400 feet in the air.
- Flying a drone in the vicinity of a site where an emergency operation or other special event is taking place is strictly forbidden.
- A minimum horizontal distance of 30 meters must be maintained between the drone and any onlookers if even the most basic drone operations are to be performed.
- An airport’s 3-mile no-fly zone and a heliport’s 1-mile no-fly zone are established as the minimum safe distances from which drones may be flown.
A plethora of additional regulations must be followed when operating autonomous drone flight or flight with numerous drones using a single controller.
Drone piloting: Basics v/s Advanced
Drone operations can be classified as either “basic” or “advanced” under the existing set of rules. If these three things are true, drone activities can be classified as basic.
- The drone is at least 30 meters away from any person.
- The drone is never flown in a direct line above any person.
- The drone is only flown in areas with little to no regulation.
Drone operations are regarded as advanced if none of these three requirements is met.
The Guidelines Of Basic Drone Operation
Pilots conducting basic operations must, in addition to following the general norms and regulations for drone flight, must have:
- A pilot’s license is issued after passing the necessary tests;
- Pilot’s license and registration documents at all times when airborne.
The Guidelines Of Advanced Drone Operation
Pilots performing advanced operations are expected to adhere to the following guidelines in addition to the standard drone flight regulations:
To fly commercially, you must:
- Have passed the Advanced Operations Licensing Exam; in-person flight evaluation.
- Always have your pilot’s license and registration paperwork on yourself while in the air.
- Operate a drone that conforms to all applicable safety and assurance regulations.
- Before taking off, you should thoroughly check the surroundings for potential hazards, such as electrical wires and buildings.
Penalties For Breaking Any Canada Drone Laws
It’s possible that if drones are used in violation of the law, these things will happen:
- The infraction below may result in a punishment of up to $5,000:
- The operation of a drone without a valid pilot’s license.
- Using a drone without proper identification or registration.
- Being an unlicensed pilot in restricted or controlled airspace.
- Drone pilots who endanger other planes or people might face a punishment of up to $15,000.
Canada Drone Laws Privacy Regulations For Pilots
- Drone pilots in the recreational sector
When flying recreational drones, keep in mind the following privacy recommendations:
Act like an adult
You must handle any sensitive data that your drone may collect. Names or faces in photographs and vehicle registration numbers are all examples of personally identifiable information.
Curtail your data collection.
When it comes to people’s private data, less is more. Ensure that any sensitive information you collect unauthorized cannot be used to identify a specific individual. Modify the image so recognizable features, such as faces or license plates, are obscured.
Obtain authorization
As far as possible, let the passengers know that you will be filming them and ask for their permission before filming any private moments throughout the flight.
Store data confidentially
It would be best if you took precautions to ensure that only you may access any personal recordings you store.
Don’t hide your actions from others
Do your best to respond politely and respectfully if someone complains about your drone use invading their privacy.
Some forms of privacy invasion can result in criminal prosecution, including but not limited to the following:
- voyeurism
- mischief
- making a nuisance of itself
- infractions of local or regional legislation
Drone pilots in the business sector
When operating a drone business in Canada, companies must adhere to PIPEDA, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
It is illegal to acquire, use, or disclose an individual’s personal information without their explicit consent under PIPEDA. Individuals’ consent is only effective if they fully grasp the terms of the agreement they are signing.
To succeed, your company must manage confidential information responsibly and ethically. This includes letting people know why you need their information and offering them access to that information. To the extent that your company deals with customer data, you must ensure its security and confidentiality.
No Drone Zones
There are some places where it’s either prohibited or unsafe to fly your drone. Drone pilots should avoid the following situations wherever possible;
National parks
The park superintendent may or may not permit to fly of drones. It is recommended that anyone interested in flying a drone in a Parks Canada location first familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations governing the usage of drones at Parks Canada properties and then make contact with Parks Canada.
Sites of Emergencies
When police or first responders are handling an emergency situation, such as a traffic collision, the drone’s pilot is not allowed to fly the aircraft within the incident’s boundary. Additionally, it would help if you stayed away from potential catastrophe areas (forest fires, floods, earthquakes). If a drone is flying nearby, it might potentially cause problems for emergency planes and workers.
Festivals and other advertised events
Unauthorized drone flights are prohibited in the vicinity of publicized events like outdoor concerts and sporting events.
Environments within, below, next to, or above a building
Indoor and subsurface drone activities are exempt from the requirements of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. However, you must always fly carefully and adhere to all other regulations so that you don’t endanger anyone or anything else wherever you go. We advise obtaining permission from the owner of the building or the residents before flying within, near, or over a building.
Coastal Drone
Since Canada’s drone laws are quite strict, it’s always better to learn all drone regulations than to spend a hefty amount on penalties. It’s advisable to look for an authentic and expert drone pilot company that can teach you both the basic and advanced Canadian regulations.
Coastal drone believes they can help make drones more widely available by allowing people to get certified as pilots and have successful careers in this field. Therefore, they are the best platform to go for if you aim to be a certified drone pilot.
