Smith-Tripp, S*., Stackhouse, L., Wotherspoon, A.R.
Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada. *Corresponding author: ssmithtr@student.ubc.ca
Using drones to acquire light detection and ranging (Lidar) data is increasing in popularity as the technology becomes more accessible and affordable. In forest, Lidar makes it easier and faster to repeatedly monitor forest characteristics in new qualitative and quantitative ways. However, in Canada, drones above 250g require a drone piloting license which may be complicated for graduate students to acquire if they are not Canadian citizens. Instead they are considered foreign pilots.
To fly a remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS is the federally definition though they are colloquially called drones), for any purpose, foreign pilots must apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) issued by Transport Canada. With this certificate, drone pilots can fly in unregulated (class G) airspace until the end of the year. Applying for this advanced SFOC can be a complicated process. Here we lay out preliminary steps to gather materials required to ease the application process. Canadians may also follow these guidelines for advanced operations which are useful in forestry when forest research sites are very complex and remote.
Foreign drone pilot: A nonCanadian citizen, permanent resident or corporation incorporated by or under federal or provincial law (Transport Canada, 2023)
Before applying for a SFOC, follow these steps:
Step 1: Get a drone pilot certification
If you are flying in unregulated airspace you need to pass the basic operations drone exam. This will be included in your application.
Step 2: Register your drone with Transport Canada
Foreign pilots or operators cannot register drones. This is often why university labs register drones under the name of the supervising faculty member for use by their graduate students. Acquire the following information from your supervisor and include them in your application:
Drone registration numbers and VIN
Manufacturer details of the drone system
A history of the maintenance on the system
Step 3: Create an operation plan
These plans must include:
A description of operation including the purpose and objectives of the flight, flight dates and order of events
A site-survey with a clear depiction of the area, with boundaries expected altitudes, and hazards
A direct mention of no-fly situations
An adequate risk assessment
Step 4: Create a safety plan for the proposed operation
Safety plans are usually specified by your institution and must include a contingency plan for the operation including emergency operations. It must also include detailed descriptions of:
Equipment including any modifications
Equipment and personnel that are available to respond to emergencies
All communication protocols and a list of contacts in the event of emergency
Step 5: Include crew member certifications
This includes names, certificates, licenses, permits and qualifications of the crew members. This includes both the pilot and visual observers.
Step 6: Prepare your application
Compile all contact information for the type of drone operations you plan to fly (Step 3), your pre-flight safety plan (Step 4) into a combined document (with page numbers)
We also recommend including a cover letter in the case that TC Canada has any questions with the application. They have been known to reach out with questions that were quickly and easily answered over the phone
The application may seem like a daunting task, but preparing these documents in advance makes the application process a lot easier. And now you're ready to complete the
application form. Good luck and happy flying!
This content was originally written as a blog post by Sarah Smith-Tripp which can be found here. Figure 1 created by Leanna Stackhouse. Summarized by Amy Wotherspoon
Further reading that may be of interest:
Chadwick, A. J.; Goodbody, T. R. H.; Bater, C. W.; Martens, L. A.; Nuijten, R. J. G.; Smith-Tripp, S.; Grubinger, S.; Irwin, L.; Arkin, J.; Hervieux, A.; and Coops, N.C. 2022. “Best Practice Guide to Acquisition of 3D Imagery from RPAS,” Department of Forest Resource Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Note: We are not legal advisors and only describe the process to facilitate graduate students to fly drones for their own personal data collection processes