UAV Home Page

UAVs & Drones

As the national voice for general aviation in Canada, COPA keeping a close eye on the
rapid development of UAV technology and actively seeking out ways of working with the UAV community and the regulator to ensure that Canadian skies can be shared by all users in a safe and effective manner.

COPA’s Support for the UAV Community

Through MAGNES, provider of our COPA aircraft insurance, we are excited to offer UAV insurance to cover damage and liability for commercial UAV operators. For more information on how to sign up, visit: http://www.uavinsurance.ca/

If you operate a UAV, would you like “advance, promote and preserve the Canadian freedom to fly” that UAV? That’s our mission! So why not join COPA and learn all about general aviation and safely sharing our skies and enjoying our freedom.

Education

We are also educating our own members on what it means to share the skies with UAVs and drones. Our webinar, produced with partnerships from AIG and Magnes Group, is available here
In partnership with Altex, we are working to educate members of the UAV community on the various regulations, requirements, and implications for drone operation in different classes of airspace. Click here to watch their video.

Want to know more about where to learn to fly UAVs? Visit Unmanned Systems Canada’s website here no-drone-zone

Recently, COPA teamed up with Transport Canada to launch the No Drone Zone campaign, highlighting the dangers and legal ramifications of operating UAVs in controlled airspace and in proximity to airports and heliports

Regulations

model_aeronautics_association_of_canada_logo Members of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada, operating at MAAC-sanctioned fields or events are not subject to these rules.

Want to know where you can fly your drone? Made possible, in part, with information from COPA’s Places to Fly, The National Research Council of Canada created a very handy tool that allows you to view areas based on the weight category of your drone:

COPA’s Support for the UAV Community

Education

Want to know more about where to learn to fly UAVs? Visit Unmanned Systems Canada’s website here no-drone-zone

Regulations

model_aeronautics_association_of_canada_logo Members of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada, operating at MAAC-sanctioned fields or events are not subject to these rules.

Recreational

Defined as model aircraft or drones weighing more than 250g and up to 35 kg

No Transport Canada permission required

Cannot be flown:

Higher than 90m above the ground
Closer than 75m from buildings, vessels, vehicle, animals, people
Closer than 9km from the centre of an aerodrome (any airport, heliport, seaplane base, or anywhere that aircraft take off and land)
Within controlled or restricted airspace
Within 9km of a forest fire
Where it could interfere with police or first responders
At night or in clouds
Out of the operator’s line of sight
Further than 500m from the operator
If your name, address, and telephone number are not clearly marked on your drone

Commercial

Depending on weight classification, one of two exemptions apply:

UAVs weighing 1kg or less

UAVs weighing over 1kg up to 25kg

If you cannot meet the safety conditions outlined within the criteria for obtaining the exemption, you are required to obtain a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) and Transport Canada permission to fly.

UAVs weighing 1kg or less must be operated:

At or below 300 feet (90m) above ground level (AGL).
In Class G airspace only
Not over a forest fire area or over any area that is located within five nautical miles of a forest fire area.
Not in any airspace that has been restricted by the Minister under Section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act.
Only at least five (5) nautical miles away from the centre of any registered aerodrome, heliport or water aerodrome.
Only at least five (5) nautical miles from a built up area.
Not over an open-air assembly of persons.
At a distance not exceeding 500m from the operator

UAVs weighing more than 1kg up to 25kg must be operated:

Within sight of the operator at all times
Not more than 300 feet (90m) above the ground
Within a distance not exceeding 0.5 nautical miles (900m) from the operator
Outside of controlled and restricted airspace and forest fire zones
No closer than 5 nautical miles (9km) from the centre of registered airports and water aerodromes
No closer than 3 nautical miles (5.5km) from all heliports and non-registered aerodromes
No closer than 3 nautical miles (5.5km) from a built-up area

Know Before you Fly

Know Before You Fly is an education campaign founded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), and the Small UAV Coalition in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to educate prospective users about the safe and responsible operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

As excitement and enthusiasm continues to grow around UAS, and the regulatory framework continues to take shape, more consumers are looking to buy UAS for personal use and more businesses are looking to use UAS too. These prospective operators want to fly, and fly safely, but many don’t realize that, just because you can buy a UAS, doesn’t mean you can fly it anywhere, or for any purpose. Know Before You Fly provides prospective users with the information and guidance they need to fly safely and responsibly.

http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/about-us/