The NRC Drone Site Selection Tool is now certified by Transport Canada and Nav Canada and provides definitive information on airspace across Canada. This is according to the Transport Canada RPAS Task Force.
Provides Airspace Access Information
Advanced operators are allowed to operate within 3 nautical miles (NM) of an airport (a certified aerodrome) but only in accordance with “established procedures” (per CAR 901.73). This may not be an issue for a towered airport as the Nav Canada procedure for accessing this controlled airspace suffices. However, an airport in uncontrolled airspace probably doesn’t have an established procedure for drone operations. The NRC tool now provides an established route to gain access to this airspace.
NRC Tool Use
Go to the NRC website and select the “Advanced” operation by selecting the option as shown below:
After zooming in and centering on, say, Carp (CYRP), you will see a double oval shape highlighting the two runways (10/28 and 04/22).
Clicking inside the shape will reveal a popup that includes airspace access instructions. These instructions typically state, in part, to “…Contact and obtain proper permission [from] the airport/heliport operator…”. While this may seem trivial, it nonetheless constitutes an “established procedure” within the meaning of 901.73, at least according to the TC RPAS Task Force.
Happy Flying!
Can you provide the original source of information? Is there an official press release?
I exchanged emails with the head of the TC Drone Task Force
The response I received from TC in mid May indicated a difference between an airport and an aerodrome. In the CFS and airport is any aerodrome that is “Cert” in the OPR section. This does not include controlled airspace where you still require permission from Nav Canada. Apparently if it is an aerodrome you don’t “need” to contact anyone. None of the water aerodrome I see in my Water Aerodrome Supplement are “Cert” but I think one would be a fool to not contact anyone.
Quote:
Remember, airports and aerodromes are different. 901.47(1) applies to aerodromes. Just don’t interfere with the manned aircraft traffic pattern. 901.73 applies to airports and heliports. You need to follow the established procedure for that airport or heliport. If there is not an established procedure, then you can’t fly within 3 NM and 1 NM respectively. If there’s an airport or heliport you want to fly within 3 NM or 1 NM respectively and they don’t have an established procedure, I suggest you contact the airport authority and suggest you work together to establish one. If the airport authority is unsure how to do this, they should contact their TC Principle Inspector.
Darren: That’s the point of my post. According to the head of the RPAS Task Force, the NRC tool provides an “established procedure” for an Advanced RPAS pilot to get approval to fly inside this 3NM zone around an airport (1NM around a heliport).
Ok, so the RPAS task force is saying the NRC Tool provides a procedure…what if the CFS listed PPR Certified heliport is a helipad at a hospital in Class G airspace?? The CFS lists the hospital’s switchboard operator…who knows nothing of what I am requesting…
Scott
I understand your dilemma. My recommendation is that you contact your local medevac operator. For example, in Ontario, it’s Ornge, Alberta, it’s STARS. While the hospital is the owner, the medevac company is, I believe, the effective operator.