Drone Laws Calgary (May-2023)

Oh drones, drones everywhere. You see we love these little flying cameras that our clients can send to capture images above their buildings or facilities. Our company has been up in the Pacific Northwest filming images of a number of different logging projects this summer.

Summary of The Drone Laws in Calgary

• Don’t fly within proximity of aerodromes without special permission.
• Do not fly higher than 90 meters above the ground for recreational purposes.
• Never fly your drone over private property without the owner’s permission.
• You need a UAS license from Transport Canada to fly a drone for business purposes.
• You must not fly closer than 75 meters to vehicles, vessels, or the public.
• You must not fly at night, or in clouds, near helipads.

While drones have been around for several years, they have only recently come into the public eye. Hobbyists and companies alike have used them for a variety of purposes ranging from aerial photography to delivering items.

However, you need to be aware that they are banned in several places (for example, you cannot use a drone to deliver packages in England) and there are strict laws which govern their use in many other areas as well.

The drone rules in Calgary will change depending on your area. Please ensure you educate yourself fully before flying a drone in Calgary. And if you need to learn more about recreational drone regulations, then you’ll want to check out the rules and regulations in Calgary, Canada.

Calgary Drone Laws

Don’t Fly Within Proximity Of Aerodromes

• In Canada, drone flying rules around aerodromes vary based on airspace class.
• Class A airspace, above 18,000ft (5486 meters), near major airports, requires special permission or scientific research.
• You can’t fly within 1 NM (1852m) of an aerodrome in Class A without permission.
• Pilots seeing drones within 5 NM (9259m) of their flight path must report it to air traffic control via ADS-B transponder.
• Air Traffic Control alerts other pilots in the area by broadcast message via radio frequency or ADS-B datalink, confirming if they see any “traffic” in that area.

Must Not Fly Higher Than 90 Meters Above The Ground.

If you are operating a small unmanned aircraft (drone) for recreational purposes, you must not fly higher than 90 meters above the ground.

• See where you can and cannot operate your drone.
• If you want to fly beyond the basic rules and operate higher or lower than 90 m, in controlled or restricted airspace, or over people, at night, etc., apply for an SFOC using our online application tool.

Never Fly Your Drone Over Private Property

• Fly your drone safely and legally by checking local rules.
• Don’t fly over private property without permission, even at 90m.
• For commercial purposes, you’ll need a UAS license from Transport Canada. For paid services, also get an Unmanned Air Vehicle Operator Certificate.

Must Not Fly Closer Than 75 Meters To Vehicles,

Don’t fly closer than 75m to people or vehicles, and avoid private property without permission. Check weather reports and don’t fly in dangerous conditions. Be mindful of your surroundings and land safely if conditions change. Always follow the rules for safe and responsible drone flying.

Must Not Fly At Night, Or In Clouds.

You must not fly at night, or in clouds.

Night flying is dangerous and is not permitted. Flying in clouds is also prohibited.

There are no-fly zones where you cannot operate a drone, and these include airports, prisons, emergency scenes, national parks and military bases.

Must Always Keep Your Remote Aircraft Within Visual Line-of-sight.

Keep your drone within visual line-of-sight, about 500 meters from you, or in your observer’s sight. Using binoculars or FPV is fine, but the drone must stay within your visual range. These rules protect privacy, safety, and prevent accidents. Follow them to keep your drone and others safe.

Make Sure That You Are Aware Of Current Aviation Weather Reports

Before flying your drone, it’s important to check the aviation weather conditions and make sure the area isn’t a “No Drone Zone”.

Keep in mind that while there’s no wind speed limit, you should consider how your drone will handle different wind conditions. If it’s too windy, it’s best to avoid flying altogether or stay below 30 meters above the ground.

As a general rule, never operate your drone in or near clouds, fog, heavy rain or any other type of precipitation. The same goes for thunderstorms!

Other Drone Rules Calgary

If you’re a drone enthusiast, or are just looking for a fun new hobby, here’s what you need to know before flying your drone in Calgary.

• Find a safe place to fly. If you want to fly your drone around city-owned property, the City of Calgary has designated two parks as safe places: Nose Hill Park and Greenview Off-leash Area. These are the only locations where recreational drones are permitted on city land.

Any Drone Weighing More Than 35kg Must be registered

Drones weighing more than 35kg or used for commercial or work purposes must be registered with Transport Canada. This is a requirement under Canadian Aviation Regulations, and those who fail to register may be subject to a fine of up to $5,000.

Drones Cannot Fly Near Helicopter Pad

In addition, you cannot fly a drone within 9km of a helicopter pad or heliport without permission from the operator and air traffic services unit. If you do so without getting this permission, you could be fined up to $3,000 under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

You must also follow all applicable laws and regulations as well as Transport Canada’s Safety Guidelines for Operating Drones in Canada. You are not allowed to fly recklessly or in a careless or negligent manner, nor is it allowable to fly an unsafe drone.

