Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Application

900.02 This Part applies in respect of the operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

Delayed Application of Certain Provisions

900.02.1 Paragraph 901.26(b), subsections 901.30(2), 901.34(2), (3) and (4) and 901.47(3) and sections 901.74, 901.75, 901.88, 901.89, 901.91, 901.92, 901.95 and 901.96 do not apply until November 4, 2025.

900.03 [Reserved, SOR/2019-11, s. 23]

[900.03 to 900.05 reserved]

Division II — General Operating and Flight Rules

Reckless or Negligent Operation

900.06 No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system in such a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of any person.

Inadvertent Entry Into Restricted Airspace

900.07 A person who operates a remotely piloted aircraft shall ensure that the appropriate air traffic control unit, flight service station or user agency is notified immediately any time the aircraft is no longer under the person’s control and inadvertently enters or is likely to enter into Class F Special Use Restricted airspace, as specified in the Designated Airspace Handbook.

Prohibition — Emergency Security Perimeter

• 900.08 (1) No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft over or within the security perimeter established by a public authority in response to an emergency.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the operation of a remotely piloted aircraft for the purpose of an operation to save human life, a police operation, a fire-fighting operation or any other operation that is conducted in the service of a public authority.

Prohibition — Commercial Air Service

• 900.09 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), no person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft having an operating weight of 250 g (0.55 pounds) or more to provide a commercial air service unless that person is Canadian or an employee, an agent or mandatary or a representative of an RPAS operator.

• (2) A person who does not meet the criteria referred to in subsection (1) may operate a remotely piloted aircraft to provide a specialty air service if

  • (a) they are a citizen, permanent resident or corporation of a foreign state with which Canada has entered into a free trade agreement that Canada has implemented and under which the operation is authorized; and

  • (b) the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

• (3) A person that does not meet the criteria referred to in subsection (1) may operate a remotely piloted aircraft to provide an air transport service if the person holds a licence issued under section 61 of the Canada Transportation Act.

[900.10 to 900.12 reserved]

Division III — Registration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Registration

• 900.13 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system that includes a remotely piloted aircraft having an operating weight of 250 g (0.55 pounds) or more unless the remotely piloted aircraft is registered in accordance with this Division.

• (2) A person may operate a remotely piloted aircraft system that includes a remotely piloted aircraft that is not registered in accordance with this Division if the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Registration Number

900.14 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the registration number referred to in paragraph 900.16(3)(a) is clearly visible on the remotely piloted aircraft.

Qualifications To Be Registered Owner of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

• 900.15 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person is qualified to be the registered owner of a remotely piloted aircraft if they are

  • (a) a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;

  • (b) a corporation or entity that is incorporated or formed under the laws of Canada or a province; or

  • (c) a government in Canada or an agent or mandatary of such a government.

• (2) No individual is qualified to be the registered owner of a remotely piloted aircraft unless that individual is at least 14 years of age.

Registration Requirements

• 900.16 (1) The Minister shall, on receipt of an application, register a remotely piloted aircraft if the applicant is qualified to be the registered owner of the aircraft.

• (2) The application shall include the following information:

  • (a) if the applicant is an individual,

    • (i) the applicant’s name and address,

    • (ii) the applicant’s date of birth, and

    • (iii) an indication as to whether the applicant is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;

  • (b) if the applicant is a corporation or entity that is incorporated or formed under the laws of Canada or a province,

    • (i) the corporation’s or entity’s legal name and address,

    • (ii) the name and title of the person making the application, and

    • (iii) the business number assigned to the corporation or entity by the Minister of National Revenue, if any;

  • (c) if the applicant is His Majesty in right of Canada or a province,

    • (i) the name of the government body, and

    • (ii) the name and title of the person making the application;

  • (d) an indication as to whether the aircraft was purchased or built by the applicant;

  • (e) the date of purchase of the aircraft by the applicant, if applicable;

  • (f) the manufacturer and model of the aircraft, if applicable;

  • (g) the serial number of the aircraft, if applicable;

  • (h) the category of aircraft, such as a fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, hybrid aircraft or lighter-than-air aircraft; and

  • (i) any Canadian registration number previously issued in respect of the aircraft.

• (3) On registering the remotely piloted aircraft, the Minister shall issue to the registered owner of the aircraft a certificate of registration that includes

  • (a) a registration number;

  • (b) the name and address of the registered owner; and

  • (c) the serial number of the aircraft, if applicable.

