2026-2027 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot Recency Requirements - Self-Paced Study Program

2026-2027 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot Recency Requirements - Self-Paced Study Program (PDF, 241 KB)

Completion of this questionnaire by remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots satisfies the 24-month recurrent training program requirements of 901.56(1)(b)(iii), 901.65(1)(b)(iii) or 901.91(b)(iii) in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).

All remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots who meet the requirements in CAR 901.xx are to answer questions 1 to 30. Level 1 Complex RPA pilots must also complete questions 31 to 35.

Once completed by the RPA pilot, this questionnaire must be kept in paper or digital format for 24 months with the mention of the date on which it was completed and be available upon request.

Note: This online page cannot be saved while you are working on it. You can choose to use the PDF version above or fill in the fields below. Once completed, you can print the completed version of this questionnaire or save in PDF format (through your web browser functions).

References are listed after each question. Many answers may be found in the Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM). Other answers can be found in the AIP Canada (ICAO). Amendments to these publications may result in changes to answers and/or references.

The following resources are available online:

General Aviation Questions

TC AIM—GEN–General

  1. What is the definition of ’touch-and-go’?

Reference: TC AIM GEN 5.1 Glossary of Aeronautical Terms

Answer 1

A procedure in which an aircraft lands and then takes off without stopping.

 

TC AIM—AGA–Aerodromes

  1. Where a structure is provided with that are , paint marking of the structure may be omitted.

Reference: TC AIM AGA 6.4 Marking

Answer 2

Medium or high-intensity white flashing strobe lighting systems, operated during the day

 
  1. Hospital heliports are identified by a .

Reference: TC AIM AGA 5.5.3 Heliport Identification Markings

Answer 3

Red capital letter “H” centered within a white cross.

TC AIM—COM–Communications

  1. Current aircraft GPS receivers contain a model of the nominal day/night delay, but this model does not account for .

Reference: TC AIM COM 5.2.1 Global Positioning System (GPS)

Answer 4

Variable solar activity

 
  1. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Transport Canada (TC) and establishes a coordinated framework for managing aircraft radio station licences.

Reference: TC AIM COM 1.2 Regulations and Guidance Material

Answer 5

ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)

 
  1.   has published phraseology guides intended as learning tools and reference for all pilots flying within Canadian airspace.

Reference: TC AIM COM 1.2 Regulations and Guidance Material, Nav Canada VFR Phraseology (PDF - A new window will open)

Answer 6

NAV CANADA

 

TC AIM—MET–Meteorology

  1. In the CFS (Canadian Flight Supplement), indicates that a NAV CANADA aviation weather camera is installed at the site.

Reference: TC AIM MET 1.2.3 Weather Services Definitions in Flight Publications

Answer 7

WxCam

 
  1. What is the abbreviation for ‘icing’ in an aviation forecast?

Reference: TC AIM MET 15.0 Abbreviations – Aviation Forecasts

Answer 8

ICE

 
  1. Space weather may influence GPS-based RPA functions, such as ”return to home”. Space weather advisories will contain information about conditions, as well as forecast levels for hours, hours, hours and hours ahead.

Reference: TC AIM MET 14.3 The ICAO Service Advisories

Answer 9

Current, 6, 12, 18, 24

 

TC AIM—RAC–Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services

  1. How long must a pilot wait after CBD (cannabidiol) use prior to exercising duties as a crew member?

Reference: CAR 901.19(2) (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.2.7 Fitness of Crew Members

Answer 10

28 days. The CARs require fitness for duty and state that no person shall act as a crew member of an aircraft while using or under the influence of any drug that impairs the person’s faculties to the extent that aviation safety is affected. Transport Canada’s new policy prohibits flight crews from consuming cannabis, including CBD (cannabidiol) for at least 28 days before being on duty.

 
  1. At uncontrolled aerodromes without a published MF (Mandatory Frequency) or ATF (Aerodrome Traffic Frequency), the common frequency for the broadcast of aircraft position and the intentions of pilots flying in the vicinity of that aerodrome is .

Reference: TC AIM RAC 4.5 Aircraft Operations – Uncontrolled Aerodromes

Answer 11

123.2 MHz

 
  1. No person shall act as a crew member of a RPA weighing 250 g or above within hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage.

