Canadian Drone Operators Face New Rules Under Transport Canada's Phase 1 Reform

On April 1, 2025, Transport Canada, the federal department responsible for Canada's transportation systems, enacted changes to its existing regulations governing drones or "remotely piloted aircraft systems" (RPAS). These amendments mark the implementation of Phase 1 of Transport Canada's two-phase plan to overhaul and modernize drone operation nation-wide, with Phase 2 scheduled to take effect on November 4, 2025.

Previously, drone operations in Canada were largely restricted to within visual line-of-sight unless operators obtained a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). Qualified operators who sought to fly beyond their visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) were required to apply for case-by-case authorization: a lengthy process typically involving mountains of paperwork. In an industry where technology frequently outpaces regulation, the absence of a streamlined pathway for routine advanced operations has been a long-held concern among stakeholders, which