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Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) overview

Drone study guide: key rules on all 11 topics

Free Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) study guide: 274 key points from the TC AIM — Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) chapter in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.

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  • 11 topics
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This study guide collects our notes on every topic of the Transport Canada Drone Pilot Exam – Basic Operations (Small Basic Exam) on one page: 274 short points in our own words, grouped by topic and by handbook section. Read it from top to bottom before your first practice test, or jump to a topic from the list below.

Each topic ends with a link to its practice questions, so you can check what you just read straight away, and a link to the official chapter for the full wording. The notes summarise the TC AIM — Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) chapter from the Transport Canada, Civil Aviation (Drone Safety); they do not replace it, and where our notes and the official source differ, the official source wins.

Study these notes as flashcards →

Drone categories, certificates and recency

Microdrones, small, medium and large drones, what counts as operating weight, what makes a flight basic or advanced, the basic certificate (age 14, online exam), supervision of uncertified pilots, the 24-month recency rule and exam rules.

Practise Drone categories, certificates and recency questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Drone size classification

  • Microdrone: operating weight under 250 g. Small: 250 g up to 25 kg. Medium: over 25 kg up to 150 kg. Large: over 150 kg (special operations, SFOC).
  • Operating weight counts everything carried or attached (camera, propeller guards, lights, stickers) but not the controller.
  • A sub-250 g drone that reaches 250 g with accessories becomes a small drone: register it, mark it, and fly it with a certificate.

What basic operations are

  • Small drone, VLOS, uncontrolled airspace, at least 30 m (100 ft) horizontally from people not involved, at any altitude.
  • Also outside 3 NM (5.6 km) of an airport centre and 1 NM of a heliport centre (CAR 901.47).
  • Failing any one condition makes the flight advanced (or complex); e.g. uncontrolled airspace but within 30 m of a bystander = advanced.

Basic certificate

  • Minimum age 14 for the basic certificate; issued after passing the Small Basic exam (TP 15263).
  • Under 14 (or uncertified) may fly basic operations only under the direct supervision of a certified pilot.
  • An advanced or Level 1 Complex certificate also allows basic operations.
  • Certificate is a printed or electronic Transport Canada document; no other proof accepted. It does not expire.

Certificate levels compared

  • Advanced: age 16, Advanced exam + flight review; adds controlled airspace (with ATC permission), near/over people, medium drones, sheltered and EVLOS operations (drone must have the right safety declaration).
  • Level 1 Complex: age 18, Advanced exam, 20 h ground school, Level 1 Complex exam, flight review; adds lower-risk BVLOS under an RPAS operator certificate (RPOC).
  • Microdrones have no pilot certificate.

Recency (24 months)

  • Before flying, within the previous 24 months you must have: been issued a certificate, OR passed any RPAS exam (basic, advanced or Level 1 Complex), OR passed a flight review, OR completed a recurrent training activity.
  • Recurrent activities: TC-endorsed safety seminar; recurrent training program from a drone flight school; TC-endorsed self-paced study program.
  • Keep a record of the activity and its date for at least 24 months. The self-paced program copy stays with the pilot; it is not sent to TC.
  • Failing an exam taken for recency does not cancel a valid certificate.

What to have when flying

  • Pilot certificate and proof of recency must be easily accessible during the flight.

Exam rules

  • Not allowed: copying or removing exam content, giving or getting help (unless an approved accommodation), writing for someone else.
  • After a failed exam, wait 24 hours before retaking; no limit on attempts.
  • Exams are online only, through the Drone Management Portal, in English or French.

Registration, marking and documents

Which drones must be registered, who can be a registered owner, marking the registration number, 7-day notifications, when a registration is cancelled and the documents you must have at hand.

Practise Registration, marking and documents questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Who must register

  • Every drone with an operating weight of 250 g or more must be registered before flight (unless flown under an SFOC—RPAS).
  • Includes custom-built and kit drones. Microdrones (<250 g) are not registered unless accessories bring them to 250 g.
  • Registration is done online in the Drone Management Portal; the certificate and number are issued immediately once the fee is paid.

