Ryk Narell is operating a UAV or Drone Quadcopter equipped with a video/still camera mounted on a butter smooth gyroscopic gimbal.

He has training and is registered with Transport Canada having received a Standing SFOC

(Special Flight Operation Certificate) and aviation insurance.

He is not a recreational flyer. He is registered for any operation involving commerce and exempt from recreational

restrictions.

 

 

Recreational drone users in Canada face new restrictions on where and when they can fly their remote-controlled devices, under new rules being announced today by Transportation Minister Marc Garneau.

The rules, which are effective immediately, mean recreational users will face a fine of up to $3,000 if drones weighing more than 250 grams are caught flying:

• Higher than 90 metres.

• Within 75 metres of buildings, vehicles, vessels, animals or people.

• More than 500 metres away from the user.

• At night, in clouds or somewhere you can't see it.

• Within nine kilometres of somewhere aircraft take off or land, or a forest fire.

• Without your name, address and phone number marked on the drone itself.

• Over forest fires, emergency response scenes or controlled airspace.

Some of those rules existed only as guidelines before the announcement, Garneau said, with no specific penalties for breaking them.

RCMP Chief Supt. Brian Stubbs said at the announcement at Toronto's downtown Billy Bishop Airport that police could really only penalize someone using a drone dangerously if they broke a section of the Criminal Code, such as criminal negligence or mischief.

"These regulations will give us a [less harsh] way to manage these types of calls," he said.

"Of course discretion is a part of this as well too. Police officers have the discretion just to educate, perhaps, an operator of a drone, all the way to [using] the Criminal Code."

Transport Canada says anyone who sees someone flying a drone illegally should call 911.

The new rules do not apply to people flying at sites and events sanctioned by the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada, a national model aircraft association Garneau said has an excellent safety record.