RPAS Training Programs

Due to Covid-19 Restrictions, we at Dragon Air UAS will now be offering online courses with instructors for the Basic and Advanced course certifications. This is tailored to a more individual and small class approach and structure. Flight training and reviews will remain in person under Covid-19 safety protocols. Email or call for more information.

The new Pilot Certificates are here as part of the new RPAS rules in Canada and will be mandatory for all drone pilots effective June 1st, 2019. Transport Canada has developed a set of RPAS online Exams for Pilot Certifications (Basic and Advanced). We are listed as a registered training facility and school with Transport Canada.

In addition to the online exam for Advanced, Transport Canada is also requiring a Flight Review conducted by an accredited Flight Examiner (Dragon Air UAS) to obtain the Advanced Pilot Certificate, due to the complex nature of operations permitted for that Certificate.

You must access the Transport Canada Portal to create your Transport Canada account, register your drones before you take the online exams.

The new exams cover a range of topics covering a diverse range of topics, including Air Regulations and Laws, RPAS Technology and Operations, Weather, Human Factors, and Manned Aviation. If you can pull together a base level of understanding from the manned aviation world in areas like aviation charts, weather, radio, and other associated topics, as well as RPAS, related CARs, and topics, it will prove useful in successfully passing your exams the first time. As we went through the exam progress, we found we needed a range of documents to study from, based on the range of topics.

We have listed the ones we found most useful and included links to them where available. Transport Canada will be publishing an RPAS related Study Guide later this year to assist students but in the meantime, this list covers most of the essentials. We have included some Pilot Documents from the FAA as they cover similar topics and cover the material in an understandable language.

Students should study the following guidelines before taking the course or exam. Documents that are recommended reading are:

Canada Flight Supplement (CFS)
Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems 250 g and up.
Operating within visual line of site.
Transport Canada Aeronautical Information knowledge
FAA AIM
FAA Pilot’s RPAS Study Guide
Aviation Weather Services Guide
Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) sample version
Flight Training Manual, Transport Canada, 4th edition
Unmanned-Textbook for RPAS Studies
Environment Canada Clouds Poster

FLIGHT EXAM PREPARATION

There is not a lot of existing material to study for the Flight Review and it requires an extensive set of documents, checklists, and procedures to be in place to be successful on the exam. The best resource to get a view of what the Flight Reviewers require is to take a course from a Training School such as ours and prepare and practice for the exam.

Based on our review experience so far, individuals not having done so beforehand are struggling to pass with the level of detail required for the Advanced Pilot Certificates.

It is always a great idea to take a course from a reputable RPAS Training Institution such as Dragon Air UAS and to prepare for the Advanced Exam and Flight Review.

While online courses are available for individuals who need a refresher, we prefer and promote in-person training because of the complexity and depth of knowledge required for the Advanced Pilot Certificate as well as the ability for in-depth instruction and interaction with the instructor and other students.

Call or email for more information and course schedules.

Once you have completed the Transport Canada-administered Small Advanced Exam and obtained a Certificate of Registration for your RPAS, an in-person Flight Review must be completed to demonstrate your ability to fly and apply the knowledge from the Small Advanced Exam.

AVAILABLE COURSES:

1. (A004) Advanced Operations- RPAS Ground School

Designed to meet and exceed Transport Canada’s RPAS Pilot Knowledge Requirements (TP 15263) this training covers the knowledge required to conduct advanced flight operations with small RPAS in Canada. Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

· Describe the regulatory requirements to conduct legal RPAS operations in Canada.

· Critically assess the factors that have the potential to introduce risk to RPAS operations and describe how they would mitigate those identified risks.

· Access, analyze aeronautical charts and flight publications to conduct site-survey, Air Traffic Control coordination, property permission, and pre-flight activities.

· Retrieve weather and NOTAM information and assess the impact on flight operations.

· Assess the airworthiness of their aircraft before and during a flight operation.

· Conduct radio operations on frequencies designated for Aeronautical applications in Canada.

Upon successful completion, students will be able to confidently challenge the online Transport Canada Certification Exam.

Also, the students will receive their Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada Restricted Radio Operator Certificate with an Aeronautical qualification (ROC-A).

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

Write the exam and receive your ROC-A certificate (Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification ROC-A) and conduct radio operations on frequencies designated for Aeronautical applications in Canada.

