Table of Contents
- Standard 922 and RPAS (Drone) Safety Assurance Declarations
- An obstacle avoidance system is not a Detect and Avoid (DAA) system
- Reminders for training providers and flight reviewers
- Foreign pilot flight reviews and Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOC-RPAS)
- New edition: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM)
- New video: Command and control (C2) link tips for safe drone operations in urban environments
- Have your say: ISED C2 consultations
- Have your say: Commercial space launches in Canada
- Bill C-15 and amendments to the Aeronautics Act
- Drones by the numbers
Standard 922 and RPAS (Drone) Safety Assurance Declarations
Advanced and Level 1 Complex (L1C) operations with small or medium drones require that the manufacturer provides a safety assurance declaration (CAR 901.194) stating that the RPAS is intended for these operations (CAR 901.69 and 901.87), has all the necessary documentation, and meets the technical requirements set out in Standard 922—RPAS Safety Assurance.
Before conducting any advanced or L1C operation, drone pilots must ensure that their drone and any other equipment needed to support safe operation of the drone (configurable elements) have a valid and appropriate safety assurance declaration (CAR 901.24(b)).
L1C operations have a higher level of risk and require the manufacturer to apply for a Pre-Validated Declaration (PVD). This involves a review of how they will demonstrate compliance with the applicable Standard 922 requirements before making a safety assurance declaration.
Advisory Circular (AC) No. 901-001 provides further information on how to submit safety assurance declarations and apply for a PVD. Advisory Circular (AC) No. 922-001 provides one means (but not the only means) of compliance with the technical requirements in Standard 922. These ACs are good starting points for manufacturers to start their due diligence with respect to compliance, and for pilots to understand the level of safety expected of the product.
If you have any questions about RPAS safety assurance declarations, please email TC.RPASDeclaration-DeclarationSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca.
An obstacle avoidance system is not a Detect and Avoid (DAA) system
An obstacle avoidance system is not compliant with Standard 922.10 (Detect and Avoid systems).
Many commercially available RPAS use short-range obstacle avoidance systems to detect obstacles and alert the RPAS pilot. While these systems may be suitable for flying near obstacles that do not move, they are not considered DAA systems for BVLOS operations. When flying BVLOS, the RPAS pilot must have a means for detecting and avoiding other aircraft. This may be achieved using visual observers (VOs) or with a DAA system that is able to detect other aircraft near the drone and give enough time for the drone to safely move out of the way.
Drone manufacturers intending to make a Safety Assurance Declaration that includes Standard 922.10 are encouraged to consult the acceptable Means of Compliance (MoC) found in Advisory Circular (AC) No. 922-001 before submitting their declaration.
Reminders for training providers and flight reviewers
Drone flight schools are reminded that their curriculum should include dedicated modules on Standard 922 - RPAS Safety Assurance and Standard 923 – Vision-Based Detect and Avoid. These Standards require in-depth training to properly understand how to use and apply them.
Flight reviewers for Level 1 Complex Operations must be affiliated with a TP15530 training provider. Flight reviewers for Advanced Operations must be affiliated with either a TP15263 or TP15530 training provider.
If you have any questions, please email TC.RPASINFO-INFOSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca.
Foreign pilot flight reviews and Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOC-RPAS)
A foreign pilot or operator requires an SFOC-RPAS to meet Transport Canada’s registration requirements for foreign-owned and foreign-registered drones. A foreign pilot who wishes to attempt a flight review only requires an SFOC-RPAS if they wish to use their foreign-owned drone for the purpose of a flight review. If they wish to use a drone registered to a Canadian individual or business, they do not require an SFOC-RPAS for the purpose of completing a flight review.
For information on when foreign pilots do and don’t require an SFOC-RPAS, please visit Get permission to fly a drone as a foreign pilot or operator. If you have questions about an SFOC-RPAS, please email TC.RPASCentre-CentreSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca.
New edition: Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM)
The Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM) provides information on rules and procedures for aircraft operation in Canadian airspace. It is designed to be written in plain language as much as possible. Where this is not possible, the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) are incorporated verbatim.
The TC AIM is updated twice annually. The most recent version was published on March 19, 2026, and includes the following updates to the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) chapter (begins on page 435):
- RPA 1.0 – General Information (updated with new information)
- RPA 3.2.29 – Special Events (updated with new information)
- RPA 3.2.39 – NOTAM (updated to provide more information on NOTAMs for RPAS operations)
- RPA 3.4 – Advanced and Level 1 Complex Operations (updated with new information as a result of recent amendments to the Regulations)
- RPA 3.5 – Flight Reviewers (updated with new information following recent amendments to the Regulations)
- RPA 3.6 – Special Flight Operations—Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (updated with new information as a result of recent amendments to the Regulations)
If you have comments or questions about TC AIM, please email TC.AeronauticalInformationManual-Manueldinformationaeronautique.TC@tc.gc.ca.
New video: Command and control (C2) link tips for safe drone operations in urban environments
While drones can carry out a variety of missions in urban environments, drone pilots can face command and control (C2) challenges. Learn about how to maximize the safety and operational success of drone operations in urban environments.
Command and control (C2) link tips for safe drone operations in urban environments
Have your say: ISED C2 consultations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is asking for your feedback on Canada’s approach to managing drone communications. Their consultation on command and non-payload communications (CNPC) link radios, also known as the command and control (C2) link, has been extended to April 10, 2026.
Have your say: Commercial space launches in Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting commercial space launches in Canada. As such, Transport Canada is developing a temporary program to make sure that launches are in the public interest and done safely and responsibly.
Transport Canada wants feedback on the Application Requirements for Obtaining Authorization to Launch Uncrewed Orbital and Suborbital Rockets in Canada. If you have comments, please send them by April 13, 2026 to TC.CommercialSpaceLaunch-Lancementspatialcommercial.TC@tc.gc.ca.
Source: Canadian Space Agency
Bill C-15 and amendments to the Aeronautics Act
On March 26, 2026, Bill C-15 received royal assent and was passed into law. Bill C-15 establishes policy frameworks to manage drone security risks and threats. This includes updating the Aeronautics Act (AA) to more clearly prohibit unlawful interference with drone operations and enable Transport Canada to issue authorizations to certain entities to interdict drones that present security risks.
This policy framework aims to improve drone and counter-drone security by ensuring individuals can be held accountable for intentionally interfering with authorized drone operations and supporting law enforcement and other agencies with the necessary tools to identify and respond to threats posed by unauthorized drone operations. To learn more, see the legislative summary.
Drones by the numbers
*Accurate as of March 31, 2026
- Number of drones registered: 118,232
- Number of Basic Pilot Certificates issued: 133,505
- Number of Advanced Pilot Certificates issued: 20,982
- Number of Level 1 Complex Pilot Certificates issued: 433
- Number of active RPAS Operator Certificates (RPOCs): 460
- Number of Flight Reviewers: 1,338
- Number of self-declared Drone Flight Schools: 278 (includes 74 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
|
|
|
|