2022-2023 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Recency Requirements Self-Paced Study Program

From: Transport Canada

2022-2023 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Recency Requirements Self-Paced Study Program (PDF, 242 KB)

Completion of this questionnaire satisfies the 24-month recurrent training program requirements of 901.56(1)(b)(iii) or 901.65(1)(b)(iii) in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).

All remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) pilots who meet the requirements in CAR 901 are to answer general aviation questions 1 to 15 and the following applicable additional questions:

  • RPAS Basic pilots—questions 16 to 21.
  • RPAS Advanced pilots—questions 16 to 26.

Note: This page can’t be saved while you work. You can choose to use the PDF above or fill in the fields below and once complete, print your final exam as a hard copy or as a PDF (through your web browser functions).

The completed copy is to be retained by the pilot.

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. How do you subscribe to receive e-mail notifications for the Aviation Safety Letter Electronic Bulletin (ASL e-Bulletin) (TP185)?

    Reference: TC AIM GEN 2.2.4 Safety Promotion

    Answer 1

    Readers can subscribe to the Aviation Safety Letter (ASL) (TP185) e-Bulletin notification service to receive e-mails that announce the release of each new issue by going to the Transport Canada Civil Aviation e-Bulletin page and following the step-by-step instructions.

TC AIM—AGA—Aerodromes

  1. What is the wind speed when the dry standard wind direction indicator is 5º below horizontal?

    Reference: TC AIM AGA 5.9 Wind Direction Indicators

    Answer 2

    10 knots (kt).

  2. At flight service stations and remote advisory services equipped with direct wind-reading instruments located at the aerodrome, what does it mean when a Flight Service Specialist says “Runway 03”?

    Reference: NAV CANADA Blog—Safety

    Answer 3

    Runway 03 is the determined runway for use. The new Flight Service Specialist runway determination allows Flight Service Specialists to determine the runway with clearer and more concise phraseology. This change will take effect only at flight service stations and remote advisory services equipped with direct wind-reading instruments located at the aerodrome.

COM–Communications

  1. In communications checks, the readability scale 2 means .

    Reference: Nav Canada VFR Phraseology

    Answer 4

    Readable now and then

  2. Aeronautical radio communications are restricted to communications relating to: a) the safety and navigation of an aircraft; b) the general operation of the aircraft; and c) the exchange of messages on behalf of the pilot.

    Pilots should:

    • Keep calls a) using whenever practical;
    • b) the content of the message before ;
    • c)   and on before transmitting to avoid interference with other transmissions.

    Reference: Nav Canada VFR Phraseology Recommended Practices

    Answer 5
    • a) brief, concise and standard phraseology
    • b) plan, transmitting
    • c) listen, before speaking, frequency

  3. For definitions of terminology and phraseology used in aviation in Canada, refer to the which is available on TC’s Web site. Another valuable resource available is NAV CANADA’s VFR Phraseology Guide, which is available on NAV CANADA’s Web site.

    Reference: TC AIM COM 1.3 Language

    Answer 6

    Glossary for Pilots and Air Traffic Services Personnel (AC 100-001)

MET–Meteorology

  1. With regard to weather charts, what is a GFA?

    Reference: TC AIM MET 4.1

    Answer 7

    The graphic area forecast (GFA) consists of a series of temporally adjusted weather charts, each depicting the most probable meteorological conditions expected to occur at or below 24 000 feet (ft) over a given area at a specified time.

  2. The Minister of Transport is responsible for the development and regulation of aeronautics and the supervision of all matters related to aeronautics. For small remotely piloted aircraft (sRPAs), the weather need only be sufficient to ensure that the aircraft can be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (i.e. temperature, wind, precipitation, etc.) and to allow the pilot or visual observer to keep the sRPA within visual line of sight (VLOS). Where can you find more information regarding the weather, including how to interpret different charts and reports and the general procedures?

    Reference: TC AIM MET 1.1 and RPA 3.2.22

    Answer 8

    The MET—Meteorology chapter of the TC AIM.

  3. With regard to weather reports issued by NAV CANADA, what is a SPECI?

    Reference: TC AIM MET 8.3.1

    Answer 9

    Aerodrome special meteorological reports (SPECI). Special observations will be taken promptly to report changes that occur between scheduled transmission times whenever one or more elements have changed in the amount specified.

  4. Are the winds reported as true or magnetic in a METAR?

    Reference: TC AIM MET 8.2 (f)

    Answer 10

    True. Wind direction is always three digits, given in degrees (true) but rounded off to the nearest 10º (the third digit is always a “0”).

RAC–Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services

  1. How long must a pilot wait after cannabis use prior to exercising duties as a crew member? .

    Reference: CAR 901.19(2) and Transport Canada Civil Aviation’s (TCCA) guidance on cannabis legalization

    Answer 11

    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 for at least 28 days before being on duty.

  2. When you are operating an aircraft near an uncontrolled airfield, at what altitude would you expect a manned aircraft to enter their circuit?

