What You Need to
Know Before Taking
a Flight Review

Last edited on July 4th 2023

Introduction

If you want to fly your drone for advanced operations in Canada, such as flying within 100 feet of people or within controlled airspace, you need to obtain a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations from Transport Canada. To get this certificate, you need to meet the following two requirements: passing the Small Advanced Exam and passing an in-person Flight Review.

First You Must Pass the Written Exam

The Small Advanced Exam is an online test that covers topics such as airspace classification, weather, regulations, and emergency procedures. You can take this exam anytime on the Transport Canada website, but you need to study the Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems before attempting it. The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and you need to score at least 80% to pass.

You need to obtain a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations from Transport Canada.

The Flight Reviewer

The in-person Flight Review is a practical test that you take with a Transport Canada-approved drone pilot who can administer the flight review. The flight reviewer will assess your ability to operate your drone safely and in compliance with the rules. You will need to demonstrate skills such as pre-flight inspection, take-off and landing, obstacle avoidance, emergency procedures, and communication.

Before you take the flight review, you need to have a few things ready:

• A digital or physical copy of the results page of your successfully completed Small Advanced Exam
• A valid (not expired) piece of government-issued identification that provides your name and date of birth
• The Certificate of Registration for the drone that you will use for the flight review

The Preparation

You also need to read Appendix A: Flight Reviewer’s Guide - sRPAS Exercises in the Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. This guide lists the exercises that your flight reviewer will ask you to perform during the flight review. You need to be familiar with these exercises and practice them before the test.

To schedule a flight review, you need to contact a drone flight school near you. Every flight reviewer is associated with a self-declared drone flight school that offers courses and training for drone pilots. You may be charged a fee by the flight reviewer for your flight review. Prices are set by the flight reviewer.

After the Flight Review

The flight reviewer will submit your results online within 24 hours of your flight review and you will receive an email confirmation with a link to view your results. If you pass the flight review, you can apply for the Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations online. If you fail the flight review, you can schedule another one the next day. There is no limit to the number of times you can retake a flight review, but you may need to pay a fee each time.

Conclusion

In this blog post, I have explained what you need to know before taking an in-person flight review for advanced operations. You need to pass the Small Advanced Exam and the in-person Flight Review to get the Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations from Transport Canada. You also need to have a valid ID, a certificate of registration, and a good knowledge of the flight review exercises. You can book a flight review with a drone flight school near you and pay a fee for their service. If you pass the flight review, you can apply for the certificate online. If you fail, you can try again the next day.

Next | Are the Drone Exams Open Book