Marking

  • The registration number must be clearly visible on the drone before flight.
  • Method is up to the owner: permanent marker, permanent label or engraving.
  • AIM: put it on the main body, not on removable or breakable parts (batteries, motor mounts, payloads).
  • TC also recommends adding your name and contact information.

Who can be the registered owner

  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident; a corporation formed under federal or provincial law; or a government in Canada.
  • An individual owner must be at least 14.
  • Foreign pilots cannot register drones; a foreign-owned drone needs an SFOC—RPAS.

Application content

  • Individual: name, address, date of birth, citizenship or PR status.
  • Drone: purchased or built, purchase date, manufacturer and model, serial number, category (fixed-wing, rotary-wing, hybrid, lighter-than-air), any previous Canadian number.
  • Certificate shows registration number, owner name and address, serial number.

Changes

  • Notify the Minister within 7 days if the drone is destroyed, permanently withdrawn, missing with search ended, missing 60 days or more, or transferred to someone else.
  • Registration is cancelled when the event happens (not when TC is notified); also on owner's death, entity dissolved, or owner no longer qualified.
  • A cancelled drone that is found or repaired needs a new registration.
  • Change of name or address: notify within 7 days.

Proof of registration

  • The certificate of registration must be easily accessible to the pilot during the flight (paper or digital).
  • Must be shown on request to a peace officer, immigration officer or a TC inspector.
  • Fines for unregistered or unmarked drones: up to $5,000 individual, $25,000 corporation.

Microdrones

  • No registration, marking or certificate, but the reckless-or-negligent rule (900.06) applies.
  • Since April 1, 2025: microdrones also bound by restricted airspace notification (900.07), emergency security perimeters (900.08), and need an SFOC at advertised events.
  • Removing accessories to get back under 250 g makes it a microdrone again; no need to deregister.

Airspace classes and restricted airspace

Canadian Domestic Airspace, Classes A to G, why basic pilots stay in uncontrolled airspace, Class F restricted (CYR) and advisory (CYA) areas, forest fire and NOTAM restrictions, transponder airspace, the NRC Drone Site Selection Tool and inadvertent entry.

Practise Airspace classes and restricted airspace questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Canadian Domestic Airspace (CDA)

  • Covers the Canadian land mass, the Arctic and Arctic Archipelago, and high seas inside the boundaries.
  • Seven classes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Limits are published in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH).
  • A drone must stay inside CDA (CAR 901.13) unless flown under an SFOC—RPAS.

Controlled airspace

  • For drones, controlled airspace = Classes A, B, C, D and E. Class F can be controlled, uncontrolled or both.
  • Basic pilots must stay out of controlled airspace. Entry needs all three: advanced certificate, a drone with the right safety declaration (Standard 922.04), and an authorization from the air navigation service provider (ANSP; NAV CANADA, or DND for military airspace).
  • Class A: high level, from FL180 in Southern Domestic Airspace; not shown on charts. Class B: 12,500 ft ASL up to Class A (some lower zones). Both need TC (SFOC) and ANSP permission.
  • Class C: around large airports, usually surface to 3,000 ft AGL; becomes Class E when the tower is closed.
  • Class D: around medium airports, usually surface to 3,000 ft AGL; becomes Class E when the tower is closed.
  • Class E: controlled for IFR traffic; control zones usually surface to 3,000 ft AGL; away from airports usually from 700 ft AGL (or 2,200 ft AGL in extensions) up to 12,500 ft ASL.
  • Class G: everything that is not A–F; uncontrolled; the basic operating environment.

Class F special use airspace

  • Restricted: shown as CYR + three digits (e.g. CYR123), e.g. over prisons or military ranges. All aircraft, including microdrones, must stay out unless the user agency in the DAH approves. Over international waters the letter D (danger area) is used.
  • Advisory: CYA + three digits (hang gliding, flight training, helicopter work). Drones may fly there without permission but should identify and reduce the added risk; traffic often operates below 400 ft AGL.
  • DAH is updated every 56 days.