    Reference: TC AIM RAC 4.5.2(a)

    Answer 12

    The circuit is normally flown at 1 000 ft above aerodrome elevation (AAE)

  3. No person shall act as a crew member of an aircraft within hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage.

    Reference: CAR 901.19(2)

    Answer 13

    12

  4. Pilots intending to fly in Class F advisory airspace are encouraged to monitor an appropriate frequency, to broadcast their intentions when and the area, and to communicate, as , with other users to ensure flight safety in the airspace. In a Class F advisory uncontrolled airspace area, MHz would be an appropriate frequency.

    Reference: TC AIM RAC 2.8.6 and RPA 3.2.15.3

    Answer 14

    entering; leaving; necessary; 126.7

MAP–Aeronautical Charts & Publications

  1. Where can NOTAMs be found?

    Reference: TC AIM MAP 3.5 NOTAM Distribution

    Answer 15

    NAV CANADA Web site

RPAS-Specific Questions

  1. The Drone Safety Web site names four main areas that limit the use of your drone and prohibits a pilot from flying a drone there. What are they?

    • a) 
    • b) 
    • c) 
    • d) 

    Reference: Drone Safety Web site

    Answer 16
    • a) Airports, heliports, and aerodromes
    • b) National parks
    • c) Emergency sites
    • d) Advertised events”

  2. How do the CARs define the word “autonomous”?

    Reference: CAR 900.01

    Answer 17

    “Autonomous,” with respect to a remotely piloted aircraft system, means that the system is not designed to allow pilot intervention in the management of a flight.

  3. The RPA—Remotely Piloted Aircraft chapter in the TC AIM provides information and guidance as an example of an acceptable means of demonstrating compliance with regulations and standards. Section 3.2.8 Visual Observers provides a CAR reference regarding communication with the RPAS pilot. What shall the pilot and visual observer(s) keep doing throughout the RPAS operation?

    Reference: TC AIM RPA 3.2.8

    Answer 18

    18- The pilot and visual observer(s) shall remain in constant and immediate communication throughout the RPAS operation, as stated in CAR 901.20.

  4. 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:

    Reference: CAR 901.56 or 901.65

    Answer 19
    • a) either of the examinations referred to in paragraphs 901.55(b) and 901.64(b),
    • b) a flight review referred to in paragraph 901.64(c), or
    • c) any of the recurrent training activities set out in section 921.04 of Standard 921—Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS).

  5. Reckless or negligent operation of an RPAS is applicable to?

    • a) Only small RPAS operated under the Basic Operations regulations
    • b) Only to small RPAS operated under the Advanced Operations regulations
    • c) Not applicable to micro RPAS operated in Canada
    • d) All remotely pilot aircraft systems

    Reference: CAR 900.02

    Answer 20

    d) All remotely piloted aircraft systems

  6. Transport Canada provides five privacy guidelines for recreational drone operators regarding the Privacy Act. What are the five guidelines?

    • a) 
    • b) 
    • c) 
    • d) 
    • e) 

    Reference: Drone Safety Web site

    Answer 21
    • a) Be accountable
    • b) Limit collection
    • c) Obtain consent
    • d) Store information securely
    • e) Be open and responsive about your activities

  7. Personal Information for RPAS users with regard to privacy guidelines for drone users is defined as?

    Reference: Drone Safety Web site

    Answer 22

    Personal information about an identifiable person. It can include a name, a picture of a person’s face, or a licence plate number.

  8. With regard to control zones in Canada, what does the TC AIM highlight for the following?

    a. Control zones are designated around certain aerodromes to and to .
    b. Control zones having a civil control tower within a terminal control area normally have a NM radius. Others have a NM radius, with the exception of a few which have a NM radius.
    c. All control zones are depicted on aeronautical charts.

    Reference:TC AIM RAC 2.7.3

    Answer 23
    • a) Keep IFR aircraft within controlled airspace during approaches; facilitate the control of VFR and IFR traffic
    • b) 7; 5; 3
    • c) VFR

  9. When using your RPAS in Canada near the U.S. border, can you fly outside of Canadian airspace?

    a) Yes / No

    Reference: CAR 901.13

    Answer 24

    No

  10. Information on “Drone innovation and collaboration in Canada” can be found on the Drone Safety Web site, in the “Collaborating at home” section. What four topics received from Drone Talks: Planning for Success workshops in 2019 does it summarize?

    Reference: Drone Safety Web site

    Answer 25
    • a) Airspace and RPAS Traffic Management (RTM)
    • b) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations
    • c) Airworthiness and certification
    • d) Pilot licensing and training

  11. In the CARs, what Part IX subpart regulates the requirements for special flight operations outside of those mentioned in Part IX Subpart 1—General Operating and Flight Rules?

    Reference: CAR 903.01

    Answer 26

    26- Subpart 3–Special Flight Operations–Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems CAR 903.01

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