Drone Zone Issue 5 – December 2025
Table of Contents
- Verifying your RPAS (drone) is eligible for Advanced Operations
- Call for participation: Pilot survey of near mid-air collision experiences
- Recent engagements
- Drones by the numbers
Verifying your RPAS (drone) is eligible RPAS for Advanced Operations
Drones used to conduct Advanced Operations must be declared as able to perform these operations safely. Anyone who builds or modifies a drone must be able to prove that it complies with Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Section 901.194 and Standard 922 if it is to be used for Advanced Operations.
In accordance with CAR 901.24, you must ensure the drone has the necessary Safety Assurance Declaration before conducting any Advanced Operations listed in CAR 901.69.
When purchasing a drone in Canada/from a Canadian business, it is your responsibility to verify the model against Transport Canada’s list of declared drones. A medium drone (over 25 kilograms but not more than 150 kilograms) without a Safety Assurance Declaration cannot be operated in Canadian airspace.
For more information on selecting a drone for your intended operations, please consult Choosing the right drone for advanced and complex operations.
Call for participation: Pilot survey of near mid-air collision experiences
The Transport Canada-led Electronic Conspicuity (EC) Working Group is gathering information from Canadian pilots about the frequency of airborne close encounters between two aircraft (or airspace users) that felt like a near mid-air collision. The data from this survey will support the work of the EC Working Group, which seeks to:
- Document issues and assess the need for regulations addressing equipage and use of EC equipment;
- Establish guidelines and standards for the use of EC equipment; and
- Report on findings
All responses are collected without identifying information. The survey will be open until January 15, 2026. Thank you for your feedback.
Link: Pilot Survey of Near Mid-Air Collision Experiences
Recent engagements
From December 8-11, Transport Canada staff attended the meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Study Group in Montreal. The AAM Study Group is working to assess what changes need to be made to international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to enable AAM. Learn more about how ICAO develops Standards here.
From November 19-20, Transport Canada staff attended the Altitude Pathways Career Fair held at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. The fair is designed to help students and teachers explore the breadth of careers in aerospace and learn about the different pathways to enter the industry. Our booth provided students an opportunity to learn about some of the most innovative aspects of the aviation and aerospace sector, and see how safety and regulatory oversight play a critical role in supporting the safe integration of emerging aviation technologies into Canadian airspace.
From November 4-6, Transport Canada staff attended the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada (AEAC) 2025 Conference & Exhibition held at the Edmonton International Airport. Our delegation participated in several plenaries and break-out sessions pertaining to various aspects of Canada’s expanded drone regulations, including applying for Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOC-RPAS), best practices for Flight Reviewers, and more. Congratulations to our very own Jeannie Stewart-Smith, Manager/Senior Policy Advisor, who received the Women in Drones Ellevatus Award for her contributions to Canada’s drone sector.
Drones by the numbers
*Accurate as of December 17, 2025
- Number of drones registered: 116,304
- Number of Basic Pilot Certificates issued: 128,888
- Number of Advanced Pilot Certificates issued: 20,138
- Number of Level 1 Complex Pilot Certificates issued: 249
- Number of active RPAS Operator Certificates (RPOCs): 368
- Number of Flight Reviewers: 1,328
- Number of self-declared Drone Flight Schools: 269 (includes 68 Level 1 Complex Training Providers)
Thank you for subscribing to the Drone Zone Newsletter! If you have any questions about this publication, please write to us at TC.RPASINFO-INFOSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca
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