Other airspace restrictions

  • CAR 601.15 forest fires: no aircraft below 3,000 ft AGL within 5 NM (9.3 km) of a forest fire area, or as described in a NOTAM.
  • Aeronautics Act s. 5.1: the Minister can restrict any airspace by NOTAM (e.g. disaster areas). Applies to all aircraft, drones included.
  • RPA restricted airspace created by NOTAM moves to the DAH if it lasts more than 90 days and appears in NAV Drone.

Drone Site Selection Tool (NRC)

  • Choose basic or advanced first. Red = prohibited; yellow = extra caution (other air traffic); orange = permission needed (NAV CANADA, Parks Canada, DND or airport operator).
  • NAV CANADA's NAV Drone shows airspace and is used by advanced pilots to request flight authorizations in NAV CANADA airspace.

Inadvertent entry

  • If the drone is no longer under control and enters or is likely to enter controlled airspace or Class F restricted airspace, notify the ATC unit, flight service station or user agency immediately.
  • Keep the ANSP / user agency contact information at hand when flying near such airspace (fly-away planning). Fine for failing to notify: $3,000 individual / $15,000 corporation.

Transponder airspace

  • Transponders required in all Class A, B and C airspace and some D and E (listed in the DAH).
  • A drone without a transponder may enter only if ATC authorizes it before entry and safety is not likely to be affected (CAR 901.46).

NOTAM

  • NOTAM: notice of temporary or short-notice changes to facilities, services, procedures or hazards (includes time, location and details).
  • Check NOTAMs in the NAV CANADA portal or NAV Drone during the site survey. A NOTAM for a normal drone flight is not normally required; TC with NAV CANADA decides when one is needed.

Altitude, distances and where you can fly

The 400 ft limit and the structure exception, 30 m from bystanders, who counts as involved, the 3 NM airport and 1 NM heliport rule, military aerodromes, emergency perimeters, advertised events, national parks and other places with special rules.

Practise Altitude, distances and where you can fly questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Maximum altitude

  • Highest: 400 ft (122 m) AGL, or 100 ft (30 m) above a building or structure when within 200 ft (61 m) horizontally of it.
  • Higher only with an SFOC—RPAS (uncontrolled airspace) or, for advanced pilots in controlled airspace, with ANSP authorization.
  • Most small drones cannot be seen beyond 400 ft AGL even in good weather.
  • Drone displays usually show height AGL from the take-off point; over rising or falling ground, keep a buffer.

Distance from people

  • Basic: at least 30 m (100 ft) horizontally, at any altitude, from anyone not involved in the operation. Flying high over a person does not satisfy the rule.
  • Medium drones (not basic): at least 152.4 m (500 ft) unless advanced rules and declarations allow closer.
  • People involved = crew and people briefed on the hazard who can choose to leave (site workers, film crew, wedding guests).
  • People inside vehicles or buildings are not counted, but the flight must still be safe.
  • Plan a contingency (reroute, land, hold over a safe area) if a bystander walks within 30 m; don't move closer to one person while avoiding another.
  • 30 m to 5 m = "near people"; under 5 m or over people = "over people": both advanced only.

Airports, heliports, aerodromes

  • Basic pilots: stay at least 3 NM (5.6 km) from the centre of a certified airport and 1 NM (1.9 km) from the centre of a certified heliport. Check "Cert", "Reg" or "Mil" in the CFS.
  • Near any aerodrome in the CFS or Water Aerodrome Supplement, never interfere with traffic in the circuit.
  • Military (DND) aerodromes: within 3 NM requires DND authorization.
  • Aerodrome operators can control their land but cannot forbid use of the airspace around them.
  • If traditional aircraft appear while you are flying near an aerodrome, land and reassess.

Emergency security perimeters

  • No flying over or inside a security perimeter set by a public authority (fire, police incident, flood, earthquake), unless working for that authority or saving a life.
  • Recognize them by police tape, closed access or first responders on scene. Fine up to $1,000 / $5,000.
  • TC advice: stay 9.3 km (5 NM) from wildfires.

