Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

[807.02 to 807.06 reserved]

Part IX — Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

Division I — General Provisions

Interpretation

900.01 The following definitions apply in this Part.

advertised event

advertised event means an outdoor event that is advertised to the general public, including a concert, festival, market or sporting event. (événement annoncé)

autonomous

autonomous[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]

BVLOS

BVLOS means beyond visual line-of-sight. (BVLOS)

BVLOS operation

BVLOS operation means an operation of a remotely piloted aircraft that is not in visual line-of-sight, but does not include an extended VLOS operation or a sheltered operation. (opération en BVLOS)

command and control link

command and control link[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]

contingency procedures

contingency procedures means the procedures to be followed to address conditions that could lead to an unsafe situation. (procédure de contingence)

contingency volume

contingency volume means the area immediately surrounding the flight geography within which contingency procedures are intended to be used to return a remotely piloted aircraft to the flight geography or safely terminate the flight. (volume de contingence)

control station

control station[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]

detect and avoid functions

detect and avoid functions[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]

extended VLOS operation

extended VLOS operation means an operation of a remotely piloted aircraft that is not in visual line-of-sight but during which unaided visual contact is maintained with the airspace in which the aircraft is operating in a manner sufficient to detect conflicting air traffic and other hazards and take action to avoid them. (opération en VLOS prolongée)

first-person view device

first-person view device[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]

flight geography

flight geography means the area within which a remotely piloted aircraft is intended to fly for a specific operation. (géographie de vol)

flight termination system

flight termination system[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]

fly-away

fly-away means, in respect of a remotely piloted aircraft, an interruption or loss of the command and control link such that the pilot is no longer able to control the aircraft and the aircraft no longer follows its preprogrammed procedures or operates in a predictable or planned manner. (dérive)

ground risk buffer

ground risk buffer means the area immediately surrounding the contingency volume that, when measured horizontally from the perimeter of the contingency volume, is at least equal to the planned maximum altitude of the remotely piloted aircraft for the flight. (tampon de risque au sol)

mandatory action

mandatory action means the inspection, repair or modification of a remotely piloted aircraft system that is necessary to prevent an unsafe or potentially unsafe condition. (mesure obligatoire)

medium remotely piloted aircraft

medium remotely piloted aircraft means a remotely piloted aircraft that has an operating weight of more than 25 kg (55 pounds) but not more than 150 kg (331 pounds). (aéronef télépiloté moyen)

operating weight

operating weight means the weight of a remotely piloted aircraft at any point during a flight, including any payload and any safety equipment that is on board or otherwise connected to the aircraft. (masse opérationnelle)

operational volume

operational volume means the area that is composed of the flight geography, contingency volume and ground risk buffer. (volume opérationnel)

payload

payload means a system, object or collection of objects, including a slung load, that is on board or is otherwise connected to a remotely piloted aircraft but that is not required for flight. (charge utile)

populated area

populated area means an area with more than five people per square kilometre. (zone peuplée)

RPAS ground school instruction

RPAS ground school instruction means instructor-led training given to one or more persons, delivered in-person or virtually, and provided through an organized program of lectures, homework or self-paced study. (instruction théorique au sol pour les SATP)

RPAS operations manual

RPAS operations manual means the manual established by an RPAS operator under section 901.217. (manuel d’exploitation de SATP)

RPAS operator

RPAS operator means the holder of an RPAS operator certificate. (exploitant de SATP)

RPAS operator certificate

RPAS operator certificate means a certificate issued under section 901.214. (certificat d’exploitation de SATP)

sheltered operation

sheltered operation means an operation of a remotely piloted aircraft that is not in visual line-of-sight and during which the aircraft remains at a distance of less than 200 feet (61 m), measured horizontally, from a building or structure and at an altitude no greater than 100 feet (30 m) above that building or structure. (opération protégée)

small remotely piloted aircraft

small remotely piloted aircraft means a remotely piloted aircraft that has an operating weight of at least 250 g (0.55 pounds) but not more than 25 kg (55 pounds). (petit aéronef télépiloté)

sparsely populated area

sparsely populated area means an area with more than 5 but not more than 25 people per square kilometre. (zone peu densément peuplée)

Standard 922

Standard 922 means Standard 922 — RPAS Safety Assurance, published by the Department of Transport. (norme 922)

visual line-of-sight

visual line-of-sight or VLOS means unaided visual contact maintained with a remotely piloted aircraft in a manner sufficient to maintain control of the aircraft, know its location and scan the airspace in which it is operating in order to detect conflicting air traffic and other hazards and take action to avoid them. (visibilité directe ou VLOS)

visual observer

visual observer means a crew member who is trained to assist the pilot in ensuring the safe conduct of a flight. (observateur visuel)

VLOS operation

VLOS operation means an operation of a remotely piloted aircraft in visual line-of-sight. (opération en VLOS)

Water Aerodrome Supplement

Water Aerodrome Supplement has the same meaning as in section 300.01. (Supplément hydroaérodromes)

Application

900.02 This Part applies in respect of the operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

900.02.1 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 45]

900.03 [Reserved, SOR/2019-11, s. 23]

[900.03 to 900.05 reserved]

Division II — General Operating and Flight Rules

Reckless or Negligent Operation

900.06 No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system in such a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of any person.

