Everything you need to fly legally in Canada — from your first certificate to special flight operations — with links to the official Transport Canada and NAV CANADA sources.
Drones 250 g – 25 kg need a pilot certificate: Basic (online exam) for uncontrolled airspace away from bystanders, or Advanced (exam + in-person flight review) for controlled airspace and operations near people. Our prep courses cover both.
Every drone between 250 g and 25 kg must be registered with Transport Canada before its first flight, and the registration number must be marked on the aircraft. Registration is done online through the Drone Management Portal.
Airspace rules decide where each certificate lets you fly. Use the NAV Drone app to check airspace, request RPAS Flight Authorizations in controlled airspace, and keep clear of aerodromes and restricted zones.
Operations outside the normal rules — over 25 kg, beyond visual line of sight, special aviation events, or foreign operators — need a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC-RPAS) from Transport Canada. Apply well ahead of your operation.
The authoritative documents every operator should keep at hand.
| Document | What it is | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CARs Part IX — Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems | The regulations themselves: the rulebook for every RPAS operation in Canada. | ||
| TP 15263 — Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of RPAS | The official syllabus behind the Basic and Advanced exams — and our prep courses. | ||
| Drone safety — Transport Canada | Rules, registration, exams, and compliance basics in one place. | ||
| Find a drone flight school | Transport Canada's list of drone flight schools across the country. |
Operational templates prepared by our standards committee — free to download and use.
Field-ready checklist covering documents, site survey, aircraft, and crew briefing.
DownloadA fillable template for the site survey CARs 901.27 requires before each operation.
DownloadStandardized form for reporting occurrences to the association's safety program.
Download