Canada Gazette: New Proposed RPAS Regulations

Summer 2023 offered some new and interesting changes in the work of RPAS in Canada. Transport Canada (TC) published the proposed new set of regulations to RPAS. These new regulations expand the weight restriction up to 150kg (Medium). 

TC is proposing some new definitions, including Extended Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). This definition allows pilots to use Visual Observers stationed along their flight path to operate under Visual Line of Sight rules, but extending to further distances.

Another big change is allowing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Meaning that pilots can operate without visual sight of their Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

For RPAS pilots, these changes are a huge step forward. They allow many operations that require special permissions through NAV CANADA or Transport Canada, including a Special Flight Operation Certificate (SFOC). Imagine that you’re trying to do crop spraying with an RPAS. Not only does your drone need to be large enough to carry your liquid you wish to spray, but you also need enough fuel, battery or gas, to carry the liquid you are spraying. Allowing these types of operations to now be within the regulations and allow farmers or companies to operate larger drones that can carry more weight is a big step forward.

These are just two of many new proposed changes to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) part IV that can be read here: https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-06-24/html/reg6-eng.html .