Tips and tricks for passing the Transport Canada Small Advanced RPAS Exam
If you’re here, you are likely hesitating to get your RPAS pilot’s license because of the daunting Transport Canada examinations. We get it and we are here to help. With the right preparation, training, and resources, you’ll breeze past these exams and be up and flying in no time.
What you need to know before getting a Drone License
Having the ability and knowledge to use a drone is a valuable skill in so many different fields. Whether you’re a photographer, farmer, entrepreneur, environmental monitor, or real estate agent, there are countless reasons to have one. But, you will need a drone license, and likely an Advanced License, if you plan on flying commercially, in controlled airspace, near people, or less than 5.56km (aka 3 nautical miles) from an airport.
Since drones are considered aircraft in Canada, they fall into the aviation industry. This means that all the laws and regulations are governed by Transport Canada, and drone operators are considered pilots and are held to a high standard of operation. There are serious penalties for individuals and corporations who break the rules.
The Transport Canada RPAS exams are online, open-book exams. Both the Basic and the Advanced exams have a fee of $10 and if you fail, the exams can be re-taken after 24 hours an unlimited amount of times (each with its own fee). You must be 14 years old to take the Basic Exam and you must be 16 years old to take the Advanced Exam.
What to expect on the Transport Canada RPAS Exams?
The Advanced Exam is made up of 50 multiple choice with 60 minutes to complete it. You must achieve 80% or higher to pass. The Basic Exam is 35 multiple-choice questions and you are given 95 minutes to complete it. You only need a 65% to pass the Basic exam.
Both exams are challenging and have a reputation for containing questions on topics that are not related to drones. Transport Canada claims that the questions are based on the Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. However, this has been proven untrue and some say only 50% of the questions are related to drones. Crazy right? Seems unfair, but this is perhaps the reason why Transport Canada strongly recommends attending a drone flight school (like FlySmart) before attempting the exam.
We offer both Basic and Advanced training courses that help familiarize students with the huge amount of content that needs to be covered, and prepares them to successfully write the exams.
Both our Basic and Advanced courses have high success rates thanks to our top-notch instructors, years of industry experience, and access to exclusive resources. Our courses cover everything you’ll need to know for the exam, and we make sure you are supported every step of the way. Our format of live-online training is a great environment for students to get the most out of the course by allowing them to ask questions, go more in depth on certain topics, and network with their peers.
Tips while taking the exam
Avoid common mistakes and practice general test-taking tips:
Pay attention to units (ex. 5° C vs 5° F)
Don’t choose an answer just because it's the longest or most “official-sounding”
Avoid spending too much time on challenging questions. Skip questions you don’t know and go back to them at the end
Read all possible answers even if you think the first one is correct
After you take the course with us, make sure you have downloaded all the documents and slides that we share with you and have them open during the exam. Being able to quickly search these resources will make a world of a difference during the test.
Don’t be afraid to fail! Each time you take the test you are familiarizing yourself with the information and getting more practice. If you are really struggling, send us a message! We are here to help and support you throughout your whole RPAS certification experience.
Best of luck to you on the exam, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
As always, happy and safe flying!
-FlySmart Team