Note: An ROC-A is required by operators of radiotelephone equipment on board aircraft and at aeronautical land (fixed and mobile) radio stations using aeronautical mobile frequencies.

At the present time, it is mostly an exception for UAV pilots to engage in direct communication with Air Traffic Services via handled radio. However, there are instances where radio communication may be necessary to improve safety and best practices.

Examples of UAV/DRONE VHF use may include:

· Within Class G airports near aerodromes (within 5 miles)

· Pilot to pilot communications on Aerodrome Traffic Frequencies or en route frequencies

· Within controlled airspace (by request or approval of ATS management)

· Within Class F Special Use Airspace (IE UAV test range)

· Emergencies

Upon successful completion, students will be able to confidently challenge the online Transport Canada Certification Exam.

Also, the students will receive their Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada Restricted Radio Operator Certificate with an Aeronautical qualification (ROC-A). Must pass the examination.

NOTE: Due to COVID, scheduling of the ROC-A testing and ID verification will be established via a one-on-one, 2-way video communication at a time convenient for both parties.

(Location: Cambridge Ontario, or Live-Online)

$525.00/person +taxes

Corporate/Private Ground School (Location: Across Canada)

Contact for pricing

2. (A003) Flight Review Details Cost: $210.00 (+ Taxes) per person, per review

You must successfully perform the following exercises to pass the in-person Flight Review:

· Describe the site survey process.

· Describe emergency procedures that apply to flying an RPAS, including lost-link procedures and procedures to follow in the event of a fly-away, including whom to contact.

· Describe the method by which to inform Transport Canada of an incident or accident.

· Successfully perform pre-flight checks of your RPAS.

· Perform a take-off.

· Demonstrate the ability to navigate around obstacles.

· Demonstrate the ability to recognize distances.

· Perform a safe landing.

Yours or our location.

Prerequisites

Have passed the Small Advanced Exam - minimum overall result of 80%.

Certificate of Registration for the drone being used for Flight Review. If you do not own a drone, we can provide one at an additional cost, please ask us for details.

3. (A001) RPAS Flight Training-101

This course is for the new developing pilot. Those who have never operated a drone.

It can be daunting to think about flying a drone for the first time. How do I unpack it? How do I set it up? How do I use the app? Should I use manual or auto functions? What are these presets what do they do? How do I set up my return home? How do I set my altitude limit?

It can seem so overwhelming we are here to assist. Our in-class/online and practical hands-on training will provide you with the confidence needed to ensure you are operating safely.

Our Flight Training Objectives:

Aid theoretical understanding with practical hands-on flying.

Introduce primary manual flying skills.

Introduce a platform and operation that will be transferable to larger and more complex aircraft/operations.

Provide ‘take-away’ exercises that will aid in skill perfection

Location: Cambridge Ontario (Across Canada for Private/Corporate)

$275.00/person +taxes

4. (A002) RPAS Flight Review-Preparation

An in-person Flight Review is required by Transport Canada to complete your Advanced Operations Certificate. The Flight Review is intended to ensure you understand and can demonstrate practically the knowledge required to complete a safe flight/operation.

There is a specific checklist we must go through as a Flight Reviewer. Our Flight Review prep course will equip and prepare you to challenge Transports Canada's mandatory in-person Flight Review for Advanced Operations.

We will walk you through what an actual RPAS Flight Review consists of including hands-on flight requirements. We go through all aspects in detail and most importantly be able to provide you with answers to the questions you have to ensure confidence when challenging the Flight Review.

Location: Cambridge, Ontario (Across Canada for Private/Corporate)

$250.00/person +taxes

5. (A005) Photography for RPAS-Pilot/Operators

Understanding the basics of photography is vital to the success of collecting quality data. This course will focus on core photographic concepts, best practices, and how they relate to the RPAS world.

This course will include hands-on training to propel students from a theoretical to a practical understanding of applied photography.

Topics will include:

Theory
Components
Photography Rules/Guidelines
Exposure - ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture-Rules of Thirds
Manual Control vs Programmed Operation
RPAS - Camera Settings
Composition
Focusing
Equipment
Lighting
Image Management and Manipulation

Location: Cambridge Ontario (Across Canada for Private/Corporate)

$375.00/person +tax

Call or email for further information.