Flights Are Prohibited Under 914m (3,000ft) Above Ground Level

• Flights are prohibited under 914m (3,000ft) above ground level and no closer than 30m from vehicles, vessels or the public unless they are part of the flight’s operation.
• You can fly closer to vehicles, vessels or people if they are part of the flight’s operation.

You Cannot Fly Your Drone Near Highways, Bridges, Busy Streets

You cannot fly your drone near moving vehicles, highways, bridges, busy streets or populated areas such as beaches, parks or events like concerts or sports games.

You must register your drone before flying it in Calgary. You can do so at the Transport Canada website.

You Must Register Your Drone Before Flying It In Calgary

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on registering your drone in Calgary.

You must register your drone before flying it in Calgary. The process is quick and easy, so you won’t have to spend long registering your drone.

You need to register online if you’re 72 years old, you must pay a $5 registration fee, and you will receive a certificate of registration which must be carried with you every time you fly.

While these are the main steps for registering your drone, these aren’t the only steps for doing so. You can also read about how to get started with drones as well as some of the places where it is legal to fly them.

How to Register drone laws in calgary?

To register your drone online, you will need:

• the make and model of your drone
• your name, email address, and mailing address
• the drone’s serial number (if applicable)
• a method of payment for the $5 registration fee

Requires Payment Of A $5 Registration Fee.

You may have heard that the federal government passed regulations to require the registration of all drones used in Canadian airspace. In Calgary, this is done online and requires payment of a $5 registration fee. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes, and you’ll only need to do it once.

Simply get started on your registration today! It’s simple: just provide your drone’s serial number, email address, and contact information (including mailing address).

You must be 16 or older to register a drone online, so if you’re younger than 16 but look young for your age, prepare for some ID checks at the post office when picking up your registration certificate after submitting the form.

You Will Receive A Certificate Of Registration

Once you register your drone, you will receive a certificate of registration. This certificate must be carried with you every time you fly.

The police may ask to see your certificate and failing to produce this document could result in a fine up to $5000. If possible, carry the certificate with you in a safe place so that it doesn’t get lost or damaged if it rains.

Members Of The Public Can Report Unsafe Drone

If you see a drone being operated in an unsafe manner, you can report it to your local law enforcement agency. If you think the drone poses an immediate safety or security risk, call 9-1-1.

In addition to calling the police, Transport Canada asks that you complete a report on their website if one or more of the following is true:

• The drone is creating a hazard with manned aircraft*, such as airplanes and helicopters
• The drone is being used for illegal surveillance or voyeurism

Registration Can Also Be Done At One Of The Consumer Drop-off Locations

If you don’t have time to visit the nearest Registry Agent office, or if you’d prefer to complete your drone registration from a drop-off location, that’s fine: there are plenty of consumer drop-off spots throughout Calgary.

For example, you can register your drone at any FedEx Office location in Calgary, provided that you have all the required documents with you.

The whole process is pretty straightforward: just go up to the counter and ask for a drone registration form. Once it’s completed, hand over your drone as well as any other required documents (like a flight log), and pay the fee either by cash or credit card.

It takes less than an hour to complete this part of the process—usually only half an hour! —and there’s no need to worry about being tested on any regulations: you’ll be given an information sheet when you pick up your new certificate of registration that includes everything you need to know about drone laws in Calgary.

Are Drones Allowed In Calgary?

Few Places In Calgary Where You’re Not Allowed To Fly A Drone.

There are very few places in Calgary where you’re not allowed to fly a drone. You can fly over the water, park spaces, residential areas, industrial areas and commercial areas.

Recreational Drones Weighing More Than 35 Kilograms Aren’t Allowed

• If your drone weighs less than 35 kilograms and you’re flying it for recreational purposes, you can fly it over private property with no restrictions.
• However, if you’re flying it within 30 meters of a person, animal, building, vehicle, or boat (including the ground), you’ll have to meet certain requirements.

To start with, the drone must be registered with Transport Canada and display its registration number. It must also carry an electronic label that broadcasts its location in real-time. Finally, there are three types of safe operations that must be observed:

• You must keep the drone in your sight at all times while controlling it;
• Your speed while operating the drone cannot exceed 90 kilometers per hour; and
• You can’t fly higher than 90 meters (295 feet) above the surface of the earth if your drone is a multirotor type or within 75 meters of a forested area (as defined by subsection 901(1) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations).

Can I Fly A Drone Downtown?

If you’re looking to fly your drone in the downtown core, you can’t fly it over a crowd of people.

The significant fine is due to the fact that drones can be very dangerous if flown carelessly. They’re small, lightweight and have multiple fast-moving parts like propellers that, if they hit someone or something, can cause significant damage.

Additionally, since drones are built to travel long distances at high speeds while being controlled by a remote operator on the ground, they’re considered aircraft under Canadian aviation law and thus subject to rules established by Transport Canada.

