1st Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) instruction designed to meet Transport Canada’s new requirements

For Immediate Release: January 21, 2015


A British Columbia based next generation UAV pilot training academy launches February 2015. Classes will be held monthly starting in BC with a travel schedule to be announced end of quarter.

Course content

Offered jointly by Aerobotika Aerial Intelligence and Pacific Rim Aviation Academy the ground school course covers the new UAV Pilot Knowledge Program required by Transport Canada.

The class setting offers a 6:1 student pilots to instructor ratio and a curriculum that includes: Standard pilot licensing, technical specifics of unmanned aircraft, industry practices and regulations. Education also covers how air space works and who is allowed to use it at any given time, UAV rules and how to avoid dangerous situations such as damage or interference with regularly scheduled aircraft. .

UAV Pilot training partners:

Aerobotika is a commercial UAV consulting services organization on the leading edge of regulatory changes. Their operational experience and knowledge of current and emerging technologies broadens the training to cover practical business applications. The combination is ideal for those who see potential within their organization for unmanned vehicles, but need direction getting started.

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy brings years of training 1000s of pilots in the Canadian regulatory environment with experienced trainers dedicated to providing students with practical, career oriented training.

At the end of the course and relevant examinations, UAV pilot candidates receive a Letter of Completion. That letter can be submitted to Transport Canada as proof that pilots have met the knowledge requirements for the special flight operations certificate (SFOC).

Combining Aerobotika’s veteran pilots and UAV technical training with Pacific Rim’s well established commercial flight school program will result in safe and responsible operations of remotely piloted aircraft for both commercial and amateur use.

Because the UAV, alternately called remotely piloted aircraft system, unmanned aircraft system, remote control aircraft, or simply the popular, ‘drone’ is in greater use, concern by both the public and authorities has also intensified.

“It’s a problem across Canada,” said RCMP Sgt. Cam Kowalski in a CTV news interview. Drones are affordable and accessible online, and through hobby shops. People are flying “toy” quad-copters which are capable of reaching altitudes that interfere with commercial and general aviation traffic, often unaware they’re causing problems.

“Canada is in a fortunate position to have training guidelines provided by our aviation authority,” says Paul Bennett, Aerobotika’s co-founder. “However, there are other aspects to commercial UAV operations beyond the requirements of Transport Canada and we present those in our pilots’ best practices segment of the course.”


 

To find out more on:

Training or to register for courses starting late February: Aerobotika at 1-800-579-1828 or [email protected].

Aerobotika Website:
www.aerobotika.com/academy

Pacific Rim Aviation Academy Website:
www.flighttraininginbc.com

Transport Canada Requirements:
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/page-6557.html

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:

Paul Bennett
778-999-9511
[email protected]

Aerobotika on Global News with Singletree

Paul had the pleasure of spending an afternoon in a vineyard with a favourite client and a news crew from Global BC to talk about unmanned aircraft uses in business. Paul is the one in the hat walking up the vineyard with Andrew Etsell from Singletree Winery. We focused on the industry as a whole along with specialization in precision agriculture and a constant overtone of safety and compliance! Not a lot made it in, but likely will be in the future.

Just another way that we are trying to contribute to safe and responsible use. We are hoping that this will help get people out to Aerobotika Academy to learn the rules and about safe flying.

Here’s a link to the original: https://globalnews.ca/video/1784152/drone-technology-takes-off

General Flying Restrictions

For all unmanned aerial options Transport Canada requires that the flight be performed under the following conditions or restrictions:

  • Aircraft must be than 30 meters from the point on the ground under the aircraft to the general public
  • The aircraft must be flown within visual line of sight of the pilot.
  • All people, businesses, and residents within 30 meters be notified of the operation
  • Streets, walkways, and sidewalks within 30 meters be closed to traffic for the duration of the flight
  • Must fly below 120 meters above ground level
  • Must fly lower than 30 meters when close to an airport
  • Must not fly near an airport runway’s approach or takeoff
  • Can be subject to other restrictions as Transport Canada deems necessary to ensure public safety
  • Require permission from the property owner

To file the necessary paperwork with Transport Canada and other regulatory bodies, we will need to collect information on location and boundaries as well as information on the subject property and surrounding properties and will need the contact information for property or people with signing authority for the property.

2014 Q4 Off-season Special - Fine Print

This offer is for 1 battery of flight (Typically 7 to 12 minutes) on our smaller aerial platforms and up to 1 hour onsite. Captured video or photo is the only deliverable and can be transferred to your possession at the completion of the flight through several means. Use this time to capture anything you want as long as it complies with municipal, provincial, and federal regulations as described below. This offer is restricted to the lower mainland and Fraser Valley. It includes 1 operator, 1 flight, transit to your location, and transport Canada Special Flight Operations Certificate (greater than $400 value). As with all unmanned aerial options Transport Canada requires that the flight be performed greater than 30 meters from the general public, that all people, businesses, and tenants within 30 meters be notified of the operation, streets within 30 meters be closed to traffic for the duration of the flight and can be subject to other restrictions as Transport Canada deems necessary to ensure public safety. To file the necessary paperwork with Transport Canada and other regulatory bodies, we will need to collect information on location and boundaries as well as information on the subject property and surrounding properties.

A 30% deposit is required to secure a booking.

Permits and filing other than those permits issued by Transport Canada are not included. Additional flight time is available at the regular Aerobotika rate. For information on adding more time to the operation, please email us at [email protected] or phone 1-800-579-1828 and choose option 1.