Inadvertent Entry Into Restricted Airspace

900.07 A person who operates a remotely piloted aircraft shall ensure that the appropriate ATS unit or user agency is notified immediately any time the aircraft is no longer under the person’s control and inadvertently enters or is likely to enter into Class F Special Use Restricted airspace, as specified in the Designated Airspace Handbook.

Prohibition — Emergency Security Perimeter

• 900.08 (1) No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft over or within the security perimeter established by a public authority in response to an emergency.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the operation of a remotely piloted aircraft for the purpose of an operation to save human life, a police operation, a fire-fighting operation or any other operation that is conducted in the service of a public authority.

Prohibition — Commercial Air Service

• 900.09 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), no person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft having an operating weight of 250 g (0.55 pounds) or more to provide a commercial air service unless that person is Canadian or an employee, an agent or mandatary or a representative of an RPAS operator.

• (2) A person who does not meet the criteria referred to in subsection (1) may operate a remotely piloted aircraft to provide a specialty air service if

  • (a) they are a citizen, permanent resident or corporation of a foreign state with which Canada has entered into a free trade agreement that Canada has implemented and under which the operation is authorized; and

  • (b) the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

• (3) A person that does not meet the criteria referred to in subsection (1) may operate a remotely piloted aircraft to provide an air transport service if the person holds a licence issued under section 61 of the Canada Transportation Act.

[900.10 to 900.12 reserved]

Division III — Registration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Registration

• 900.13 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system that includes a remotely piloted aircraft having an operating weight of 250 g (0.55 pounds) or more unless the remotely piloted aircraft is registered in accordance with this Division.

• (2) A person may operate a remotely piloted aircraft system that includes a remotely piloted aircraft that is not registered in accordance with this Division if the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Registration Number

900.14 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the registration number referred to in paragraph 900.16(3)(a) is clearly visible on the remotely piloted aircraft.

Qualifications To Be Registered Owner of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

• 900.15 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person is qualified to be the registered owner of a remotely piloted aircraft if they are

  • (a) a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;

  • (b) a corporation or entity that is incorporated or formed under the laws of Canada or a province; or

  • (c) a government in Canada or an agent or mandatary of such a government.

• (2) No individual is qualified to be the registered owner of a remotely piloted aircraft unless that individual is at least 14 years of age.

Registration Requirements

• 900.16 (1) The Minister shall, on receipt of an application, register a remotely piloted aircraft if the applicant is qualified to be the registered owner of the aircraft.

• (2) The application shall include the following information:

  • (a) if the applicant is an individual,

    • (i) the applicant’s name and address,

    • (ii) the applicant’s date of birth, and

    • (iii) an indication as to whether the applicant is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;

  • (b) if the applicant is a corporation or entity that is incorporated or formed under the laws of Canada or a province,

    • (i) the corporation’s or entity’s legal name and address,

    • (ii) the name and title of the person making the application, and

    • (iii) the business number assigned to the corporation or entity by the Minister of National Revenue, if any;

  • (c) if the applicant is His Majesty in right of Canada or a province,

    • (i) the name of the government body, and

    • (ii) the name and title of the person making the application;

  • (d) an indication as to whether the aircraft was purchased or built by the applicant;

  • (e) the date of purchase of the aircraft by the applicant, if applicable;

  • (f) the manufacturer and model of the aircraft, if applicable;

  • (g) the serial number of the aircraft, if applicable;

  • (h) the category of aircraft, such as a fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, hybrid aircraft or lighter-than-air aircraft; and

  • (i) any Canadian registration number previously issued in respect of the aircraft.

• (3) On registering the remotely piloted aircraft, the Minister shall issue to the registered owner of the aircraft a certificate of registration that includes

  • (a) a registration number;

  • (b) the name and address of the registered owner; and

  • (c) the serial number of the aircraft, if applicable.

Register of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

900.17 The Minister shall establish and maintain a register of remotely piloted aircraft in which there shall be entered, in respect of each aircraft for which a certificate of registration has been issued under section 900.16,

• (a) the name and address of the registered owner;

• (b) the registration number referred to in paragraph 900.16(3)(a); and

• (c) any other particulars concerning the aircraft that the Minister determines necessary for the registration of the remotely piloted aircraft.