Page 18 - Southport - Reaching New Heights - Summer 2017

UAVs and Drones

Facts & Tips

TIPS FOR RECREATIONAL

To use a drone or UAV commercially DRONE USERS
the operator requires an SFOC
(Special Flight Operations Certicate) • Fly your drone during daylight and in
or an Exemption, and associated UAV 4,300 good weather.
liability insurance. 2,480 • Keep your drone where you can see it
1,672 with your own eyes – not through an
SFOCs issued by Transport Canada on-board camera, monitor or
are on the rise and exceeded 4,300 in 2014 2015 2016 smartphone.
Special Flight
2016, up from 2,480 in 2015 and Operation Certificates • Make sure your drone is safe for ight
1,672 in 2014. Issued by Transport Canada
before take-o. Ask yourself, for example:
Are the batteries fully charged? Is it too
cold to y?
Transport Canada launched a record
118 investigations into the illegal use of • Respect the privacy of others. Avoid ying
118 drones in Canada in 2016! over private property or taking photos or
videos without permission.
• Avoid ‘NO FLY ZONES’ as outllined in the
new regulations oulined by Transport
Canada.

The key new rules (March 2017) are that
recreational drone operators must mark their
drone with their contact information, and
may not y:
• higher than 90 metres;
• at night;
• within 75 metres of buildings, vehicles or
people; or
• within 9 km’s of the centre of any airport, Flying for fun? Check out the facts in the
heliport, aerodrome or water aerodrome Transport Canada infographic linked in
where aircraft take o and land. our online edition at southport.ca

The Consequences:
• Any recreational operator who fails to comply with the new restrictions could be subject to
nes of up to $3,000.
• If you y a UAV without an SFOC and should have one, you may be ned up to $5,000 for a
person and $25,000 for a corporation.
• If you do not follow the requirements of your SFOC, you can be ned up to $3,000 for a person
and $15,000 for a corporation.

Sources:
Vancouver Sun: http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/transport-canada; Flitelab: https://blog.itelab.com/2016/05/17/canadian-uavdrone-quick-fact-sheet/; Transport
Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-can ada/news/2017/03/new_safety_rulesforrecreationaldroneusetakeimmediateeect.html ; Vistek: https://prophotoblog.-
ca/video/aerial-imaging-platforms/canadian-uav-laws/

18 | Southport: Reaching New Heights