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ARTICLE · 18 MARCH 2019

Transport Canada's New Rules For Drones

McCarthy Tétrault
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On January 9, 2019, Canada's Minister of Transport unveiled a new regulatory framework for the operation of drones (also referred to as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

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On January 9, 2019, Canada's Minister of Transport unveiled a new regulatory framework for the operation of drones (also referred to as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems ("RPAS"). These new rules will come into effect on June 1, 2019, and represent a dramatic re-fashioning of the way RPAS with a mass of up to 25 kg are regulated in Canada; larger drones will continue to be governed by rules similar to those currently in force.

In Canada, air transportation falls under the federal legislative power, with the operation of RPAS governed by the Canadian Aviation Regulations ("CAR") adopted under the Aeronautics Act, as well as standards set out by Transport Canada ("TC"). The change recently announced by TC involves the adoption of a new Part IX of the CAR focusing primarily on streamlining requirements for businesses operating small drones, and reducing the risks to other aviation activities and to persons near RPAS operations. Going forward, line-of-sight operations

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