Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Pilot Requirements

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

  • (a) is at least 16 years of age; and

  • (b) holds either

    • (i) a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — advanced operations issued under section 901.64, or

    • (ii) a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — level 1 complex operations issued under section 901.90.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the operation of the remotely piloted aircraft system is conducted under the direct supervision of a person who is permitted to operate such a system under this Division or Division VI.

Issuance of Pilot Certificate — Remotely Piloted Aircraft — Advanced Operations

901.64 The Minister shall, on receipt of an application, issue a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — advanced operations if the applicant demonstrates to the Minister that the applicant

• (a) is at least 16 years of age;

• (b) has successfully completed the examination “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems — Advanced Operations” in accordance with the document entitled Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, 250 g up to and including 150 kg, Basic and Advanced Operations, TP 15263, published by the Minister; and

• (c) has, within 12 months before the date of application, successfully completed a flight review in accordance with section 921.02 of Standard 921 — Remotely Piloted Aircraft conducted by a person qualified to act as a flight reviewer under subsection 901.175(1).

Recency Requirements

• 901.65 (1) No holder of a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — advanced operations or a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — level 1 complex operations shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division unless the holder has, within the 24 months preceding the flight,

  • (a) been issued a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — advanced operations under section 901.64 or a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — level 1 complex operations under section 901.90; or

  • (b) successfully completed

    • (i) any of the examinations referred to in paragraph 901.55(b), 901.64(b) or 901.90(d),

    • (ii) any of the flight reviews referred to in paragraph 901.64(c) or 901.90(e), or

    • (iii) any of the recurrent training activities set out in section 921.04 of Standard 921 — Remotely Piloted Aircraft.

• (2) The person referred to in subsection (1) shall keep a record of all activities completed in accordance with paragraph (1)(b), including the dates on which they were completed, for at least 24 months after the day on which they were completed.

Access to Certificate and Proof of Recency

901.66 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division unless both of the following are easily accessible during the operation of the system:

• (a) the pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — advanced operations issued under section 901.64 or the pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — level 1 complex operations issued under section 901.90; and

• (b) documentation demonstrating that the pilot meets the recency requirements set out in section 901.65.

Examination Rules

901.67 No person shall commit an act referred to in paragraphs 901.58(a) to (c) in respect of an examination taken under this Division.

Retaking of an Examination or Flight Review

901.68 No person who fails an examination or a flight review taken under this Division shall retake the examination or flight review for a period of 24 hours after the examination or review.

Declaration — Permitted Operations

901.69 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division to conduct any of the following operations unless a declaration to the Minister has been made in accordance with section 901.194 in respect of that model of system and in respect of each of the technical requirements set out in Standard 922 that is applicable to the operation:

• (a) the VLOS operation of a small remotely piloted aircraft in controlled airspace;

• (b) the VLOS operation of a small remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of less than 100 feet (30 m) but not less than 16.4 feet (5 m), measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation;

• (c) the VLOS operation of a small remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of less than 16.4 feet (5 m), measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation;

• (d) the operation of a small remotely piloted aircraft to conduct a sheltered operation in controlled airspace;

• (e) the VLOS operation of a medium remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of 500 feet (152.4 m) or more, measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation;

• (f) the VLOS operation of a medium remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of less than 500 feet (152.4 m) but not less than 100 feet (30 m), measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation;

• (g) the VLOS operation of a medium remotely piloted aircraft at a distance of less than 100 feet (30 m), measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation; or

• (h) the VLOS operation of a medium remotely piloted aircraft in controlled airspace.

Operation of a Modified Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

• 901.70 (1) No pilot shall conduct any of the operations described in section 901.69 using a remotely piloted aircraft system that has been modified in any way unless

  • (a) the pilot is able to demonstrate to the Minister that, despite the modification, the system continues to meet the technical requirements set out in Standard 922 that are applicable to the operation; and

  • (b) if applicable, the modification was performed in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the part or equipment used to modify the system.

• (2) No pilot shall conduct an operation described in paragraph 901.69(f) or (g) using a remotely piloted aircraft system that has been modified in any way unless the modification was performed in accordance with the instructions of the person who has made a declaration referred to in 901.194 in respect of that model of system.