Reference: CAR 901.19(2) (A new window will open) and TC AIM Fitness of Crew Members

Answer 12

12

 
  1. No person shall operate an aircraft in the airspace below within of the limits of a forest fire area, or as described in a NOTAM issued under CAR 601.16.

Reference: CAR 601.15 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RAC 2.9.2 Temporary Flight Restrictions—ForestFires

Answer 13

3 000 ft AGL, 5 NM

 

TC AIM—MAP—Aeronautical Charts and Publications

  1. Where can forest fire aircraft operating restriction NOTAM be found?

Reference: TC AIM MAP 3.5 NOTAM Distribution

Answer 14

NAV CANADA’s Web site. Note: NOTAMs 5.1 may also be depicted on the NAV Drone App.

 

RPAS—Specific Questions

  1. What is a BVLOS operation?

Reference: CAR 900.01 (A new window will open)

Answer 15

“BVLOS operation” means an operation of a remotely piloted aircraft that is not in visual line-of-sight, but does not include an extended VLOS operation or a sheltered operation

 
  1. How do the CARs Part IX define “extended VLOS operation”?

Reference: CAR 900.01 - Interpretation (A new window will open)

Answer 16

“extended VLOS operation” means an operation of a remotely piloted aircraft that is not in visual line-of-sight but during which unaided visual contact is maintained with the airspace in which the aircraft is operating in a manner sufficient to detect conflicting air traffic and other hazards and take action to avoid them.

 
  1. A visual observer for an extended VLOS operation must hold at least a .

Reference: CAR 901.75 (A new window will open)

Answer 17

pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — basic operations

 
  1. An RPA with an operating weight of less than 250 g (enter does or does not) require an SFOC-RPAS for an advertised event.

Reference: CAR 903.01 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.2.29.2 Advertised Events

Answer 18

does

 
  1. The CARs state: “No holder of a pilot certificate—small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) [...] shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the holder has, within the 24 months preceding the flight [...] successfully completed (Write one of the options):

Reference: CAR 901.56 (A new window will open), 901.65 (A new window will open), 901.91 (A new window will open), standard 921.04 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.3.2.2 Recency Requirements

Answer 19
  • (i) the examinations “RPAS — Basic Operations”, “RPAS — Advanced Operations”, or “RPAS – Level 1 Complex Operations, or
  • (ii) a flight review referred to in paragraph 901.64(c) or, 901.90(e) or
  • (iii) any of the recurrent training activities set out in section 921.04 of Standard 921:
    • (a) attendance at a safety seminar endorsed by Transport Canada Aviation;
    • (b) completion of an RPAS recurrent training program designed to update pilot knowledge, which includes, human factors, environmental factors, route planning, operations near aerodromes/airports, and applicable regulations, rules and procedures; or
    • (c) completion of a Transport Canada endorsed self-paced study program, which is designed to update pilot knowledge in the subjects specified in paragraph (b).
 
  1. Reckless or negligent operation of an RPAS is applicable to?
    1. Only small RPA operated under the Basic Operations regulations
    2. Only small RPA operated under the Advanced Operations regulations
    3. Not applicable to micro RPA operations
    4. All RPA weight categories including Micro-drones

Reference: CAR 900.06 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 2.0

Answer 20

d) All RPA weight categories including Micro-drones

 
  1. The operation of any RPA in restricted airspace (under section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act, a Class F CYR or a forest fire) without authorization from the user/controlling agency is prohibited to?
    1. Only small RPA operated under the Basic Operations regulations
    2. Only small RPA operated under the Advanced Operations regulations
    3. Not applicable to micro RPA operations
    4. All aircraft, including all RPA weight categories

Reference: AA 5.1 (A new window will open), CAR 601.04 (A new window will open), 601.15 (A new window will open), 901.14 (A new window will open) and TC AIM 2.0 Micro Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)—Less Than 250 g and 3.2.3 Class F Restricted Airspace

Answer 21

d) All Aircraft, including all RPA weight categories

 
  1. In order to conduct an operation with a medium RPA, the pilot must hold at least a RPA pilot certificate.

Reference: CAR 901.62 (A new window will open)

Answer 22

Advanced Operations

 
  1. The use of night-vision goggles by the pilot (enter does or does not) remove the requirement for the RPA weighing 250 g or more to have position lights.

