The law in Canada: Part IX, observers and advertised events.

What this page rests on

The main source is Transport Canada's Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM), RPA chapter, effective 19 March 2026, read in full and cited below by section. The manual is guidance; the CARs are the law, and each point below names the CAR the manual cites. Transport Canada's 2019 news release and its 2025 summary of changes are used for ages and recent amendments. This page covers Canadian federal aviation law only. Provincial, territorial and municipal laws also apply to drone pilots, as Transport Canada's 2019 release notes, but were not researched.

Part IX applies whatever the purpose of the flight: recreation, commercial work or research (AIM section 1).

Size categories

• Micro-RPAs: under 250 g operating weight. Payload counts toward the weight, and the manual lists cameras, propeller guards, stickers and lights as examples (AIM section 2).
• Small RPAs: 250 g to 25 kg. These must comply with Part IX Subpart 1: registration, marking and a pilot certificate.
• Medium and large: a search summary of Transport Canada's pages gives medium as over 25 kg to 150 kg and large as over 150 kg, with 2025 amendments adding medium RPA, beyond-visual-line-of-sight, sheltered and extended visual-line-of-sight rules.

Micro-RPAs are not exempt from everything

Micro-RPAs are outside Part IX Subpart 1, but section 900.06 (reckless or negligent operation) applies to them. Since 1 April 2025, sections 900.07 (inadvertent entry into restricted airspace) and 900.08 (emergency security perimeters) apply to every RPA, micro included, and new paragraph 903.01(b) requires a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC-RPAS) to fly an RPA under 250 g at an advertised event (AIM section 2; Transport Canada 2025 summary of changes).

Basic and advanced operations

For small RPAs, the manual (section 3.3.1) defines basic operations as flights that are all three of:

• in uncontrolled airspace (CAR 901.14);
• 100 ft (30 m) or more from anyone not involved in the operation (CAR 901.26);
• 3 nautical miles or more from the centre of an airport, or 1 nautical mile from the centre of a heliport (CAR 901.47).

Advanced operations (CARs 901.62 and 901.69) include visual-line-of-sight flights in controlled airspace, closer than 30 m to uninvolved people (including under 5 m), or nearer airports and heliports, plus extended visual-line-of-sight and sheltered operations (AIM 3.4.1.1). Transport Canada's 2025 summary says that from 4 November 2025, extended visual-line-of-sight flights are permitted without an SFOC in uncontrolled airspace, more than 30 m from uninvolved people, with a trained visual observer who holds an RPA pilot certificate, within 2 nautical miles of the pilot, observer and control station.

Pilot certificates and ages

Pilots must have access to their certificate and proof of recency when flying (CARs 901.55, 901.56, 901.64; AIM 3.3.2). Transport Canada's 9 January 2019 release set the same 14 and 16 ages when the rules began on 1 June 2019.

Registration

Every RPA of 250 g or more must be registered and carry its registration number clearly visible (CARs 900.13 and 900.14), on the main body rather than a removable part such as a battery. Registration is online, through Transport Canada's Drone Management Portal, and a registered owner must be at least 14 (AIM 3.1).

Flying by goggles: visual observers

CAR 901.11(1) requires visual line of sight at all times during flight, defined in CAR 900.01 as unaided visual contact sufficient to keep control, know where the aircraft is and scan for other aircraft and objects (AIM 3.2.1.1). It may be kept by the pilot or by one or more trained visual observers. AIM section 3.2.26 says a pilot whose FPV system reduces their field of view must use visual observers, with the number depending on the complexity and area of the operation. Under CAR 901.20 (AIM 3.2.8), pilot and observers must stay in constant and immediate communication throughout. More on flying with goggles and observers.

Events, height and airspace

• Advertised events: an SFOC-RPAS is needed to fly less than 100 ft from the boundaries of an advertised event (CARs 901.41 and 903.01(b)). CAR 900.01 defines an advertised event as an outdoor event advertised to the general public, including a sporting event. Flying at one without an SFOC brings a civil penalty under the CARs (AIM 3.2.29.2).
• Height: in uncontrolled airspace, normally 400 ft above ground or 100 ft above the tallest obstacle within 200 ft laterally (CAR 901.25); in controlled airspace the air navigation service provider, usually NAV CANADA, sets the limit (AIM 3.2.4).
• Emergency perimeters: pilots must stay outside emergency security perimeters set by a public authority, now section 900.08 (AIM 3.2.2).
• Night: permitted in basic and advanced operations if the RPA has position lights sufficient for the pilot and any observer to see it (AIM 3.2.27).

The MAAC exemption

Transport Canada exemption NCR-011-2019, signed 17 May 2019 and effective 1 June 2019, exempts the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) and its members in good standing from Part IX for models of 250 g to 35 kg flown under MAAC's safety guidelines. Its conditions include keeping the aircraft in visual line of sight of the pilot or an observer (condition 6), giving way to manned aircraft (7), demonstrated competence (10) and marking with the member's MAAC number (11); FPV is not mentioned. The copy read is on Transport Canada's legacy site with no current-status statement, so whether the exemption is still in force on 30 October 2026 is unconfirmed.

Remote ID: proposal stage only

In Canada, Remote ID is at the proposal stage only; no final rule was found. Transport Canada's Notice of Proposed Amendment NPA 2026-005 proposes Remote ID by weight for drones from 250 g up to and including 150 kg, explicitly including FPV drones and model aircraft, with microdrones under 250 g exempt. Transport Canada's information-session page (last modified 14 August 2026) says it anticipates full implementation for pilots in 2030. A trade report, seen as a search summary, says the notice was published on 8 June 2026 with consultation closing 9 September 2026. More on Remote ID.

Radio rules come from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), not Transport Canada; see radio rules by country.