Operations in Controlled Airspace

• 901.71 (1) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft in controlled airspace under this Division unless an authorization has been issued by the provider of air traffic services in the area of operation and, if requested, the following information has been provided to that provider:

  • (a) the date, time and duration of the operation;

  • (b) the category, registration number and physical characteristics of the aircraft;

  • (c) the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the area of operation;

  • (d) [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 91]

  • (e) [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 91]

  • (f) [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 91]

  • (g) the name, contact information and pilot certificate number of any pilot of the aircraft;

  • (h) the procedures and flight profiles to be followed in the case of a lost command and control link;

  • (i) the procedures to be followed in emergency situations;

  • (j) the process and the time required to terminate the operation; and

  • (k) any other information required by the provider of air traffic services that is necessary for the provision of air traffic management.

• (2) Despite section 901.25, a pilot may operate a remotely piloted aircraft in controlled airspace under this Division at an altitude above those referred to in that section if an authorization to that effect has been issued by the provider of air traffic services in the area of operation.

• (3) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft in controlled airspace under this Division unless the authorization referred to in subsection (1) is easily accessible to the pilot during the operation.

Compliance with Air Traffic Control Instructions

901.72 The pilot of a remotely piloted aircraft operating in controlled airspace under this Division shall comply with all of the air traffic control instructions directed at the pilot.

Operations at or in the Vicinity of an Airport or Heliport — Established Procedure

901.73 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division if the remotely piloted aircraft is at a distance of less than three nautical miles from the centre of an airport or less than one nautical mile from the centre of a heliport unless the operation is conducted in accordance with the established procedure with respect to the safe use of remotely piloted aircraft systems that is applicable to that airport or heliport.

Extended VLOS Operations and Sheltered Operations

• 901.74 (1) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division to conduct an extended VLOS operation or a sheltered operation unless

  • (a) the pilot and control station are located at the site set aside for take-off, launch, landing or recovery at the time of those activities;

  • (b) the remotely piloted aircraft is at a distance of not more than two nautical miles from the pilot, the control station and the visual observer at any time during the flight; and

  • (c) the operation is conducted at a distance of at least 100 feet (30 m), measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation.

• (2) No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division to conduct an extended VLOS operation unless a visual observer maintains unaided visual contact with the airspace in which the remotely piloted aircraft is operating in a manner sufficient to detect conflicting air traffic and other hazards and take action to avoid them.

Visual Observers

901.75 No visual observer shall perform visual observer duties with respect to an extended VLOS operation under this Division unless they

• (a) hold

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

  • (ii) a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — advanced operations issued under section 901.64, or

  • (iii) a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — level 1 complex operations issued under section 901.90;

• (b) maintain unaided visual contact with the airspace in which the remotely piloted aircraft is operating in a manner sufficient to detect conflicting air traffic and other hazards and take action to avoid them; and

• (c) remain at a distance of not more than two nautical miles from the remotely piloted aircraft at all times during the flight.

[901.76 to 901.86 reserved]

901.76 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.77 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.78 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.79 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.82 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.83 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.84 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.85 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

901.86 [Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 94]

Division VI — Level 1 Complex Operations

Application

901.87 This Division applies in respect of the following operations of a remotely piloted aircraft system:

• (a) the operation of a small remotely piloted aircraft or a medium remotely piloted aircraft to conduct a BVLOS operation in uncontrolled airspace and at a distance of not less than 1 km from a populated area; and

• (b) the operation of a small remotely piloted aircraft to conduct a BVLOS operation in uncontrolled airspace over a sparsely populated area or at a distance of less than 1 km from a populated area.

Requirement for RPAS Operator Certificate

901.88 No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division unless the person

• (a) is an RPAS operator or an employee, an agent or mandatary or a representative of an RPAS operator; and

• (b) complies with the conditions in the RPAS operator certificate issued to the RPAS operator.

Pilot Requirements

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

  • (a) is at least 18 years of age; and

  • (b) holds a pilot certificate — remotely piloted aircraft — level 1 complex operations issued under section 901.90.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the operation of the remotely piloted aircraft system is for the purpose of training and is conducted under the direct supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older and who is permitted to operate a remotely piloted aircraft system under this Division.