Rules Allowing BVLOS and Medium Drone Operations

Summary#

This is a proposed set of changes called the Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (RPAS – Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight and Other Operations), published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on June 24, 2023. If adopted, the proposal would let medium-sized drones and some routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights happen more easily, while adding new pilot rules, technical standards and fees; public comments were invited for 90 days from publication.

What it does#

• Allows more routine operations for remotely piloted aircraft (drones) up to 150 kg:
  • Extends visual-line-of-sight (VLOS) permissions to medium drones over people in some cases (above 25 kg up to 150 kg).
  • Opens lower-risk BVLOS flights for drones 250 g up to 150 kg over sparsely populated areas, below 400 feet, in uncontrolled airspace.
• Removes the need for a case-by-case Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) for those specific VLOS and lower-risk BVLOS operations, replacing it with clear rules and certificates.
• Creates a new pilot path called the Level 1 Complex Operations certificate with required ground school, an online exam, a flight review, and medical checks.
• Expands drone registration to include all drones of 250 g and above and raises the registration fee from $5 to $10.
• Introduces or updates fees for new services (examples):
  • Drone registration: $10
  • Level 1 exam: $50
  • Level 1 pilot certificate: $125
  • Pre-Validated Declaration (manufacturer acceptance letter): $1,200
  • RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC): $250
  • Low-complexity SFOC: $150
  • High-complexity SFOC: $2,000
  • Amendment to an SFOC: $60
• Sets new technical and medical standards to reduce safety risk, including new Standards to be incorporated by reference (Standard 921, Standard 922, new Standard 923, and Standard 924) and updated Transport Canada guidance documents (TPs).
• Adds organizational rules for businesses doing BVLOS, such as appointing an accountable executive, keeping an RPAS operations manual, and tracking service difficulties.

Who's affected#

• Commercial drone operators doing inspections, surveys, deliveries, infrastructure work, emergency response support, and similar services.
• Recreational pilots who want to fly in more advanced ways (some may need certificates).
• Drone manufacturers and system/service providers; some vendors may seek a Pre-Validated Declaration so their models are cleared for more operations.
• RPAS training providers and flight reviewers who will teach and test the new Level 1 certificate.
• Transport Canada and the Government of Canada, which would run the expanded online services and collect fees.
• Small businesses: the analysis estimates about 24,137 small businesses could be affected, with an estimated net impact of $15.54 million over ten years (about $644 per business), according to the department’s cost‑benefit study.
• Note: the proposal estimates total costs of $26.02 million and benefits of $40.23 million over ten years, for an overall monetized net benefit of $14.21 million (all figures are from the regulatory impact analysis).

Why it matters#

• It aims to make useful drone activities easier and cheaper to run on a routine basis — for example, longer-range inspections, delivery to remote communities, search-and-rescue support, and environmental surveys — by replacing slow case‑by‑case approvals with rules and certificates.
• The proposal tries to balance unlocking economic opportunities with safety: new pilot training, medical checks, aircraft standards, distance rules (for example minimum distances from people and aerodromes), and requirements for manufacturers to report problems.
• It shifts more of the cost of oversight from taxpayers to users through fees. The department estimates fee revenue and time savings would help offset program costs.
• If the rules are adopted as proposed, some parts would take effect on publication in Canada Gazette, Part II and other flying privileges would be phased in so pilots can get certified by April 1, 2025. The text in the Gazette is a proposal, not law — the government invited comments for 90 days after publication.