Getting Started: Certificates, Registration & the Law
Before your first flight you need the right certificate, a registered aircraft, and an understanding of the laws that apply on the ground as well as in the air.
Do you need a pilot certificate?
The requirement is risk-based, not purpose-based (recreational or commercial makes no difference).
- RPA 250 g to 25 kg → you must hold an RPA Pilot Certificate (Basic or Advanced).
- Under 250 g → no certificate, but CAR 900.06 still forbids reckless or negligent flight.
- Over 25 kg, or beyond visual line-of-sight → needs a Special Flight Operation Certificate (SFOC).
The Basic certificate covers the lower-risk Basic operating environment. The exam is 35 questions, 90 minutes, 65 % to pass.
Register and mark the aircraft
- Any RPA 250 g–25 kg must be registered with Transport Canada (Drone Management Portal) before its first flight — about $5 per aircraft.
- Mark the registration number on the aircraft itself (not on a battery).
- Carry your Certificate of Registration on site; it does not expire.
A missing RPA must be deregistered within 7 days. Adding a sticker, prop guards or a memory card can push a "sub-250 g" drone over 250 g — and into full regulation.
Other laws still apply
- Privacy (PIPEDA) — get permission before capturing identifiable people for commercial use; respect reasonable expectations of privacy.
- Trespassing — get landowner permission for your launch/recovery site.
- Criminal Code — e.g. endangering aircraft (s.77), mischief (s.430).
- Fines: up to $5,000 (individual) / $25,000 (corporation) per CARs contravention — and they stack.
Documents you must have on site
Certificate of registration · manufacturer's operating manual · pilot certificate · proof of recency · completed site survey · normal and emergency procedures.
Recency: every 24 months complete a recurrent activity (re-take an exam, a flight review, an endorsed seminar/course) to keep your certificate valid.
Check your understanding
Key takeaways
- 250 g–25 kg → certificate + registration + marking before first flight.
- The rule is risk-based, not recreational-vs-commercial.
- Privacy, trespass and the Criminal Code apply on top of the CARs.
- Keep your required documents on site; renew recency every 24 months.
Sources: RPAS 101 pp.16–21, 27–32, 64–65, 114–115 · CAR 900.06, 901.49 · TP‑15263 §1 (Air Law).