Question about new rules

[maxima8802]

When flying our aircraft at the WIMAC field...is this considered as 'basic operation' or 'advanced operation'. It looks like we will need a pilot's certificate and a registration number for all aircraft as of June 1st, 2019.

[Florin]

I think you’re referring to this (http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety/flying-drone-safely-legally.html)
Drones are aircraft—which makes you a pilot. When you fly your drone, you’re sharing the skies with other drones and aircraft.

Drone pilots must follow the rules in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). Part IX – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems contains most of the rules that apply to drones. You should read these regulations in full before you fly your drone for the first time.

Drone pilots must carry a valid drone pilot certificate and only fly drones that are marked and registered.

In Canada, there are 2 main categories of drone operation: basic and advanced. Each one has a different set of rules drone pilots must follow.
Advanced operations
If you meet any 1 of these conditions, you are conducting advanced operations:

You want to fly in controlled airspace
You want to fly over bystanders
You want to fly within 30 metres (100 feet) of bystanders (measured horizontally
So at the field all bystanders are now spotters. Voila! Back to “basic” common sense;)

[Andrew Fernie]

If you follow the document links you will find the following statement: "While Part IX of the CARs applies to all RPAS, members of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) operating at MAAC fields and MAAC sanctioned events will be issued an exemption to certain provisions of the CARs. Under the Act, footnote 8 the Minister has the authority to issue exemptions to the CARs; the exemption will be issued to MAAC before the end of the coming into force of the Regulations. "

So, hopefully the situation will stay as it is now - MAAC members operating at MAAC fields/events, and following MAAC rules are fine. Fly in the local park or vacant lot and you could be in trouble.

[LucT]

If you follow the document links you will find the following statement: "While Part IX of the CARs applies to all RPAS, members of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) operating at MAAC fields and MAAC sanctioned events will be issued an exemption to certain provisions of the CARs. Under the Act, footnote 8 the Minister has the authority to issue exemptions to the CARs; the exemption will be issued to MAAC before the end of the coming into force of the Regulations. "

So, hopefully the situation will stay as it is now - MAAC members operating at MAAC fields/events, and following MAAC rules are fine. Fly in the local park or vacant lot and you could be in trouble.

Bonjour Andrew,

thanks for helping us understand the impacts of this upcoming change. To be more specific, are we forbidden to fly a small EPP model at our local park? I live near a huge Soccer and baseball field and enjoy going there early in the morning or during times when nobody uses the facility to fly small foam models. If that is the case it will be a huge factor for me, might even force me to reconsider the future of this hobby...I can't imagine that flying a slow motion Clik R2 EPP model would represent any thread to anyone in the middle of a huge baseball field. But then I guess that it could be debated...

[Andrew Fernie]

I believe that they do want it to apply to flying in parks. And even if you get your permit, many of the municipalities have bylaws that outlaw it today anyway.

Andrew

[PaulG-rc]

I believe that they do want it to apply to flying in parks. And even if you get your permit, many of the municipalities have bylaws that outlaw it today anyway.

Andrew

They do mention that if you fly models under 250g the rules don’t apply unless there is a bylaw at the park you fly.

Paul

[Sempai-mj]

To all MAAC Members,

Re: Transport Canada Gazette II news release of January 10, 2019

We would like to advise you that the anticipated new regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS ) have now been published. However, it should be clearly understood that nothing has changed for MAAC members and even though the regulations have now been published, they do not take effect until 1st June 2019. Until that date the Interim Order Respecting the use of Model Aircraft remains in effect, and as this order does not apply to MAAC operations, MAAC members can continue to operate as we always have.

Once the new regulations do come into effect, they will apply to all aircraft without a pilot onboard, whether for recreational or non-recreational purposes. However, be assured that MAAC continues to working with Transport Canada to ensure your current privileges are protected. As we advised you in the last email update, MAAC is working with Transport Canada on an exemption from the new regulations. With this exemption, once the new regulations do come into effect, MAAC members will enjoy the same freedoms they always have. It is expected that the MAAC exemption will be approved well before the new regulations come into effect on 1st June 2019. In the meantime please see the attached letter from Transport Canada, Letter – AARV – MAAC 2019 – 01-09 showing their commitment to these ongoing efforts and the preservation of our privileges.

MAAC leadership continues to work for its members and to ensure that we can all enjoy our passion of operating model aircraft. We will provide additional updates, once we have secured the exemption. Until then, please let me repeat that nothing has changed for MAAC members and you can continue to operate as you always have.

On behalf of the MAAC transport Canada Advisory Group

Peter Schaffer

President - MAAC

[LucT]

They do mention that if you fly models under 250g the rules don’t apply unless there is a bylaw at the park you fly.

Paul

Merci Paul. Il me semble qu'il doit y avoir quand même un peu de gros bon sens...

[Michael O'Bree]

Here are the regs coming into effect on 1st June:
https://www.tc.gc.ca/fr/services/aviation/securite-drones/utiliser-drone-facon-securitaire-legale.html
I believe all MAAC members will be encouraged to read them as MAAC needs the support of its members to maintain constructive relations with TC by demonstrating understanding of and compliance with the new regs.

Under the new regs, if your aircraft is under 250 g, the only rule is that you should not fly recklessly.
If over 250g, for recreational flying, in a nutshell,you need to:
-get a basic drone/remotely piloted aircraft pilot’s certificate and register your aircraft (all doable online)
- fly away from airports, controlled/restricted airspace, urban areas, etc (basically most of the island of Montrêal is controlled airspace, except about 5% in the north west (where WIMAC field is) and at the extreme East end of the island. So Luc, only planes/drones under 250 g would be legal at your local park, assuming the Municipality allows it.

