Which RPAS License is Right for You?
There’s a lot to know when it comes to flying a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in Canada. Anyone wanting to fly a RPAS that weighs 250 grams up to and including 25kg (55lbs) must have either a basic or advanced RPAS license. Both licenses require a written test at a cost of $10 per test. While Transport Canada does recommend some formal flight training from an approved RPAS Training Unit, it is not an absolute requirement. The same is true for the ground knowledge component. Proof of ground school is not required to write the RPAS Basic or Advanced tests. Prospective RPAS pilots are able to login to the Transport Canada website, pay the $10 fee, and write the test just like that. In addition to a more difficult test, those seeking and advanced RPAS license must pass a flight review. A designated RPAS Flight Examiner
How do you know which license is right for you?
Ask yourself these questions and if you answer “Yes” to all of them then a basic license is all you need:
Do you plan to fly your drone in only uncontrolled airspace?
Do you plan to fly your drone more than 30m (100ft) from bystanders?
Do you plan to fly your drone more than 3NM (roughly 6KM) from any certified airport or military aerodrome?
Do you plan to fly your drone more than 1NM (roughly 2km) from any heliport?
For anyone considering an Advanced license, ask yourself these questions and if you answer yes to any of the following questions, you will require an advanced license:
Do you want to fly in controlled airspace?
Do you want to fly over bystanders?
Do you want to fly within 30 metres (100 feet) of bystanders (measured horizontally)?
Do you want to fly less than 3 nautical miles from a certified airport or a military aerodrome?
Do you want to fly less than 1 nautical mile from a certified heliport?
The Small Basic Exam is 35 multiple-choice questions with a 90 minute time limit to answer the questions. To pass, candidates must score 65% or higher on the exam to receive a passing mark.
The Small Advanced Exam is 50 multiple-choice questions with a 60 minute time limit to answer the questions. Candidates must score 80% or higher on the Small Advanced exam to receive a passing mark.
Candidates are expected to know a large range of information to pass the Small Basic and Small Advanced Exams. The topics that candidates must demonstrate adequate knowledge on are:
Air law, air traffic rules and procedures
RPAS airframes power plants, propulsion, and systems
Human Factors
Meteorology
Navigation
Flight Operations
Theory of Flight
Radiotelephony
While there are a lot of resources online that a prospective RPAS pilot could use to gather the knowledge required for the small basic and small advanced exams, (I’ll put links up at the bottom of all the best resources I have come across) it can be hard navigating the information, difficult to understand, or simply just determining if the information is relevant to you or not. RPAS ground school courses are highly recommended. They are very cost effective and concise with most being completely online and self-paced.
List of Useful Links:
Transport Canada Knowledge Requirements
Transport Canada List of Approved RPAS Training Providers
Canadian Aviation Regulation (CARS)
Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual
