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autonomous[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]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command and control link[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]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control station[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]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detect and avoid functions[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]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first-person view device[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]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flight termination system[Repealed, SOR/2025-70, s. 43]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 Paragraph 901.26(b), subsections 901.30(2), 901.34(2), (3) and (4) and 901.47(3) and sections 901.74, 901.75, 901.88, 901.89, 901.91, 901.92, 901.95 and 901.96 do not apply until November 4, 2025.

900.03 [Reserved, SOR/2019-11, s. 23]

[900.03 to 900.05 reserved]

Division II — General Prohibition

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.

Subpart 1 — Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Division I — General Provision

Application

901.01 This Subpart applies in respect of the operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems that include a small remotely piloted aircraft or a medium remotely piloted aircraft.

Division II — Registration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Registration

901.02 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Registration Number

901.03 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Qualifications To Be Registered Owner of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft

901.04 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Registration Requirements

901.05 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Register of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

901.06 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Cancellation of Certificate of Registration

901.07 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Change of Name or Address

901.08 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Access to Certificate of Registration

901.09 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

[901.10 reserved]

Division III — General Operating and Flight Rules

Visual Line-of-sight

• 901.11 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the pilot or a visual observer has the aircraft in visual line-of-sight.

• (2) A pilot may operate a remotely piloted aircraft system without the pilot or a visual observer having the aircraft in visual line-of-sight if the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Prohibition — Emergency Security Perimeter

901.12 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 52]