Certificate and exam
Retake after 24 h. Certificate fee $25; it does not expire, but recency applies.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Age | 16 (basic 14) |
| Exam | 50 questions, 60 min, 80% (basic: 35 q, 90 min, 65%) |
| Flight review | Passed within 12 months before applying, by a flight reviewer (Std 921.02) |
| Recency | Exam, flight review or 921.04 recurrent training within 24 months |
| Carry | Certificate, proof of recency, certificate of registration |
Weight classes and registration
Registration number must be clearly visible on the RPA. Notify TC within 7 days of sale, destruction or change of address.
| Class | Operating weight |
|---|---|
| Micro | Under 250 g (Part IX Subpart 1 does not apply) |
| Small | 250 g to 25 kg |
| Medium | Over 25 kg to 150 kg (advanced or beyond) |
| Over 150 kg | SFOC |
Altitude and people
400 ft AGL max; 100 ft above a structure when within 200 ft of it. Higher only with ATC authorization in controlled airspace, or an SFOC.
| Operation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Small, 100 ft or more from people, Class G | Basic |
| Small, 16.4-100 ft from people | Advanced + 922.05 declaration |
| Small, under 16.4 ft / over people | Advanced + 922.06 declaration |
| Medium, 500 ft or more from people | Advanced + 922.08 declaration |
| Medium, 100-500 ft / over people | Advanced + 922.07 pre-validated declaration |
Airspace and aerodromes
Notify ATS immediately if a fly-away may enter controlled or Class F restricted airspace.
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Controlled airspace | NAV CANADA (or DND) RPAS flight authorization + 922.04 declaration |
| Within 3 NM of airport / 1 NM of heliport | Advanced, following the site's established procedure |
| Within 3 NM of a military aerodrome | DND authorization |
| Forest fire | Stay out of 5 NM / 3,000 ft AGL |
EVLOS and sheltered operations
Both: within 2 NM of pilot and control station, 100 ft or more from people, pilot at the launch/recovery site.
| Type | Key rules |
|---|---|
| EVLOS | Uncontrolled airspace; VO with at least a basic certificate, unaided, within 2 NM |
| Sheltered | Within 200 ft of a structure and no more than 100 ft above it; controlled airspace needs ATS authorization + 922.04 |
Needs an SFOC - RPAS
| Operation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Above 400 ft outside ATC-authorized airspace | SFOC |
| More than 5 RPA at once | SFOC |
| Advertised events | SFOC |
| Hazardous payloads or weapons | SFOC |
| Leaving Canadian Domestic Airspace | SFOC |
| Over 150 kg / carrying people | SFOC |
Other numbers
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 12 h bottle-to-throttle |
| Flight records | Keep 12 months |
| Maintenance records | Keep 24 months |
| Fine: no certificate (individual) | Up to $1,000 |
| Fine: unregistered (individual) | Up to $5,000 |
| ELT | Prohibited on RPA |
⚠️ Reference only. Always verify against the manufacturer's specs, your jurisdiction's code and your site's procedures.