New BVLOS and Medium Drone Rules

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (published June 24, 2023) proposes changes to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Part IX) to let medium drones and some beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) flights happen more routinely. It would create new pilot and operator rules, expand drone registration, add fees, and remove the need for a case‑by‑case special flight approval (SFOC) for certain lower‑risk operations; many flying privileges would start on April 1, 2025.

What it does#

• Allows larger drones:

  • Lets remotely piloted aircraft up to 150 kg fly within visual line‑of‑sight (VLOS) under the rules in Part IX.
  • Allows BVLOS flights for drones from 250 g up to 150 kg over unpopulated or sparsely populated areas and below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace (in certain lower‑risk scenarios).

• Replaces some case‑by‑case approvals:

  • Removes the need for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) for the new lower‑risk VLOS and BVLOS categories. SFOCs would still be used for higher‑risk or unusual operations.

• New pilot and training rules:

  • Creates a new pilot certificate for BVLOS called Level 1 Complex Operations (minimum age 18). It includes mandatory ground school, exams, a flight review, and medical checks.
  • Keeps and expands the Advanced pilot certificate privileges (e.g., extended‑VLOS and “sheltered” operations).
  • Recency/training rules require pilots to do renewal activity every 2 years; medical endorsements are tied to a 60‑month (5‑year) period.

• New organization rules:

  • Introduces an RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC) for anyone who wants to fly BVLOS. ROCs must show safety procedures, training, maintenance oversight and appoint an accountable executive.

• Manufacturer rules and oversight:

  • Expands the model declaration process and adds a Pre‑Validated Declaration (PVD) path for higher‑risk products. PVDs require annual reporting and service‑difficulty systems.

• Broader registration and digital services:

  • Expands registration to all drones weighing 250 g and above and increases online services in the Drone Management Portal (DMP).

• New and changed fees (examples):

  • Drone registration: $5 → $10.
  • Level 1 exam: $50; Level 1 certificate: $125.
  • Pre‑Validated Declaration: $1,200.
  • RPAS Operator Certificate: $250.
  • SFOC — low complexity: $150; high complexity: $2,000; amend SFOC: $60.

• Safety, compliance and enforcement:

  • Introduces medical standards (Standard 924) and technical standards (e.g., Standard 922).
  • Keeps enforcement tools including administrative monetary penalties (AMPS) for violations (corporate fines up to $25,000 appear in the amendments).
  • Adds equipment rules for some BVLOS flights (for example, anti‑collision lighting standards).

Who's affected#

• Transport and program delivery:

  • Transport Canada (program administration, DMP maintenance and enforcement).

• Drone manufacturers:

  • Domestic and foreign firms that want their models declared or pre‑validated. PVDs and declarations are optional but give models access to the new operations.

• Commercial operators and service providers:

  • Companies using drones for inspections, deliveries, surveying, emergency response, agriculture, mining, filmmaking, etc. They will need new certificates, processes and possibly new equipment.

• Recreational pilots:

  • Hobbyists who want to fly in more advanced ways (some will need the Advanced or Level 1 certificates).

• Training and testing providers:

  • RPAS ground schools and flight reviewers who will teach and examine Level 1 content and conduct flight reviews.

• Small businesses:

  • The analysis estimates 24,137 small businesses could be affected. The government’s small‑business analysis estimates average net impact per affected small business of about $644 over ten years (this is an estimate from the regulatory impact statement).

• Health professionals:

  • Physicians may be asked to complete medical endorsements for Level 1 pilots under the new Standard 924 process.

• Note on uncertainty:

  • The regulatory document contains many forecasts and assumptions (e.g., number of PVDs, growth in registrations). Who chooses to apply for PVDs or ROCs is partly optional, so some impacts will vary.

Why it matters#

• More routine BVLOS and medium‑drone operations could unlock real‑world uses such as remote deliveries, faster and cheaper infrastructure inspections, wildfire assessment, environmental monitoring, and expanded first‑responder tools. That’s the government’s stated goal: safer, predictable rules to support innovation and economic growth.

• Time and paperwork changes:

  • By removing the need for SFOCs for some lower‑risk flights, the changes are meant to reduce wait times and case‑by‑case administrative work. The regulatory analysis estimates industry time savings and faster approvals for higher‑risk SFOCs.

• New costs and new protections:

  • The package creates new costs for pilots, operators and manufacturers (training, medical checks, declarations, and fees). The government estimates total costs of $26.02 million over ten years and monetized benefits of $40.23 million, yielding an estimated net benefit of $14.21 million over 2024–2033.

• Safety trade‑offs:

  • The rules add pilot certification, medical standards, product standards and operator oversight (ROC) to try to manage the extra risk from larger drones and BVLOS flights. Whether those controls work in practice will depend on how industry and Transport Canada implement and enforce them.

• Timing and next steps:

  • This is a regulatory proposal (Canada Gazette, Part I). Some parts would come into force when the final rules are published in Canada Gazette, Part II; many operational privileges are staged to begin on April 1, 2025, to give operators time to certify and for the DMP upgrades.

If you want the raw regulatory impact figures or the detailed fee table, say which numbers you’d like and I’ll pull them out.