Register of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

900.17 The Minister shall establish and maintain a register of remotely piloted aircraft in which there shall be entered, in respect of each aircraft for which a certificate of registration has been issued under section 900.16,

• (a) the name and address of the registered owner;

• (b) the registration number referred to in paragraph 900.16(3)(a); and

• (c) any other particulars concerning the aircraft that the Minister determines necessary for the registration of the remotely piloted aircraft.

Cancellation of Certificate of Registration

• 900.18 (1) A registered owner of a remotely piloted aircraft shall, within seven days after becoming aware that any of the following events has occurred, notify the Minister that

  • (a) the aircraft is destroyed;

  • (b) the aircraft is permanently withdrawn from use;

  • (c) the aircraft is missing and the search for the aircraft is terminated;

  • (d) the aircraft has been missing for 60 days or more; or

  • (e) the registered owner has transferred legal custody and control of the aircraft.

• (2) When an event referred to in subsection (1) has occurred, the certificate of registration in respect of the remotely piloted aircraft is cancelled.

• (3) The certificate of registration of a remotely piloted aircraft is cancelled when

  • (a) the registered owner of the aircraft dies;

  • (b) the entity that is the registered owner of the aircraft is wound up, dissolved or amalgamated with another entity; or

  • (c) the registered owner of the aircraft ceases to be qualified to be a registered owner under section 900.15.

• (4) For the purposes of this Division, an owner has legal custody and control of a remotely piloted aircraft when the owner has complete responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the remotely piloted aircraft system of which the aircraft is an element.

Change of Name or Address

900.19 The registered owner of a remotely piloted aircraft shall notify the Minister of any change in the name or address of the registered owner by not later than seven days after the change.

Access to Certificate of Registration

900.20 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the certificate of registration issued in respect of the remotely piloted aircraft that is an element of the system is easily accessible to the pilot for the duration of the operation.

Subpart 1 — Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Medium Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Division I — General Provision

Application

901.01 This Subpart applies in respect of the operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems that include a small remotely piloted aircraft or a medium remotely piloted aircraft.

Division II — [Reserved]

[901.02 to 901.10 reserved]

901.02 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.03 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.04 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.05 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.06 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.07 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.08 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

901.09 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 50]

Division III — General Operating and Flight Rules

Visual Line-of-sight

• 901.11 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system unless the pilot or a visual observer has the aircraft in visual line-of-sight.

• (2) A pilot may operate a remotely piloted aircraft system without the pilot or a visual observer having the aircraft in visual line-of-sight if the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Prohibition — Emergency Security Perimeter

[901.12 reserved]

901.12 [Reserved, SOR/2025-70, s. 52]

Prohibition — Canadian Domestic Airspace

• 901.13 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no pilot operating a remotely piloted aircraft shall cause the aircraft to leave Canadian Domestic Airspace.

• (2) A pilot may operate a remotely piloted aircraft outside of Canadian Domestic Airspace if the operation is conducted in accordance with a special flight operations certificate — RPAS issued under section 903.03.

Controlled Airspace

901.14 Subject to subsection 901.71(1), no pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft in controlled airspace.

Inadvertent Entry into Controlled Airspace

901.15 A pilot of a remotely piloted aircraft shall ensure that the appropriate air traffic control unit, flight service station or user agency is notified immediately any time the aircraft is no longer under the pilot’s control and inadvertently enters or is likely to enter into controlled airspace.

Flight Safety

901.16 A pilot that operates a remotely piloted aircraft system shall immediately cease operations if aviation safety or the safety of any person is endangered or likely to be endangered.

Right of Way

901.17 A pilot of a remotely piloted aircraft shall give way to power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft, airships, gliders and balloons at all times.

Avoidance of Collision

901.18 No pilot shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft in such proximity to another aircraft as to create a risk of collision.

Fitness of Crew Members

• 901.19 (1) No person shall act as a crew member of a remotely piloted aircraft system if the person

  • (a) is suffering or is likely to suffer from fatigue; or

  • (b) is otherwise unfit to perform properly the person’s duties.

• (2) No person shall act as a crew member of a remotely piloted aircraft system

  • (a) within 12 hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage;

  • (b) while under the influence of alcohol; or

  • (c) while using any drug that impairs the person’s faculties to the extent that aviation safety or the safety of any person is endangered or likely to be endangered.