Advertised events

  • Outdoor event advertised to the public (concert, festival, market, sporting event; amusement parks count).
  • Flying at an advertised event needs an SFOC—RPAS, including microdrones (since April 1, 2025).
  • If no fence marks the boundary (marathon, regatta, protest), treat the boundary as 100 ft from participants or the course.
  • Exemption: operations to save life, police, fire-fighting or for a public authority.

Other rules on where to fly

  • National parks: no take-off or landing without the superintendent's permission (National Parks Aircraft Access Regulations).
  • Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park: no flying below 2,000 ft over the park or take-off/landing without a permit.
  • Migratory bird sanctuaries may need a permit; disturbing marine mammals can bring Fisheries Act fines up to $100,000.
  • Part IX does not apply indoors or underground, but you must still fly safely; get the building owner's permission.
  • Ask the landowner's permission for take-off and landing sites; trespass and privacy laws still apply.

General operating and flight rules

Reckless operation, visual line-of-sight, right of way, visual observers, normal and emergency procedures, manuals and pilot intervention, formation and multiple drones, FPV, night flight, handovers, payloads, ELTs and dropping objects.

Practise General operating and flight rules questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Reckless or negligent operation

  • Applies to every drone, including microdrones: never endanger aviation safety or anyone's safety.

VLOS

  • The pilot or a visual observer must keep the drone in visual line-of-sight the whole flight (basic operations).
  • VLOS must be unaided: no binoculars, telescopes or zoom lenses. Glasses and sunglasses are fine; unmagnified night-vision devices are allowed at night if all visible light can still be detected.
  • Brief glances at the controller are not a loss of VLOS; losing sight behind trees, buildings or cloud is.
  • Radio line-of-sight: most small drones use the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band, which is crowded and blocked by buildings and trees.

Safety, right of way, collision

  • Stop the flight immediately if aviation safety or anyone's safety is endangered.
  • Drones give way to all other aircraft at all times: powered aircraft, airships, gliders, balloons.
  • Never fly so close to another aircraft that there is a risk of collision; the fastest way out of a conflict is usually to descend.
  • Detect and avoid: eyes, ears (engine noise), monitoring ATC frequencies.

Crew

  • Pilot and each visual observer must keep reliable, timely communication. A VO watches one drone at a time and may not drive a moving vehicle.
  • VOs for basic VLOS flights need no certificate (EVLOS VOs need at least a basic certificate).
  • All crew follow the pilot's instructions during flight time.
  • Carrying persons on board needs an SFOC—RPAS.

Procedures

  • Normal procedures: pre-flight, take-off/launch, approach, landing/recovery.
  • Emergency procedures: control station failure, equipment failure, aircraft failure, lost C2 link, fly-away, flight termination, detecting and avoiding traffic.
  • Must reflect the manufacturer's instructions, be reviewed by each crew member before take-off and be immediately available. Keeping them on the same device used to fly is discouraged.

Manuals and control

  • Operating manuals immediately available to crew (paper or digital); fly within the manufacturer's instructions and limits.
  • No drone that the pilot cannot take over: the system must allow pilot intervention. Automated (predictable, pre-set route) is fine; fully autonomous without intervention is not.

Special situations

  • Formation flight only if pre-arranged between pilots.
  • Never fly a drone while driving a moving vehicle, boat or aircraft; someone else must drive. Return-to-home may go back to the launch point, not the moving vehicle.
  • FPV goggles: a visual observer must watch the surrounding airspace.
  • Night: drone must have lights that make it visible to the pilot or VO, and they must be on. Night = end of evening civil twilight to start of morning civil twilight (sun 6° below horizon, roughly 25–35 min after sunset).
  • Up to 5 drones from one control station in VLOS if the system is designed for it; more needs an SFOC.

Other rules

  • Handover between pilots in flight only if pre-arranged with a procedure to avoid loss of control.
  • Payloads: no weapons or war equipment, nothing hazardous, slung loads only per the manuals; otherwise an SFOC. Dangerous goods rules (TDG) can also apply.
  • Never trigger a flight termination system if that would endanger anyone.
  • Drones may not carry an ELT (emergency locator transmitter); other trackers are fine.
  • No dropping objects that create a hazard to people or property.
  • Lasers other than Class 1/1M (or under 1 mW / non-visible) require notifying TC (CAR 601.21), about 30 days' processing.

