• Members 75 posts
    April 22, 2023, 7:02 a.m.

    I've been researching the US requirements for drone operators and they look very similar to the ones we have in Canada. Registration for drones of 250g or more, etc, a competency test ("TRUST exam"), etc.

    It seems a safe bet that any Canadian registration or competency test I might complete in Canada would not be recognized by the US authorities. One thing that's not clear to me is whether or not operators of sub-250g drones are required to take the TRUST exam, and if so whether that exam is open to foreigners. Anyone in the know on those points?

    And if I want to fly a drone that's 250g or more, is it possible for a Canadian to register a drone in the US? Or do I have to stick with the microlights?

  • Members 689 posts
    April 23, 2023, 12:54 a.m.

    www.faa.gov/uas/resources/foreign_operators

  • Members 3 posts
    April 23, 2023, 3:46 a.m.

    Sub 250 grams drones is the USA aren’t required any test . I fly a DJI mini 2 glad we aren’t being regulated.

  • Members 689 posts
    April 23, 2023, 10:02 a.m.

    Wrong. Anybody flying drone recreationally has to have TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) certificate. Very easy to get online course and almost impossible to fail test. After passing the test you can print certificate.

  • Members 13 posts
    June 15, 2023, 5:33 p.m.

    It can be a little confusing.
    Flying at night requires a part 107 license. Flying over crowds also. some might disagree. I took the trust exam and received my cert, but it was nothing compared to the FAA part 107 exam.
    now that I have my license , I realized how much more there is to the requirements.
    If you add the Anti-collision lights, mine is 5.8 grams. (smallest I found was about 2 grams and not sure if 3 SM of visibility) still puts a 249 gram drone over 250.
    Flying over people says you must be able to not have anything exposed on your drone that could cause lacerations. My prop guards are 11 grams. Again over 250 which puts you into a Cat 2 situation. Which requires a part 107 license.
    Pretty much anything I did besides staying below the trees in my back yard required a license. Except for FRIA's which I don't believe exist yet.
    From what I am encountering , having the proper license and registration goes a long way with local law-enforcement.
    Does Canada have a similar license to the FAA part 107? Earlier I mentioned TRUST, but our TRUST is a recreational use Safety test, not a Drone Pilot license.

  • Members 13 posts
    June 15, 2023, 5:38 p.m.

    This is from the FAA website...

    The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
    What is TRUST?
    The law requires that all recreational flyers pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and provide proof of passage if asked by law enforcement or FAA personnel. The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) was developed to meet this requirement.

    TRUST provides education and testing on important safety and regulatory information. If you fly your drone recreationally under the Exception for Recreational Flyers, you must pass the test before you fly.

  • Members 75 posts
    June 16, 2023, 5:21 a.m.

    Yes, Canada has the "Small Basic Exam" which you must pass in order to get a done "Pilot Certificate - Basic Operations". It applies for drones of 250g and up.

    There is also a more comprehensive exam to get a "Pilot Certificate - Advanced Operations" which is required to fly in controlled airspace or over bystanders.

    There's no Canadian equivalent for the US TRUST exam.

    The Canadian equivalent to the US FAR part 107 regulations is the CAR (Canadian Aviation Regulations) Section 900. I say "equivalent", but while the broad strokes are very similar there are some differences in the details.

  • Members 13 posts
    June 21, 2023, 12:19 a.m.

    Still sounds like it should be relevant. They should a CAR 900 or FAA 107 international cert. We are , after all, neighbors.

  • Members 599 posts
    June 24, 2023, 9:01 p.m.

    Things are about to change. Wrap your head around this:
    canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-06-24/html/reg6-eng.html

  • Members 75 posts
    June 26, 2023, 2:01 a.m.

    It works for drivers licenses and pilots licenses, why not RPAS?

    It's not clear to me whether amending the regs to deal with RPAS of up to 150kg and flying beyond visual line of sight would create a new licensing category or not. My guess would be that it will, and that any changes would have minimal impact on us casual flyers of relatively lightweight drones.