All About SFOCs

Mar 31

If you want to get permission for special drone flight operations, you will need to apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC).

But what is an SFOC exactly?

An SFOC gives you permission to operate your drone outside the rules for a specific purpose. Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) govern RPAS operations. CAR 903.01 requires that a SFOC-RPAS be issued for certain circumstances which Part IX of the CARs do not yet regulate. A SFOC-RPAS permits an operator to operate a RPAS for a specific purpose, location and time frame, outside of the regular rules.

When is an SFOC required?

An SFOC is required to operate your drone in certain situations, where normally you wouldn’t be allowed. Examples are:

you are a foreign operator -> more info below
you want to fly at a special aviation event or an advertised event
you want to fly closer to a military airport
you want to fly your drone beyond visual line-of-sight
your drone weighs over 25 kilograms (kg)
you want to fly your drone at higher altitudes
you want to fly your drone carrying dangerous or hazardous payloads (e.g. chemicals)
you want to fly more than five drones at the same time

Flying a drone when you are not from Canada (Foreign Operator)

If I’m not Canadian, can I fly my drone in Canada? We get asked this question all the time! If you are a foreign operator (that is, you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a corporation incorporated by or under federal or provincial law and you want to fly in Canadian airspace), you must have an approved SFOC to fly a drone for any purpose (recreational, work or research). As a foreign drone pilot, you need a Canadian drone pilot certificate to operate in Canada even if you are authorized in your home country. For basic operations, you will need to pass the online exam to receive your Pilot Certificate – Basic operations. For advanced operations, you will need to:

Pass the online exam for advanced operations
Complete a flight review and apply for your Pilot Certificate – Advanced operations, or provide proof of having booked a flight review with a drone flight school once you’ve arrived in Canada

You must already be allowed to use the drone for the same purpose in your home country. Include your country’s approval or authorization with your application for the SFOC.

Additional Requirements

Depending on the operation, and its complexity, additional qualifications not covered in CARs Part IX may be required - such as:

Additional knowledge or skill requirements.
A Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical qualification. It may take up to 30 days to obtain radio frequency clearances, certificates and/or radio station license.

Communication – Adequate English or French language proficiency is needed by the applicant where applicable. For example, when communicating with Nav Canada.

So, how do I apply for an SFOC?

You can find the initial form right here which you can send to TC.RPASCentre-CentreSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca when completed. Note the small print at the bottom that says “Additional information will be requested based of the type of SFOC you are applying for.” (Yes, at the time of writing, they had a typo… We assume they mean “on” not “of.”)

Be prepared for Transport Canada to ask you many followup questions, and ask for further documentation. Unless you’re just applying as a Foreign Operator, you likely will need to fill out an Operational Risk Assessment (see links at the end). Trust us, it’s a lot of work.

After you apply - How long do I have to wait for an SFOC?

It’s important to note that it may take up to 30 days for Transport Canada to review and issue an SFOC. Allow enough time to ensure the application goes through, ideally with 30 days to spare. Actual processing times can vary depending on the complexity and completeness of the request. We recommend planning ahead as much as possible, and getting your SFOC application going a few months in advance of your operation.