Site survey, pre-flight checks and emergencies

What a site survey must cover, pre-flight information and briefings, energy planning, inspecting the drone and batteries, choosing take-off and landing sites, and procedures for lost link, fly-aways and flight termination.

Practise Site survey, pre-flight checks and emergencies questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Site survey (required before every operation)

  • Airspace type and any requirements for the flight area, including NOTAMs.
  • Altitudes and routes for approach, take-off, landing and recovery.
  • Nearby aircraft operations and nearby airports, heliports and aerodromes.
  • Location and height of obstacles: wires, masts, buildings, cell towers, wind turbines.
  • Predominant weather and environment, and the forecast for the flight.
  • Horizontal distance from people not involved.
  • AIM adds: operation boundaries, public warning measures, an alternate landing site.
  • Tools: satellite imagery, topographic maps, VNC/VTA charts, CFS, NRC Drone Site Selection Tool, NAV Drone, a visit in person.

Pre-flight information

  • Before flying, know the site survey results, any safety declaration for the drone model, and every crew member's qualifications.

Other pre-flight requirements

  • Enough fuel or battery energy to finish the flight safely.
  • Each crew member briefed on duties and on location/use of emergency equipment.
  • Determine the maximum distance the drone can go from the pilot without endangering anyone (depends on visibility, background, radio signal).

Serviceability

  • Pilot ensures the drone is serviceable, maintained per the manufacturer, all mandatory actions done, required equipment installed and working.
  • Daily first inspection is the most thorough: airframe, landing gear, power plant, propellers, battery/fuel, controller and transmitters, tablet/phone and cables.
  • Propellers: any nick, chip or crack on a plastic blade = replace it.
  • LiPo battery: reject if swollen, leaking or damaged; secure connectors; charge spares.
  • Brief inspection after each landing (e.g. battery swap); full inspection after a crash, malfunction or change of location.
  • After take-off, do a short test hover close by to check controls and behaviour.

Crew briefing items

  • Roles and responsibilities; flight plan and procedures (e.g. handover); emergency and contingency plans; safety equipment location and who can use it; public management plan.

Fuel/energy planning

  • Manufacturer endurance is only an estimate: wind, cold, altitude, pilot technique, battery age and quality all reduce it.
  • Low energy can make the drone behave unpredictably; plan a reserve and include controller/goggles battery life.

Take-off and landing site

  • Before take-off, landing or recovery: no likelihood of collision with aircraft, people or obstacles; site suitable.
  • Obstacles include physical ones (trees, open water) and electronic or magnetic interference.
  • Secure the site with barriers or crew doing crowd control; get the landowner's permission.

Emergency procedures

  • Control station failure: know how the drone reacts to an app crash, controller power-off or low battery.
  • Lost link: troubleshoot (re-orient antennas, check cables), watch the drone and airspace; if no reconnection, start fly-away procedures.
  • Fly-away: unresponsive drone; troubleshoot, then alert the ANSP of the deviation and possible conflicts; know the surrounding airspace.
  • Flight termination: normal landing, return-to-home (RTH), parachute; know how to trigger and cancel RTH.
  • After any emergency, log the event and follow-up (CAR 901.49).

First flights

  • Check batteries and wind/cold first; fly with an experienced pilot; open space away from people; low and slow; daylight and good weather.
  • Liability insurance is recommended but not required for basic operations; most home insurance does not cover drones.

Records, incidents, penalties and other laws

Flight and maintenance records, occurrences that ground you until analysed, TSB reporting, who enforces Part IX, maximum fines, and the privacy, trespass and Criminal Code rules that still apply.

