Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Minimum Weather Conditions

901.34 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the weather conditions at the time of flight permit

• (a) the operation to be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; and

• (b) the pilot of the system and any visual observer to conduct the entire flight within visual line-of-sight.

Icing

• 901.35 (1) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system when icing conditions are observed, are reported to exist or are likely to be encountered along the route of flight unless the aircraft is equipped with de-icing or anti-icing equipment and equipment designed to detect icing.

• (2) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system with frost, ice or snow adhering to any part of the remotely piloted aircraft.

Formation Flight

901.36 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft in formation with other aircraft except by pre-arrangement between the pilots of the aircraft in respect of the intended flight.

Prohibition — Operation of Moving Vehicles, Vessels and Manned Aircraft

901.37 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft while operating a moving vehicle, vessel or manned aircraft.

Use of First-person View Devices

901.38 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system using a first-person view device unless, at all times during flight, a visual observer performs the detect and avoid functions with respect to conflicting aircraft or other hazards beyond the field of view displayed on the device.

Night Flight Requirements

• 901.39 (1) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system during the night unless the remotely piloted aircraft is equipped with position lights sufficient to allow the aircraft to be visible to the pilot and any visual observer, whether with or without night-vision goggles, and those lights are turned on.

• (2) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system using night-vision goggles unless the goggles are capable of, or the person has another means of, detecting all light within the visual spectrum.

Multiple Remotely Piloted Aircraft

• 901.40 (1) No pilot shall operate more than one remotely piloted aircraft at a time unless the remotely piloted aircraft system is designed to permit the operation of multiple aircraft from a single control station and unless the aircraft are operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), no pilot shall operate more than five remotely piloted aircraft at a time except in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Special Aviation Events and Advertised Events

• 901.41 (1) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system at any special aviation event or at any advertised event except in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), advertised event means an outdoor event that is advertised to the general public, including a concert, festival, market or sporting event.

Handovers

901.42 No pilot shall hand over their responsibilities to another pilot during flight unless, before the take-off or launch of a remotely piloted aircraft,

• (a) a pre-arrangement in respect of the handover has been made between the pilots; and

• (b) a procedure has been developed to mitigate the risk of loss of control of the aircraft.

Payloads

• 901.43 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system if the aircraft is transporting a payload that

  • (a) includes explosive, corrosive, flammable, or bio-hazardous material;

  • (b) includes weapons, ammunition or other equipment designed for use in war;

  • (c) could create a hazard to aviation safety or cause injury to persons; or

  • (d) is attached to the aircraft by means of a line unless such an operation is conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• (2) A pilot may operate a remotely piloted aircraft system when the aircraft is transporting a payload referred to in subsection (1) if the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Flight Termination System

901.44 No pilot of a remotely piloted aircraft equipped with a flight termination system shall activate the system if it will endanger or will likely endanger aviation safety or the safety of any person.

ELT

901.45 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft equipped with an ELT.

Transponder and Automatic Pressure-altitude Reporting Equipment

• 901.46 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system if the aircraft is in the transponder airspace referred to in section 601.03 unless the aircraft is equipped with a transponder and automatic pressure-altitude reporting equipment.

• (2) An air traffic control unit may authorize a pilot to operate a remotely piloted aircraft that is not equipped in accordance with subsection (1) within the airspace referred to in section 601.03 if

  • (a) the air traffic control unit provides an air traffic control service in respect of that airspace;

  • (b) the pilot made a request to the air traffic control unit to operate the aircraft within that airspace before the aircraft entered the airspace; and

  • (c) aviation safety is not likely to be affected.

Operations at or in the Vicinity of an Aerodrome, Airport or Heliport

• 901.47 (1) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft at or near an aerodrome that is listed in the Canada Flight Supplement or the Water Aerodrome Supplement in a manner that could interfere with an aircraft operating in the established traffic pattern.

• (2) Subject to section 901.73, no pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of less than

  • (a) three nautical miles from the centre of an airport; and

  • (b) one nautical mile from the centre of a heliport.

• (3) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of less than three nautical miles from the centre of an aerodrome operated under the authority of the Minister of National Defence unless the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Records

• 901.48 (1) Every owner of a remotely piloted aircraft system shall keep the following records:

  • (a) a record containing the names of the pilots and other crew members who are involved in each flight and, in respect of the system, the time of each flight or series of flights; and

  • (b) a record containing the particulars of any mandatory action and any other maintenance action, modification or repair performed on the system, including

    • (i) the names of the persons who performed them,

    • (ii) the dates they were undertaken,

    • (iii) in the case of a modification, the manufacturer, model and a description of the part or equipment installed to modify the system, and

    • (iv) if applicable, any instructions provided to complete the work.

• (2) Every owner of a remotely piloted aircraft system shall ensure that the records referred to in subsection (1) are made available to the Minister on request and are retained for a period of

  • (a) in the case of the records referred to in paragraph (1)(a), 12 months after the day on which they are created; and

  • (b) in the case of the records referred to in paragraph (1)(b), 24 months after the day on which they are created.

• (3) Every owner of a remotely piloted aircraft system who transfers ownership of the system to another person shall, at the time of transfer, also deliver to that person all of the records referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

Incidents and Accidents — Associated Measures

• 901.49 (1) A pilot that operates a remotely piloted aircraft system shall immediately cease operations if any of the following incidents or accidents occurs until such time as an analysis is undertaken as to the cause of the occurrence and corrective actions have been taken to mitigate the risk of recurrence:

  • (a) injuries to any person requiring medical attention;

  • (b) unintended contact between the aircraft and persons;

  • (c) unanticipated damage incurred to the airframe, control station, payload or command and control links that adversely affects the performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft;

  • (d) any time the aircraft is not kept within horizontal boundaries or altitude limits;

  • (e) any collision with or risk of collision with another aircraft;

  • (f) any time the aircraft becomes uncontrollable, experiences a fly-away or is missing; and

  • (g) any incident not referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f) for which a police report has been filed or for which a Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Report has resulted.

• (2) The pilot of the remotely piloted aircraft system shall keep, and make available to the Minister on request, a record of any analyses undertaken under subsection (1) for a period of 12 months after the day on which the record is created.

[901.50 to 901.52 reserved]

Division IV — Basic Operations

Application

901.53 This Division applies in respect of the operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems that include small remotely piloted aircraft and that are not intended to conduct any of the advanced operations referred to in paragraphs 901.62(a) to (d).

Pilot Requirements

• 901.54 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division unless the person

  • (a) is at least 14 years of age; and

  • (b) holds either

    • (i) a pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — basic operations issued under section 901.55; or

    • (ii) a pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — advanced operations issued under section 901.64.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who is less than 14 years of age if the operation of the remotely piloted aircraft system is conducted under the direct supervision of a person who is 14 years of age or older and who can operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division or Division V.