Reference: CAR 901.39 (A new window will open) Night Flight Requirements

Answer 23

Does not

 
  1. A pilot can operate a RPA weighing 250 grams or more using a first-person view device only if, at all times during flight, the detect and avoid functions with respect to conflicting aircraft or other hazards beyond the field of view displayed on the device.

Reference: CAR 901.38 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.2.26 First-person View (FPV) Devices

Answer 24

A visual observer performs

 
  1. Which weather tool is more suitable for evaluating whether RPAS operations at a given time/location would be possible given the historical climatic patterns?

Reference: TC AIM RPA 3.2.22.1 Sources of Weather Information

Answer 25

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Canadian Climate Normals is available on the ECCC Web site

 
  1. According to CARs Part IX, what documents shall a pilot operating a RPA weighing 250 g or above have and make available on request when operating an RPAS?

Reference: CARs Part IX (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA Chapter

Answer 26

RPA Pilot Certificate according to the operating environment (basic or advanced), RPA Certificate of Registration, Registration markings visible on the RPA, RPAS Operating Manual, operating procedures and emergency procedures – according to CAR 901.23.

For advanced environments, if applicable: relevant safety statement from the RPAS manufacturer specified on the valid Certificate of Registration, for controlled airspace authorization from the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) and a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC)-RPAS according to CAR 903.01.

 
  1. Advertised event means:

Reference: CAR 901.41 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.2.29 Advertised Events

Answer 27

An outdoor event that is advertised to the general public, including a concert, festival, market or sporting event

 
  1. When using your RPA weighing 250 grams or more in Canada near the U.S. border, can you fly outside of Canadian airspace?

Yes / No

Reference: CAR 901.13 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.2.3.1 Prohibition — Canadian Domestic Airspace (A new window will open)

Answer 28

No

 
  1. No pilot shall operate a RPA weighing 250 grams or more at or near an aerodrome that is listed in the CFS (Canada Flight Supplement) or the CWAS (Canadian Water Aerodrome Supplement)

Reference: CAR 901.47 (A new window will open) and TC AIM RPA 3.2.35 Operations at or in the Vicinity of an Aerodrome, Airport or Heliport (A new window will open)

Answer 29

in a manner that could interfere with an aircraft operating in the established traffic pattern

 
  1. No pilot shall operate a RPA weighing 250 grams or more at a distance of less than from the centre of an aerodrome operated under the authority of the Minister of National Defence unless .

Reference: CAR 901.47 (A new window will open)

Answer 30

Three nautical miles, authorized to do so by the Department of National Defence

 
  1. A small or medium RPA may only be operated in level 1 complex BVLOS operations at a distance of not less than from a , unless operating under an SFOC.

Reference: CAR 901.87 (A new window will open)

Answer 31

1 km, populated area

 
  1. A sparsely populated area means:

Reference: CAR 900.01 (A new window will open)

Answer 32

an area with more than 5 but not more than 25 people per square kilometre

 
  1. A small or medium RPA without a Standard 922.10 declaration for operation in lesser weather conditions and without an SFOC, may only be operated in BVLOS operations if the ground visibility is not less than miles and the aircraft is operated .

Reference: CAR 901.34 (A new window will open)

Answer 33

3, clear of cloud

 
  1. For level 1 complex operations, every RPAS operator shall establish and maintain a that is designed to ensure that each person who receives acquires the competence to perform their assigned duties.

Reference: CAR 901.219 (A new window will open)

Answer 34

training program, training

 
  1. What document must a RPAS Operator Certificate holder have to describe the roles and responsibilities of crew members before, during and after a flight?

Reference: CAR 901.217 (A new window will open)

Answer 35

RPAS operations manual

Certification

Name
Pilot Certificate #
Date (YYYY-MM-DD)

I certify that I have completed this questionnaire to satisfy the 24-month recurrent training program requirements of CARs 901.56(1)(b)(iii) and 901.65(1)(b)(iii).

I will retain this questionnaire and make it available when requested.

Signature:

 

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