Practise Records, incidents, penalties and other laws questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Records kept by the owner

  • Flight record: names of pilots and crew for each flight and the time of each flight or series of flights; keep 12 months.
  • Maintenance record: mandatory actions, maintenance, modifications and repairs (who, when, parts used, instructions); keep 24 months.
  • Give the maintenance records to the new owner when selling the drone. Records available to the Minister on request.

Stop flying after these occurrences

  • Injury needing medical attention; unintended contact with a person; damage affecting flight characteristics; leaving the planned horizontal or altitude limits; collision or risk of collision with an aircraft; drone uncontrollable, fly-away or missing; any event with a police report or a CADORS report.
  • Do not fly again until the cause is analysed and corrective action taken. Keep the analysis record 12 months.

Transportation Safety Board (TSB)

  • Drones are aircraft for the TSB; reportable occurrences must be reported to the TSB.
  • TSB investigates when: a drone over 25 kg has an accident; a person is killed or seriously injured by contact with a small drone (or parts); any drone collides with a traditional aircraft.
  • Purpose of an investigation: prevent recurrence, not assign blame or liability.

Enforcement and other laws

  • Part IX is enforced by TC inspectors and delegated peace officers (e.g. RCMP, some provincial and municipal police).
  • Criminal Code applies to mischief, endangering aircraft, and flying while impaired (s. 320.14).
  • Privacy laws (Privacy Act, PIPEDA, provincial laws) apply; tell people you are flying and get consent before recording private information.
  • Part IX applies whatever the purpose: recreational, commercial, work or research.

Inspection of documents

  • Peace officers, immigration officers and TC inspectors may ask to see your aviation documents (pilot certificate, registration).

Maximum fines (individual / corporation)

  • No pilot certificate: $1,000 / $5,000.
  • Flying where not allowed: $3,000 / $15,000.
  • Putting aircraft and people at risk: $3,000 / $15,000.
  • Unregistered or unmarked drone: $5,000 / $25,000.
  • Several broken rules can mean several penalties; serious cases can mean jail time.

Human factors and fitness to fly

Alcohol, drugs and cannabis rules, the IM SAFE check, fatigue, the limits of the eye, scanning for traffic, night vision, reading aircraft lights, hearing traffic and decision-making under pressure.

Practise Human factors and fitness to fly questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Fitness of crew

  • No crew member (pilot, VO, others) may act while fatigued or otherwise unfit.
  • No acting as crew within 12 hours of drinking alcohol, while under the influence, or while using a drug that impairs faculties.
  • TC policy: abstain from cannabis (including CBD, any method) for at least 28 days before crew duties.
  • AIM AIR advice: allow at least 24 hours between the last drink and flying; alcohol can stay in the inner ear after it leaves the blood; coffee or oxygen do not speed up how fast the body clears it.
  • Over-the-counter medicines (sedating antihistamines, cough medicine, sleeping pills) can impair judgment; the condition itself may also be a problem even if symptoms are masked.
  • Criminal Code s. 320.14: impaired to any degree by alcohol or drugs is an offence for crew.
  • Crew must tell the pilot in command of any incapacity as soon as possible.

IM SAFE self-check

  • Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol (within 12 h), Fatigue (rest in last 24 h), Eating (hunger, hydration). Any "yes" = probably not fit.

Fatigue

  • Slows reactions, reduces concentration, causes attention errors; often not noticed by the person.
  • Causes: little sleep, overexertion, stress, illness; boredom and fatigue make each other worse.

Vision and scanning

  • About 80% of information comes through the eyes.
  • Refocusing between near (screen) and far takes 1–2 seconds; spotting, identifying and avoiding traffic can take about 10 seconds.
  • Empty-field myopia: staring at empty sky; focus on a cloud edge or tree line first.
  • Only the small central fovea sees sharply; the eye sees a ~200° arc but detail only in the centre. Peripheral vision is best at detecting movement.
  • Block scan: divide the sky into blocks of about 10–15° and pause on each; scanning is degraded by boredom, illness, fatigue, preoccupation and anxiety.
  • Dark adaptation takes 20–30 minutes and can be lost in seconds; red light helps night vision but distorts colour.
  • At night, look 10–15° to the side of a dim object; distance is hard to judge at night.
  • Vision is also degraded by carbon monoxide (smoking, exhaust), lack of vitamin A, bright sun exposure.
  • Hearing: engine or rotor noise is often the first warning of traffic; keep a sterile (quiet) control station.