Where Else Am I Not Allowed To Fly My Drone?

There are plenty of places you aren’t allowed to fly your drone. The Transport Canada guidelines state that you shouldn’t fly within 9 km of any airport, heliport, or aerodrome. You also shouldn’t fly over emergency operations sites, like forest fires.

Other places where you’ll have to ground your drone are:

• Hospitals
• School grounds
• Provincial parks
• Gatherings, protests, and demonstrations with more than 1,000 participants (such as an outdoor concert)

When Can’t I Fly My Drone At All?

You may not fly a drone at the following times:

• At night: The regulations say you cannot fly after sunset or before sunrise. However, you can get permission to do so if your drone is equipped with lights and anti-collision strobes that make it visible for at least three kilometers.
• You may also be allowed to fly 30 minutes before sunrise or after sunset if your drone is within sight at all times, remains lower than 90 meters from the ground and away from bystanders, flies at least 30 meters away from other aircraft, isn’t flying over a forest fire or other emergency response efforts and has working lights.
• Over people who are not in or under your control. This means you cannot fly over crowds of people on the sidewalk, people in their backyards or even strangers in public parks unless they’re directly involved in your flight operations by helping you navigate around obstacles such as trees.
• Over emergency response operations such as police activity, forest fires and traffic accidents if drones aren’t part of those operations (such as using them to locate missing persons).
• Even then, drones must stay at least one kilometer away from the scene of the emergency except where it’s being overseen by an air traffic controller responsible for that area of airspace – which makes sense because police often use helicopters during emergency situations such as chases.
• Over wildlife without written permission from Environment Canada no matter what time it is – including birds in flight! This regulation protects animals across Canada under Environment Canada’s Migratory Birds Regulations, which were created to keep birds safe.
• You cannot interfere with wildlife for fun but can do so for scientific research purposes under certain conditions depending on whether animals are in captivity or free-ranging (ie: wild). The best thing to do here is contact Environment Canada directly to find out what rules apply.
• Over highways except when there’s no moving vehicle traffic below 90 metres above ground level and bystanders are present only because they’re taking part directly in the operation of

Drones Are Popular In Calgary

Drones and other remote-controlled aircraft are popular in Calgary but there are rules about where you can and can’t fly them, especially when it comes to sensitive areas like parks, hospitals, or schools.

Generally, drones are prohibited in many places. Drones are prohibited in areas where they may cause harm to persons or property (like public safety zones) or where they may cause interference with aircraft (like airports).

There are also exceptions for areas that are sensitive like hospitals and schools where drones are not allowed without permission from the chief of police.

Overall, these restrictions apply to any drone including quadcopters, fixed wing aircrafts and model helicopters. These rules do not apply to toy aircraft like those powered by rubber bands or small model rockets launched from a hand-held launcher.

Pyrotechnic devices such as roman candles, firecrackers and sparklers must only be used on private land with permission from the owner.

Frequently Asked Question (drone Laws Calgary)

What Is A Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (rPAS)?

A remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) is a drone that’s operated by a pilot who is not on board the machine. RPAS includes all elements of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): the aircraft itself, its remote control and any additional equipment used to control it. The remote pilot can be located on ground or even in another country.

In Canada, an RPAS includes only those machines that weigh less than 35 kilograms and has been certified as meeting specifications issued by Transport Canada (TC).

What Are The Specific Rules And Regulations Around Flying Rpas Commercially In Canada?

The specific rules and regulations around flying RPAS commercially in Canada are:

• You must have a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) to fly an RPAS commercially.
• You must have a pilot’s license that allows you to fly the type of aircraft you are using for your commercial operation, e.g., if you are shooting video from an octocopter, then you will need a pilot’s license for multi-engine powered airplane (MEPP) or single/twin engine non-high performance (S/TENHPH).
• You must have liability insurance to cover any potential accidents that may occur while working with an unmanned aerial vehicle.
• You cannot fly any type of drone unless there is someone standing on the ground who can see it at all times—even when it is not being flown! The person watching the drone needs to be able to communicate with whoever is controlling it if anything goes wrong during flight time; this person should also be wearing bright clothing so they can be easily spotted by other people nearby as well!

How Can I Get Permission To Fly A Drone For Commercial Purposes?

In order to fly a drone commercially, you must first submit an application to Transport Canada. You can do this by visiting the website here, or downloading the application form and sending it by mail.

There is no fee for submitting your request (though there is a fee if you choose to use the mail service). The length of time it takes Transport Canada to process your application depends on several factors, including where you are located and how busy their office has been recently. Generally speaking, applications can be processed within 1-3 weeks after receipt.

Conclusion

The rules for operating drones have some variations from province to province, but keeping these three rules in mind will help you avoid the most common mistakes.

No matter where you are or what you’re planning to do with your drone, always make sure that you’ve considered local regulations beforehand.