Effective January 9, 2019
921.01 Pilot Certificate – Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft (VLOS) – Basic Operations
- (1) For the purposes of paragraph 901.55(b) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), a candidate must obtain a minimum of 65% on the examination “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems – Basic Operations” based on Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, 250 g up to and including 25 kg, Operating within Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS), TP 15263, and which covers the following subjects:
- (a) applicable provisions of the Aeronautics Act and the CARs;
- (b) air traffic rules and procedures;
- (c) RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systems;
- (d) human factors, including pilot decision-making;
- (e) meteorology;
- (f) air navigation;
- (g) flight operations;
- (h) theory of flight;
- (i) radiotelephony; and
- (j) operations carried out by remotely piloted aircraft systems under Part IX of the CARs.
921.02 Pilot Certificate – Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft (VLOS) - Advanced Operations
- (1) For the purposes of 901.64(b) and (c) of the CARs, a candidate must:
- (a) obtain a minimum of 80% on the examination “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems – Advanced Operations” based on Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, 250 g up to and including 25 kg, Operating within Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS), TP 15263, which covers the following subjects:
- (i) applicable provisions of the Aeronautics Act and the CARs,
- (ii) air traffic rules and procedures,
- (iii) RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systems,
- (iv) human factors, including pilot decision-making,
- (v) meteorology,
- (vi) air navigation,
- (vii) flight operations,
- (viii) theory of flight,
- (ix) radiotelephony, and
- (x) operations carried out by remotely piloted aircraft systems under Part IX of the CARs;
- (b) successfully complete a flight review by performing the following exercises:
- (i) describe the site survey process,
- (ii) describe emergency procedures that apply to flying an RPAS, including lost-link procedures and procedures to follow in the event of a fly-away, including who to contact,
- (iii) describe the method by which to inform Transport Canada of an incident or accident,
- (iv) successfully perform pre-flight checks of their RPAS,
- (v) perform a take-off,
- (vi) demonstrate the ability to navigate around obstacles,
- (vii) demonstrate the ability to recognize distances, and
- (viii) perform a landing.
- (a) obtain a minimum of 80% on the examination “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems – Advanced Operations” based on Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, 250 g up to and including 25 kg, Operating within Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS), TP 15263, which covers the following subjects:
921.03 Flight Reviewer Rating
- (1) For the purposes of paragraph 901.83(d) of the CARs, a candidate must obtain a minimum of 80% on the examination “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems – Flight Reviewers” which is based on TP 15263 Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, 250 g up to and including 25 kg, Operating within Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) and which covers the following subjects:
- (a) applicable provisions of the Aeronautics Act and the CARs;
- (b) air traffic rules and procedures;
- (c) RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systems;
- (d) human factors, including pilot decision-making;
- (e) meteorology;
- (f) air navigation;
- (g) flight operations;
- (h) theory of flight;
- (i) radiotelephony;
- (j) operations carried out by remotely piloted aircraft systems under Part IX of the CARs; and
- (k) conducting a flight review.
921.04 Recency Requirements
- (1) For the purposes of subparagraphs 901.56(1)(b)(iii) and 901.65(1)(b)(iii) of the CARs, any of the following are considered acceptable as recurrent training activities:
- (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).
921.05 TP 15263 Self-declared RPAS (UAV) Training Providers Requirements
- (1) For the purposes of paragraph 901.82(b) of the CARs, a training provider self-declaration must
- (a) include the following:
- (i) name of the training organization/school,
- (ii) course name (of the TP 15263 ground school),
- (iii) course number,
- (iv) duration of training (hours of classroom time and hours of on-line training specifically dedicated to TP 15263 material),
- (v) location(s) where training is provided, and
- (vi) point of contact responsible for this training course;
- (b) confirm that their ground training program is taught to the knowledge requirements specified in TP 15263 Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, 250 g up to and including 25 kg, Operating within Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) and covers but is not limited to the following subjects:
- (i) applicable provisions of the Aeronautics Act and the CARs,
- (ii) air traffic rules and procedures,
- (iii) RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systems,
- (iv) human factors, including pilot decision-making,
- (v) meteorology,
- (vi) air navigation,
- (vii) flight operations,
- (viii) theory of flight,
- (ix) radiotelephony, and
- (x) operations carried out by remotely piloted aircraft systems under Part IX of the CARs;
- (c) confirm that their ground school is a minimum of 20 hours. Given the amount and depth of knowledge that is required to fully cover each subject area of TP 15263, this 20 hours would be instructional time devoted to only the subject areas of TP 15263. Training time required for a radio licence, practical skill/experience training, home study/pre-reading, specific RPAS system training and Special Flight Operating Certificate application process training is time that would be over and above the time spent teaching the content of TP 15263.
- (a) include the following:
921.06 Conduct of Flight Reviews
- (1) Before conducting a flight review for the purposes of subparagraph 901.56(1)(b)(ii), paragraph 901.64(c) and subparagraph 901.65(1)(b)(ii), the flight reviewer shall verify:
- (a) the applicant’s identity;
- (b) in the case of a flight review for the purposes of paragraph 901.64(c) of the CARs, that the candidate has successfully completed the examination “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems — Advanced Operations”; and
- (c) that the candidate has
- (i) registered the RPA in accordance with section 901.02 of the CARs, and
- (ii) established procedures in accordance with section 901.23 of the CARs.
- (2) When conducting a flight review, the flight reviewer shall:
- (a) require the candidate to plan and complete a flight that requires the candidate to put into effect their knowledge of any advanced operations which can be undertaken by their RPA, including those covered by a manufacturer’s declaration as required under section 901.69 of the CARs;
- (b) stop the flight review when unsafe airmanship, dangerous flying, or a breach of the applicable regulations is displayed;
- (c) refrain from training or demonstrating the required exercises;
- (d) refrain from intervening unless it is necessary in the interest of safety; and
- (e) evaluate the applicant’s knowledge and skills to:
- (i) perform the required exercises identified in paragraph 921.02(1)(b) in accordance with the procedures established for the RPAS,
- (ii) demonstrate sound judgment and good airmanship, and
- (iii) correctly apply regulatory and aeronautical knowledge.