DonDronesOn is Canada's number one source of training material for drone pilots. Learn about drone rules, airspace, and safe flying practices with my easy to understand videos, study guides, and the Drone Pilot Canada app. I also offer drone videography and other crazy videos in Canada's cottage country: nature, rural life, local events, mindfulness and meditation. Most videos are from around Beaver Lake, between Toronto and Ottawa, near Tamworth and Erinsville, Ontario, Canada. I carry my Advanced RPAS (drone) Pilot Certification, lead the Drone Pilot Association of Canada, and am committed to safe and legal drone operations in Canada.
I can clearly say by having the Drone Pilot app I'm not sure what I'd do without it. The app has everything and I mean everything you need to conduct your flights safely. I use it all the time as it's so easy to use with ALL the information you need from checklists, airspace to emergencies and more....
Hello: I have enjoyed your point of view on drone laws in Canada and want to get a clarification. Regarding sub 250g drones. I know that the best rule is to only fly within VLOS.. under 120m high.. not near buildings, people etc. and the "Idiot" rule applied regardless. But the Transport Canada web site uses the word "Must & Should". I assume they are there for a reason. Not that it is good practice or wise... but... does the rulling state that you "Could" fly a sub 250g drone BVLOS and above 120m high?? I also fully understand that if you were to get into any kind of trouble doing so... Transport Canada would be the least of your worries.
Transport Canada uses the terms 'must' and 'should' with great care: 'Must' means it is the law; 'should' means it is a recommendation. While it is not a good idea, legally you could fly a sub250g drone BVLOS or above 120m AGL as long as you are not endangering manned aircraft or people on the ground. This video is the definitive guide: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pvngZ9fVQIQ.html
Sad the mill is now a B&B. I just discovered that my 4th biological great grand uncle (James McCullough) had "disposed of his cabin in the United States and along with a group of United Empire Loyalists emigrated to Upper Canada. They went by a small boat through the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario and then by lake sloop across the lake and up the Salmon River to Lonsdale. It is here that James secured a job as miller in the new stone mill from James Lazier and continued this position until he died in 1865." Would loved to have seen the Mill before it had changed over.
Hi Don. Thank you for all the information! I have an extra question: Do I need to purchase insurance to operate the DJI Mini 4 Pro? How does insurance apply to operating the drone?
The regulations do not have any insurance requirements. Carrying 3rd party liability insurance is always a good idea, and some commercial jobs may expect you to carry it.
I get you. It would be awesome to fly around Mount Rundle and Vermilion Lakes in Banff, or to fly over a pond in Gros Morne, but as a licensed drone pilot and a long-time landscape photographer, I would suggest keeping the Parks Canada policy as it is. Having the necessary permission(s) and a valid SFOC should be the only way to fly in our National Parks. Let's keep the parks natural and free from recreational drones.
Let me know how it goes with your council. I recommend you prepare well, with a clear objective in mind in terms of either clarification (eg, 'does model aircraft' include drones) or a specific by-law change.
Thank you, Craig. You can purchase drones on Amazon (there are affiliate links in the description below this video that will give me a small commission) or directly from DJI online. Best Buy offers a limited selection of DJI products. Otherwise, google 'dji drone dealer' for your area.
Another point you could make when communicating to municipalities is that they don't have jurisdiction to enforce laws regarding or occuring in Canadian airspace, and only can enact bylaws about illegal activity or abusive behavior while on municipal lands
That's true, Kevin, but only a few municipalities have gone to the extreme level of claiming jurisdiction over airspace. Most know better, so I chose not to open that can of worms.
Fun! I picked up the Goggles 3 and Motion 3 for it as well. I had never flown FPV before and my first flight was a blast! Good to know about sub-250g not requiring a spotter, that makes it even better. Cheers Don!
FPV is definitely fun, particularly if you have a spot to rip around without bugging anybody. Unoccupied playground equipment appears to be designed for FPV.
I hope the town council in Drumheller, Alberta gets a chance to see this. Drumheller has probably the worst bylaw I've seen. Only advanced pilots with 2 million liability insurance can be approved for a permit to fly in the municipal limits. There is no definition of drone in the bylaw either so it seems that flying anything from a Walmart toy, to a microdrone to a registered drone will land you in some pretty hot water. Terrible bylaw, let's hope this video makes its way to the council there.
Regarding the sub-250g class: they're so small and slow that it's more dangerous to _throw_ them at people and property than to fly them at 'em. Noise-wise, I personally think pusher whoops should be outlawed. Noisy l'il beggars what with all the screeching. They're the pineapple on pizza of whoops. Icky-poo. And don't get me started on *cages.* . .
@@DonJoyce That's me too. It's what inspired my Palm Control video. I was launching it during a bike ride and it started speaking in Chinese. I didn't know how to cancel the takeoff - haha!
I had watched this video when it first was posted and found it really interesting. Now, I'm at a point though, where I wondered about flying a <250g drone in my own residential back yard. Many houses around here are two story, so anyone looking out their 2nd floor window can see into the neighbours yards easily. But... if I fly my drone in my back yard, go straight up 300ft to get a view of the neigbhourhood and come back down to my property, would that be deemed a privacy issue? For sure when I go up with the drone, it can see many back yards, but, its from many hundred feet away.
If I was to fly from my residential property, go straight up 200 or 300 feet and then fly horizontally around the neighbourhood within line of sight, would that be considered a privacy issue? I'd never fly into someone's yard below 100 or 150 feet.
I'm not a lawyer, but I would say that if the back yards are readily visible from 2nd floor windows, then there is little expectation of privacy. As such, your drone views would be no worse than that and would not infringe on privacy. And higher views are even less intrusive. Another way to think about it is what YOU would think if you saw a drone flying over YOUR back yard. Personally, I would feel a bit creeped out. Not offended perhaps, but not entirely comfortable, especially if they were loitering.
One thing you did not discuss. If I have an under 250g drone and I'm a Canadian citizen, can I take it into the US when I visit my daughter? Any customs issues, for example?
It's just a camera...there's nothing special to declare, but it's always a good idea to have a copy of the receipt (even digitally), particularly when returning to Canada. To fly in the states recreationally, you only need to take the FAA TRUST test. Here's a video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BJZkQL2lmoY.html . If you are flying for any sort of compensation, you'll need your FAA Part107.
All my music is from Epidemic Sound and is in the credits (and I sometimes put bonus material after the credits BTW...): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hAr0GQ86lLA.htmlsi=6qHHQGSgwgRUJURx&t=964
I’m intrigued. Nice video showcasing the basic modes. I’m debating whether to bite or wait for next version with better camera. On your video the quality actually looks usable but on other videos it was pretty 💩
Thanks, Tom. For selfie shots, FPV, and that sort of thing, the video is absolutely fine IMHO. They will likely add additional camera exposure control etc in a firmware load. I did no colour adjustments on the video btw.
Hello Don went to search for the app in the Google pay store and couldnt find it. Also went to your website and click the playstore link and said it couldnt be found any suggestions?
