New Drone Pilot — Ultimate Guide
So you just got your very first drone, congratulations! Summer is around the corner, which means better flying conditions and more adventures, and you are probably chomping at the bit to use your new tech… and get photos like this one👇
We totally get it, we’re here to help you start flying safely and legally, and make sure you get the most out of your drone!
Keep reading to find out how to choose the right drone license to get, what regulations to look out for, what apps we love to use, and our top 5 drone photography tips!
First of all, figure out what drone category you belong to. This determines where you will be able to fly, if you need to get a license or not, and if you need to register your drone.
Drones that weigh between 250g - 25kg are considered “Small RPAS”. They need to be registered, and you need either a Basic or Advanced RPAS Pilot License to fly them!
Learn more about Advanced vs Basic operations here.
If your drone weighs over 25kg, you will need an Advanced License and a Special Flight Operations Certificate. Drones that weigh this much are typically used for very specific purposes, and may even require specific training.
Register your drone on the Drone Management Portal, this is an important drone hub to become familiar with. In this portal you will be able to see your exam results, register your drone, and check your recency.
Drones that weigh under 250g (micro drone) do not need to be registered, and do not require a license to fly. However - just because it doesn’t require a license does not mean that there are no flight restrictions associated with them! Always make sure to check local laws, and airspace restrictions.
Getting your license is a pretty straightforward process. The Basic Exam to get your Basic RPAS License, is a 90 minute exam, with 35 multiple choice questions, and a minimum of 65% to pass. The Advanced Exam, to obtain your Advanced RPAS License, is a 60 minute exam, with 50 multiple choice questions, and a minimum of 80% to pass. Each attempt costs $10, for both the Basic and the Advanced.
Transport Canada highly recommends attending a ground school (like FlySmart 😉) prior to attempting the exam, due to the complex nature of the questions and concepts. Our course not only prepares you for the exam, and provides you with extra study materials, but also prepares you for the flight review.
A flight review is the last mandatory step in getting your Advanced RPAS License after you pass your Advanced Exam. It is a one hour hands-on practical flying test that tests your operational knowledge and flying abilities. AND if you take our Advanced course, you get 25% off your flight review when you do it with us!
If you are unsure what certifications or training you will need to operate your drone, ask us here!
The next thing to be aware of is the regulations that apply to your drone operations.
While micro drones are technically unregulated, you must still abide by CAR 900.06, and research local laws. National Parks are OFF limits - for all drones except with very special permission from Parks Canada. Flying without permission can result in fines up to $25,000!
No matter what level of license you have, it is always crucial to google local drone laws and check the local airspace. The Canadian Drone Site Selection Tool is a great resource to double check where you are and are not allowed to fly depending on your category.
Once you are aware of where you can fly, how high you can fly, and have received all the necessary permissions, the sky is yours to explore!
Once you have completed all the mandatory steps, it’s time for the fun stuff!
We want to share with you some of our favourite apps that we use for our drone operations and our top tips for aerial photography!
Some of our favourite apps include:
UAV Forecast
This app is one that our crews use for almost every mission. It is a super comprehensive weather forecasting app that summarizes no fly zones, GPS satellites information, solar activity, and flight restrictions all in one place. You can download it to your phone, or access from the desktop. Plus you get a free 1 year premium subscription when you take our Advanced Course!
Google Earth Pro
Google Earth Pro is another staple for most of our pilots. It is a great application for flight planning, getting aerial scans of the area before flying, and saving locations as KMZ files. Make sure you get the downloaded version, not just the web browser version.
Our top 5 aerial photography tips are:
Practice. Flying a drone takes a while to get comfortable with tricky maneuvers. The more flying time you get, the more confident you will feel capturing images or videos from all angles.
Speaking of angles, experiment with lots of angles and perspectives when taking photos or videos with your drone! You may not know what will look best when you are first starting out, and experimenting is a great way to find out what works.
If you are not new to the inner workings of a camera, we suggest manually adjusting ISO and shutter speed (if your drone allows it) which will allow you to have more control over these settings when conditions are variable. If you are new, check out this short pdf that explains the difference between these important settings!
Use the rule of thirds to compose your shots, placing the subject off-center for a more interesting composition.
Try to avoid capturing too much sky. This one is a easy mistake for drone photographers, try to fly low and close to your subject to capture more detail.
That concludes our ultimate guide for new drone pilots! We hope that you learned something new, and feel more prepared to join the drone world, and starting flying!
Still unsure about something? Send us an email at info@flysmarttraining.ca and we will be happy to answer any questions!
Happy (and safe) flying!
- FlySmart Team:)
