Starting this fall, Canada will embrace groundbreaking updates to its drone regulations, ushering in a new era for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. These changes mark a departure from the labor-intensive, case-by-case approval process previously required by Transport Canada, paving the way for greater accessibility to low-risk BVLOS flights across the country.
Transport Canada’s executive director for remotely piloted aircraft systems, Ryan Coates, explains that the new rules are designed to match advancements in technology and the industry’s capacity for large-scale BVLOS operations. “The laws just had to catch up to make it possible,” Coates tells CBC News, underscoring the importance of enabling broader applications in agriculture, industry, and public safety.
The updated regulations prioritize low-risk areas, which could be a boon for Canada’s remote and underserved communities. In these sparsely populated regions, drones may soon deliver vital services, including medical supplies, with efficiency and reliability.
Dr. John Pawlovich, family physician and chair of rural health at the University of British Columbia, has already witnessed the transformative potential of BVLOS drones. Through a pilot program with the Stellat’en First Nation in northern British Columbia, over 1,200 flights successfully delivered medications to residents hindered by poor health or harsh weather.
“This technology holds great promise to close or eliminate the gap in access to medical supplies,” says Pawlovich, who sees these updates as a game-changer for rural health initiatives.
Previously, obtaining approval for BVLOS flights involved rigorous paperwork and lengthy reviews, discouraging many operators. The updated framework eliminates this bottleneck, allowing certified pilots to operate drones equipped with advanced “detect and avoid” technology in uncontrolled airspace, provided the devices weigh under 150 kilograms.
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Glen Lynch, CEO of Ontario-based Volatus Aerospace, calls the shift a “whole new realm” for the drone industry. Use cases range from inspecting oil and gas infrastructure in remote Saskatchewan to precision agriculture, where drones could identify and treat specific crop areas.
Canada has long been a leader in drone regulation, introducing comprehensive laws in 2019 to address safety concerns after several close calls with restricted airspace. Since then, Transport Canada has registered over 100,000 remotely piloted aircraft systems and certified 107,000 pilots, with numbers steadily increasing.
These latest updates are a natural progression, reflecting the industry’s maturity and the technology’s sophistication. Recreational pilots, commercial operators, and innovators alike stand to benefit from the streamlined process, unlocking new possibilities for both convenience and necessity.
While the potential applications of BVLOS drones are vast, the heart of the new laws lies in improving lives. By enabling drones to reach places where traditional infrastructure falls short, Canada is setting a precedent for leveraging technology to address real-world challenges.
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