How to fly a drone in Vancouver Controlled Airspace - Weekly Live 2024-9

This week, we walk through a site survey for an advanced mock scenario in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, using NAV Drone, to determine what's required to be in compliance with CARS 901.27.
The scenario is to fly around a small sailboat, capturing some cinematic images. Join Ian, Finn, and Jenn as they discuss the logistics and considerations of planning for an Advanced RPAS operation in Controlled Airspace.
Stay tuned to the end for a bit of an audience discussion about other flight planning tools such as RPAS Wilco, and Drone Pilot Canada.
Timestamps:
1:11 - The Scenario & Client Discussion
6:20 - What are the Legal Requirements?
11:20 - NAV Drone Map Site Survey Process
18:00 - The NAV Drone Portal (Application Process)
21:50 - Creating the Operation
29:45 - The Mission Plan Results
38:40 - Applying for Airspace Permission
45:30 - Historical Examples & The Flight Report
46:30 - Did Finn Set Ian up?
48:00 - Digital CFS and VNC online for Free
51:30 - Are maps required?
54:24 - Audience Discussion on VTAs, RPAS Wilco, and more
We recommend you use map.navdrone.ca for initial site surveys and portal.navdrone.ca when you need to track and log flights and apply for airspace permission requests.
You can get access to CFS (Canada Flight Supplement) and VNC (Visual Navigation Charts) at fltplan.com for free (no login required).
Join us live for the next episode at community.coastaldrone.co/
If you're looking to join the ranks of thousands of certified drone pilots in Canada, visit us at coastaldrone.co
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If you are looking to manage an RPAS program or need help with Drone compliance in Canada, visit us at coastaldrone.co
For more details about safety declaration, check this out: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/dron...
To find out if your existing drone is on the safety assurance list, see this: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/dron...
To find out about our comprehensive Advanced Drone Certification Combo including training, exam prep, SOP guide and Flight Review, check out our site here: coastaldrone.co/advanced-pilo...
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[@JonnyRay82]

Say you get approved for flight at a max altitude of 20 meters over downtown Vancouver. If you're flying over a building, are you allowed to be 20 meters above that building or only 20m agl? Or can you be 30 meters above buildings?

[@CoastalDrone]

According to NAV Canada: Approval height in controlled airspace starts at the surface so it would be 20M AGL.

[@JonnyRay82]

Interesting! Ok.. So the current automatic height limit says 121.92 m for over downtown Vancouver. So say you wanted to fly to the Shangri-La tower (that is 200 meters tall) and then over it and back down. You would need an SFOC even though CARS 901.25 (1)(b) says you can fly 100 feet (30 m) above any building or structure, if the aircraft is being operated at a distance of less than 200 feet (61 m), measured horizontally, from the building or structure?

[@CoastalDrone]

@@JonnyRay82 ​ SFOC not applicable as you're in Controlled Airspace. You'd need to discuss and get approval from NAV Canada for the higher operating altitude. 901.25 is only applicable to uncontrolled airspace.

[@JonnyRay82]

That makes sense. Thank you.