Transport minister issues new rules for drone operators

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/transport-minister-issues-new-rules-for-drone-operators-1.4246401

Transport minister issues new rules for drone operators
Last Updated Wednesday, January 9, 2019 1:08PM EST OTTAWA – TransportMinister Marc Garneau has issued tough new regulations for the use of drones inCanada
, from banning drunk droning,to banning drones from flying in airspace near emergency scenes and airports.
drone operators will now haveto register their drones and pass an online test to receive certification tocontinue operating them.
These new changes apply todrones between 250 grams and 25 kilograms that are operated within the pilot’ssight, regardless of whether the drones are being used recreationally or forwork.

• Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations for Drones

Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau announcesnew rules to fly a drone in Canada during a news conference in Montreal onWednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson


In this Feb. 13, 2014 file photo, a drone isdemonstrated in Brigham City, Utah. (AP / Rick Bowmer)
Among the new rules:

• You can't pilot a drone while under the influenceof drugs or alcohol, or within 12 hours of consuming alcohol;
• You must be over 14 years of age to apply for basicregistered ownership and pass a test to become a certified pilot;
• Drones cannot fly higher than 122 metres aboveground level, or 30 metres above a building or structure;
• Special certification is needed if you want totransport weapons or explosives;
• You can’t transport living creatures on your drone;and
• Unless a certified first responder, drones cannotfly over or near an emergency scene.
  "This is very serious. Ifyou put an object in the air, in the airspace of this country, you are in factpiloting it and if you cause an accident, that can have enormousrepercussions," said Garneau in Montreal on Wednesday while unveiling thenew rules.
  The minister noted that thenew regulations come with fines up to $25,000 or even jail time depending onthe severity of the offence.
  It will cost $5 to register adrone, and the pilot exam for basic operations costs $10, while the test foradvanced drone operations is $25.
  The changes come afterconsultation with the public and drone industry stakeholders, and after hundreds of reported drone safety incidents or near-misses inCanada. The department says these changes are aimed at improving aviationsafety.
  According to Transport Canada,there are 193,500 remotely piloted aircraft systems in Canada, in contrast tothe 37,000 "traditional" aircrafts such as commercial, cargo, orrecreational small planes.
  Rules around drone operations exist now, and will continue to apply until these newprovisions come into effect on June 1.
  

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Re: Transport minister issues new rules for drone operators These rules aren’t in effect until June 1, 2019.
Old rules still apply .


Flying your drone safely and legally (new rules) - Transport Canada

[Leonard Inkster, CMI]

I'd be interested where Hon. Marc Garneau gets his stats from. Over the last 4 years I've been working on this file with TC I've gone through CADORS and can only find a few recorded incidents involving drones.

Nowhere near the number of near misses with other aircraft that are already regulated and nothing like the "Hundreds" Minister Garneau is claiming.

The new regs just make it easier for the police to enforce the regs, and do nothing for the professionals who are using these drones responsibly.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Thanks Roy. I was thinking about purchasing a drone.

[Gilles Larin, ACI,CMI, NHI]

Like the previous posts, I just do not understand all the "work" done by Garneau! In another time, I was a private pilot w/over 1000 hours of flight time and it seems to me that flying a real plane is a lot more complicated than "flying" a drone! I do agree with keeping drone away from airports!

G

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Originally Posted by glarin

Like the previous posts, I just do not understand all the "work" done by Garneau! In another time, I was a private pilot w/over 1000 hours of flight time and it seems to me that flying a real plane is a lot more complicated than "flying" a drone! I do agree with keeping drone away from airports!

G

Even Gilles.

Being a QPL Liberal Donor I was invited to hear the honorable QPL speak in NDG earlier this year. I had to miss the occasion due to work.

Although I am not speaking for the honorable member, I think more must be done to insure public safety as compared to flying remote aircraft that can be flown from tens of miles away due to GPS.