As mentioned in Michael J’s post from MAAC, TC is expected to announce certain exceptions to these rules for MAAC members before the new rules become effective, but only when flying at MAAC sanctioned sites and assuming MAAC Rules are followed.

[LucT]

Excellent merci pour ces précisions. Je vais consulter la réglementation municipale.

Bonne journée et merci encore!

[maxima8802]

Thanks for the clarification guys!

[alanroth]

Hi there
Has anyone taken the basic test yet? If so any info regarding it?
Regards
Alan Rothstein

[Michael O'Bree]

Hi there
Has anyone taken the basic test yet? If so any info regarding it?
Regards
Alan Rothstein
I have not taken the test yet.
But the TC website has all the info. you need on anything related to the new regs.
E.G. the exam:
https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/publications/tp-15263.html

[Michael O'Bree]

I have contacted two of the organizations (CQFA in Dorval and Exo Drone in Laval) who are listed in the TC site as drone flight schools who have self-declared that they provide training in line with Transport Canada standards.
As it stands, neither have developed courses to prepare specifically for the exams under the new regulations but they expect to do so by June 1 or earlier.

Exo Drone is having an info. session on 29 Jan. when they expect announce their updated courses. If you call them they will automatically email you news updates on their course offerings.

Exo Drone pointed out that TC will not be proactively vetting these courses. TC will retroactively look at the pass rates of examinees who have completed courses at each school and if the pass rates are too low at a particular school they will remove them from the list of « self-declared » schools on the TC website. Buyer beware!

Of course all of this may be a moot point for those of us that only fly at a MAAC approved field (or Indoors) as we expect to see exemptions for MAAC members under the new regs. But I have a feeling that in order to get exemptions in this new context MAAC will have tighten up its own rules or have fewer exemptions from the new regs.

[aaamedeus]

I wrote and passed the test, 10 dollars and 25 mins later. It's easy and I am no genius. It is also open book as we say, so you can always google the question if your not sure.

[Michael O'Bree]

I wrote and passed the test, 10 dollars and 25 mins later. It's easy and I am no genius. It is also open book as we say, so you can always google the question if your not sure.

Useful to know - thanks Lorne.

[Doc_Avid]

One member said the exam is easy but I saw many article on the Net to the contrary. Anyway, I feel that these new regulations are over the top as they are among the most severe in the world. Regulations to own a hunting firearm in Canada are less severe. The purpose of the new regulations was supposedly to protect airports and airplanes. But it goes much more far than that: no FPV, only line of sight flying, no flying in most national parcs, no flying over people (100 feet horizontal) unless you get an advanced license which will cost a lot and only for certified drones, which are mostly professional models costing thousands. Clearly, these new regulations are a new disguised tax and mostly aimed at killing the hobby while protecting the professionals. I feel we should have a petition against these new regulations.

My 2 cents.
:angry:

[Michael O'Bree]

Regarding the difficulty of the exam, I have heard the same story from a former pilot. He said if he had not trained as a pilot previously he was not sure he would have passed, but he did.

[aaamedeus]

If you never opened any of the texts or manuals they suggest you read or you have never been around aviation and weather terms. Then you would probably fail. There will be questions most of you guys will know and there is plenty of time to google the question for the answers and and you will learn new usueless stuff in the process.

[Doc_Avid]

If you never opened any of the texts or manuals they suggest you read or you have never been around aviation and weather terms. Then you would probably fail. There will be questions most of you guys will know and there is plenty of time to google the question for the answers and and you will learn new usueless stuff in the process.

As a former glider pilot, I will probably pass the exam with success, but I need to brush up on some of the fields of study . But my point is not about the usefulness of learning new stuff, but the relevance of some of the questions and new rules.
Why, as a recreative drone pilot do you need to know about radiotelephony rules, jargon and laws? Why do you need to know about METARS and other Meteorology science concepts to fly a toy drone? And so on. I think the basic exam is unnecessary complicated to have many people fail and need to retake the exam. Why do we need to register each and every drone we own? Why not register the pilot only? Why do we need to fill a log book for each flight we make? Why do we need to have a complete manual of operation for the drone on us at all times we fly, etc, etc. Anyway, for those of you who want to pass the exam and not waste 90 minutes and 10$ here are a few useful links:

- A good video study guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut44cLyXWLk
- RPA regulations: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2019/2019-01-09/html/sor-dors11-eng.html
- Knowledge requirements (such as VLOS): http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/publications/tp-15263.html
- AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) (400+ pages): http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/tp14371-menu-3092.htm
- CAR (Canadian Aviation Regulations): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-433/FullText.html#s-901.27
- Drone safety: https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety.html

When you take your exam have all of these open and ready to search. You might have to Google a few of the questions as well.

Good luck!

Jacques.:D

[briankizner]

Just took the test and passed. I agree that some of the questions don’t seem relevant to recreational use, especially concerning things like airport radio frequencies, but I did enjoy the challenge and learning a few things outside of my comfort zone. I think this is new not only to us but to Transport Canada as well, and so I would not be surprised to see some modifications as they start receiving feedback.

[Michael O'Bree]

At last got around to the test and passed comfortably.
The key for me was reading the relevant CARs (just once) and following the invaluable advice in Don Joyce's excellent YouTube Training video that Jacques (Doc_Avid) mentioned below. Thanks, Jacques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut44cLyXWLk

[Doc_Avid]

Hi all,

I finally got the time to study and pass the exam. I got a high score but I stand by what I previously stated; more than 50% of the questions are of no interest for a recreational flyer. My feeling is that this is clearly going to kill the hobby for many. Which means higher prices and fewer people to fly. Be careful, many questions are tricky and be prepared to Google a lot (50%) to find the answers to many questions outside the CAR rules.