Transport Canada SET Branch Newsletter
Table of Contents
- Knowing your drone operating weight
- Launch of the Drone Site Selection Tool (DSST) 2
- Recreational operators survey
- Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft Type Certification
- Reminder: Canada’s expanded drone regulations come into force on November 4, 2025
- Drones by the numbers
Knowing your drone operating weight
Drone pilots are responsible for confirming the operating weight of their drone. The operating weight and capabilities of the drone, distance from bystanders, and airspace rules define your category of drone operation. Each category has a different set of rules that drone pilots must follow.
According to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), operating weight means the weight of a remotely piloted aircraft at any point during a flight, including any payload and any safety equipment that is on board or otherwise connected to the aircraft.
In Canada, drones that weigh less than 250 grams are called microdrones. If the operating weight of the drone is 250 grams or more, it isn’t a microdrone. If you wish to operate a drone that weighs 250 grams or more, you must register it and obtain a Pilot Certificate. If you are concerned that your drone might weigh 250 grams or more, you should register it and obtain a Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations or Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations.
In addition to following Part IX of the CARs, drone pilots are subject to all federal, provincial, territorial and municipal laws that may apply, including with respect to privacy and trespassing.
Launch of the Drone Site Selection Tool (DSST) 2
Please note that the first version of the Drone Site Selection Tool (DSST 1) will be sunset on November 4, 2025. A preview of the updated tool is available here. While the DSST 1 will remain accessible and updated until November 4, 2025, users are encouraged to explore the DSST 2 and prepare for the upcoming changes.
Recreational operators survey
Do you fly your drone primarily for fun? We want to hear from you!
Transport Canada is trying to determine how much recreational drone users know about Transport Canada’s work around drone safety. The results of this survey will help determine the impact of our drone safety programs and find areas that need to be improved. The survey can be found here: Recreational Drone Operators Survey
The survey should take about 8 minutes to complete. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft Type Certification
Across much of the world, the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft is set to be certified in a unified and streamlined way following a landmark Roadmap established between national aviation authorities from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Currently, traditional aircraft are type certified in the country of design using internationally harmonized airworthiness certification standards. However, with new AAM aircraft types, there are differences in certification standards emerging across the world. The roadmap acknowledges these differences and provides a framework to converge and harmonize these standards to simplify validation and ease entry of AAM aircraft into multiple markets. By working together, we can ensure that the introduction of AAM aircraft is both safe and efficient, paving the way for the future of urban mobility.
To request a copy of the report, please email AdvancedAirMobility-MobiliteAerienneAvancee@tc.gc.ca.
Reminder: Canada’s expanded drone regulations come into force on November 4, 2025
On March 26, 2025, Transport Canada published new rules pertaining to lower-risk beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations and medium remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in Canada.
Starting April 1, 2025, certification services and updated registration tools became available to help pilots and manufacturers prepare for operations under the new framework; however, you cannot start flying BVLOS, extended visual line-of-sight (EVLOS), or Sheltered Operations until November 4, 2025. Until then, a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) remains required.
The new rules also introduce a Level 1 Complex Certificate, designed to certify pilots for lower-risk BVLOS operations, and an RPAS Operator Certificate (RPOC), which ensures that individuals, businesses, and organizations have the appropriate policies and procedures in place for conducting BVLOS flights with the level of complexity and risk appropriate to their operations.
A summary of the new regulations can be found here.
Drones by the Numbers
*Accurate as of October 3, 2025
- Number of drones registered: 114,580
- Number of Basic Pilot Certificates issued: 125,340
- Number of Advanced Pilot Certificates issued: 18,890
- Number of self-declared Drone Flight Schools: 261
Thank you for subscribing to the Drone Zone Newsletter! If you have any questions, please write to us at TC.RPASINFO-INFOSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca
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