Aircraft lights at night

  • Red position light on the left (port) wing tip, green on the right (starboard), white on the tail.
  • Red + white seen: aircraft crossing right to left, moving away. Green only: crossing left to right, may be approaching. Red and green together: coming toward you.
  • Anti-collision beacon usually flashing red; strobes white. Some aircraft (police, military) may fly without lights.

Decision-making and workload

  • Situational awareness, stress, attitudes and workload affect decisions; use SOPs and checklists and resume an interrupted checklist carefully.
  • Automation complacency: watch the drone even on autopilot.
  • Operating pressure from clients, employers, friends or family must not override safety.
  • Cold reduces dexterity and adds stress; dress for the conditions.

Weather for drone pilots

Weather minimums for VLOS, sources of weather information, micro climate and urban airflow, wind, fog, precipitation, temperature lapse rates, icing and critical surfaces, thunderstorms, microbursts and sun glare.

Practise Weather for drone pilots questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Minimum weather

  • Weather must allow flight within the manufacturer's limits (wind, temperature, precipitation) and keep the drone in VLOS the whole flight.
  • Part IX sets no number for VLOS visibility; it must simply be enough to keep the drone in sight. Conditions can change during the flight.
  • Never enter cloud: the drone would leave VLOS. Do not fly in fog thick enough to lose sight of the drone, even with lights.
  • Check the weather on site before launching even when the forecast is good; if local conditions look worse, don't fly.

Weather sources

  • Long term (months): ECCC Canadian Climate Normals (30-year averages).
  • Short and medium term: ECCC forecasts (up to two weeks), radar (last 3 hours), satellite images.
  • Same day: NAV CANADA Collaborative Flight Planning Services (CFPS) — aviation forecasts, reports and charts. Prefer official NAV CANADA data in apps.

Micro vs. macro climate

  • Micro climate: local variation (terrain, water bodies, buildings, ground surface) in wind, temperature, precipitation, visibility.
  • Low, short VLOS flights are mostly affected by micro climate; macro climate (regional normal patterns) matters more for long BVLOS flights.

Wind

  • Follow the manufacturer's wind limits; if none, use judgment.
  • Wind direction is the direction it blows FROM; aviation wind speed is in knots. Reports give direction in degrees true (landing/take-off wind at aerodromes in degrees magnetic, except in the Northern Domestic Airspace).
  • Surface wind changes with surface roughness, temperature, water and obstacles.
  • Urban airflow: buildings cause gusts, direction changes, updrafts/downdrafts, rooftop vortices, venturi effect between buildings; wind at 122 m (400 ft) can be well above the 10 m station wind (about 1.5×).

Precipitation, fog, temperature

  • Without manufacturer guidance, avoid flying in precipitation.
  • Fog is a cloud at ground level; it often brings drizzle and low visibility and can form or thicken during the flight.
  • Cold reduces pilot dexterity and adds stress; each component (aircraft, controller, payload) has its own temperature range.
  • Temperature drops with height: about 3 °C per 1,000 ft in dry (unsaturated) air, about 1.5 °C per 1,000 ft in saturated air.
  • ICAO standard atmosphere at sea level: 15 °C and 29.92 in. Hg.

Icing

  • Icing comes from supercooled water droplets (below 0 °C) freezing on contact. Types: rime, clear, mixed.
  • Ice adds weight, changes aerodynamics and stops parts working.
  • Never fly in known or likely icing unless the drone has de-icing/anti-icing equipment or the pilot can detect icing.
  • Never take off with frost, ice or snow on critical surfaces: wings, control surfaces, rotors, propellers, stabilizers.

