Can I Fly
My Drone Near
Other People?

Last edited on July 9th 2023

Introduction

Drones are amazing devices that can capture stunning photos and videos, explore new places, and have fun. But they also come with some responsibilities and risks. If you are a drone owner or operator in Canada, you need to know how to fly your drone safely and legally, and how to respect the rights and privacy of others. In this blog post, we will cover some of the most important aspects of drone safety and regulations in Canada, and give you some tips on how to choose the best drone model and accessories for your needs and preferences.

Why drone safety is important and what are the potential risks of flying too close to people

Drones are aircraft, which makes you a pilot. When you fly your drone, you are sharing the skies with other drones and aircraft. You also need to be aware of the people and property on the ground. Flying your drone too close to people can pose serious risks, such as:

• Injuring or killing someone if your drone crashes or falls
• Damaging or destroying someone's property or belongings
• Interfering with emergency services or aircraft operations
• Violating someone's privacy or personal space
• Facing legal consequences, such as fines, penalties, or jail time

To avoid these risks, you need to follow the rules and regulations that apply to drones in Canada, which we will discuss in the next section.

What are the legal and ethical guidelines for drone operators in Canada

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 up to 25 kilograms. You should read these regulations in full before you fly your drone for the first time or take one of our online courses.

Drone pilots must carry a valid drone pilot certificate and only fly drones that are marked and registered. If you are flying a drone that is less than 250 grams, you do not need to register the drone or get a drone pilot certificate.

Drone pilots must always carry a valid drone pilot certificate while operating their drone. A valid drone pilot certificate is a printed or electronic document issued by Transport Canada. No other form of certification will be accepted.

You also need to respect all other laws when flying your drone, such as the Criminal Code, your province’s trespass act, and laws related to voyeurism and privacy. You must respect the privacy rights of others when you fly. Transport Canada investigates reports of unsafe flying. They may involve local police if you break other laws.

Depending on what kind of operation you want to perform with your drone, you need to follow different rules. There are two categories of drone operations: basic and advanced.

Basic operations are those that meet all of the following conditions:

• You fly it in uncontrolled airspace
• You fly it more than 30 metres (100 feet) horizontally from bystanders

Advanced operations are those that meet at least one of the following conditions:

• You fly it in controlled airspace
• You fly it within 30 metres (100 feet) of bystanders (measured horizontally)

For basic operations, you need a basic licence, which requires passing an online exam and meeting some age and citizenship requirements.

For advanced operations, you need an advanced licence, which requires passing an online exam, an in-person flight review, meeting some age and citizenship requirements, and flying a drone that meets RPAS Safety Assurance standards.

The RPAS Safety Assurance tells users the safety limits of the drone they are using. Pilots must operate their drones within limits outlined in the RPAS Safety Assurance that its manufacturer declared to Transport Canada. An RPAS Safety Assurance is needed to conduct advanced operations.

Public safety should be taken very seriously when operating your drone. The new rules are enforced by Transport Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Putting aircraft and people at risk can result in fines of up to $25,000 and jail time.

How to choose the best drone model and accessories for your needs and preferences using Transport Canada’s list

Before you buy a drone, you should consider what kind of operations you want to perform with it. If you want to do basic operations only, you can choose any drone that weighs less than 25 kg. If you want to do advanced operations, you need to choose a drone that meets RPAS Safety Assurance standards.

Transport Canada has a list of drones that meet RPAS Safety Assurance standards on their website. You can use this list to find out which drones are suitable for advanced operations.

You should also consider other factors when choosing a drone, such as:

• Battery life
• Camera quality
• Flight range
• Speed
• Stability
• Durability
• Cost
• Warranty
• Customer service

You should also check the drone manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for using and maintaining your drone. Some drones may require additional accessories, such as propeller guards, landing pads, or carrying cases.

How to plan your drone flight path and avoid obstacles and interference

Before you fly your drone, you should plan your flight path and check the weather conditions. You should also check for any airspace restrictions or hazards in the area where you want to fly. You can use tools such as NAV CANADA’s Nav Drone app to find out where you can and cannot fly your drone.

You should also avoid flying your drone near:

• Airports, heliports, and airfields
• Power lines, bridges, buildings, and other structures
• People, animals, vehicles, and crowds
• Forest fires, crime scenes, or emergency situations
• No-fly zones or restricted areas

You should also be aware of any potential sources of interference that could affect your drone’s performance, such as:

• Radio signals, Wi-Fi networks, or cell towers
• Magnetic fields, space weather, metal objects, or compasses
• Other drones or aircraft

You should always keep your drone within visual line of sight, which means you can see it without using binoculars or a monitor. You should also have a clear view of the surrounding area and the horizon. You can fly at night if you have lights on your drone.

You should always fly your drone below 122 metres (400 feet) in the air. This is to avoid interfering with manned aircraft that fly at higher altitudes.

How to monitor your drone’s battery level, signal strength and altitude

While flying your drone, you should always monitor its battery level, signal strength and altitude. These are important indicators of your drone’s health and performance. If any of these indicators drop too low, you may lose control of your drone or cause it to crash.

You should always keep enough battery power to return and land your drone safely. You should also avoid flying your drone in extreme temperatures or weather conditions that could affect its battery life.

You should always keep a strong signal between your drone and its remote controller. You should also avoid flying your drone near sources of interference that could disrupt the signal.

You should always keep your drone below 122 metres (400 feet) in the air. You should also avoid flying your drone near obstacles or terrain that could affect its altitude.

You can use the display on your remote controller or a smartphone app to monitor these indicators. You should also pay attention to any warnings or alerts that your drone may give you.

How to handle emergency situations and land your drone safely

Sometimes, things may go wrong when flying your drone. You may encounter an emergency situation, such as:

• Losing sight of your drone
• Losing signal with your drone
• Having a low battery or a malfunctioning drone
• Having a collision or a near-miss with another object
• Having a complaint or a confrontation with someone

In these situations, you should remain calm and follow these steps:

1. Try to regain control of your drone by moving closer to it or changing its flight mode.
2. Try to land your drone as soon as possible in a safe and clear area away from people and property.
3. If you cannot land your drone safely, activate its return-to-home (RTH) feature if it has one.
4. If you cannot activate the RTH feature or if it fails, contact the nearest air traffic control tower or airport if you are in controlled airspace.
5. If you are not in controlled airspace, contact the local police or Transport Canada if you need assistance.
6. If you have injured someone or damaged someone’s property, exchange information with them and report it to the Transportation Safety Board and Transport Canada.

How to respect the privacy and property rights of others when flying your drone

When flying your drone, you should respect the privacy and property rights of others. This means:

• You must not fly your drone over private property without permission from the owner.
• You must not fly your drone over people who are not involved in your operation without their consent.
• You should not take photos or videos of people who are not involved in your operation without their consent.
• You should not publish or share photos or videos of people who are not involved in your operation without their consent.
• You should not use photos or videos of people who are not involved in your operation for commercial purposes without their consent.

If someone asks you to stop flying your drone over their property or near them, you should comply with their request. If someone confronts you about flying your drone near them, you should be polite and respectful. You can explain what you are doing and why, and show them your drone pilot certificate and registration if they ask but only authorities can demand to see your paperwork. You should also offer to delete any photos or videos that you have taken of them or their property without their consent.

Conclusion

We hope this blog post has helped you learn more about how to fly your drone safely and legally in Canada. If you are planning to get a drone pilot certificate, you may want to check out our online exam preparation course. It will teach you everything you need to know to pass the basic or advanced exam and become a certified drone pilot. You can find more details and sign up for the course on our website. Thank you for reading and happy flying!