Thunderstorms and wind shear

  • Thunderstorms contain almost every aviation hazard: turbulence, hail, lightning, icing, downdrafts, microbursts.
  • Do not take off or land when a thunderstorm is approaching (gust front wind shift). Severe turbulence can extend up to 20 NM from a severe storm.
  • Microburst: small intense downdraft that spreads out at the surface; wind shear is most dangerous within 1,000 ft AGL; a microburst rarely lasts more than 15 minutes.

Sun

  • Glare can make you lose VLOS; look beside the drone rather than into the sun. Polarized sunglasses can make tablet screens hard to read.
  • Solar (geomagnetic) activity can disturb GPS and the C2 link; check the Space Weather Canada forecast.

Performance

  • High density altitude (hot, high elevation, humid air) reduces lift and climb performance and hover ceiling.
  • Wind reduces range and endurance; cold reduces battery capacity.

Theory of flight and drone systems

The four forces, lift, angle of attack and stalls, how multirotors and helicopters are controlled, wake turbulence, batteries, motors, IMU and compass, firmware, automation and flight termination systems.

Practise Theory of flight and drone systems questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Forces and lift

  • Four forces in flight: lift (up), weight (down), thrust (forward), drag (rearward). In steady level flight they are balanced.
  • Lift comes from the pressure difference over an airfoil (Bernoulli) and from deflecting air downward (Newton's third law).
  • Angle of attack: angle between the wing chord and the relative airflow. Past the critical angle the airflow separates and the wing stalls.
  • More load factor (e.g. in a turn) needs more lift, which brings more drag.
  • Centre of gravity affects longitudinal stability; keep weight and balance within the manufacturer's limits.
  • Damaged or contaminated propellers/rotors lose thrust and cause vibration.

Multirotors and helicopters

  • Multirotors climb by speeding up all motors; pitch/roll by speeding up motors on one side; yaw by changing the speed of clockwise vs counter-clockwise rotors (torque).
  • Typical modes: manual (no self-levelling), attitude (self-levelling, drifts with wind), GPS position hold.
  • Settling with power / vortex ring: descending vertically into your own downwash can cause loss of lift; descend with some forward movement.
  • Helicopters: cyclic tilts the rotor disc, collective changes all blade pitch, the tail rotor counters main-rotor torque.
  • Fixed wing: ailerons roll, elevator pitches, rudder yaws; trim relieves control pressure; flaps increase lift and drag.

Wake turbulence

  • Wing-tip and rotor vortices are a by-product of lift; strongest behind heavy, slow, clean aircraft; helicopters create strong vortices too. Stay clear behind and below other aircraft.

Systems and maintenance

  • RPAS = aircraft + control station + command and control (C2) link.
  • Batteries (LiPo): rated in volts, capacity in mAh/Ah or Wh, discharge C-rating; series raises voltage, parallel raises capacity. Never fly a swollen or damaged pack; capacity drops with age and cold.
  • Lithium battery fires: water is not the right extinguisher for burning lithium metal; follow manufacturer guidance; transport per Transportation of Dangerous Goods rules (spares in carry-on on airlines).
  • Electronic speed controllers (ESCs) control brushless motor speed; brushless motors are the common type on small drones.
  • IMU (gyros and accelerometers) senses attitude and motion; compass (magnetometer) senses heading and needs calibration away from metal and magnetic interference.
  • Magnetic north differs from true north by the variation (declination).
  • Keep firmware from trusted sources and control software versions on both the aircraft and the controller.

Automation and flight termination

  • Automated flight follows pre-set rules and is predictable; the pilot must always be able to intervene (CAR 901.32).
  • Flight termination: normal landing, return-to-home (RTH), parachute, motor cut; activate only if it doesn't endanger anyone (CAR 901.44).
  • Set the RTH altitude above obstacles on the route home.

Written in our own words from: TC AIM — Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) chapter

FAQ

Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) study guide: common questions

What is the best way to use this Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) study guide?

Read one topic, then answer that topic's practice questions while the rules are fresh. Note the questions you miss, re-read those notes, and finish with a full practice test across all 11 topics.

Is this the official Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) handbook?

No. It is our own summary of the TC AIM — Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) chapter. Use it to review, and use the official handbook when you need the exact wording of a rule.

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