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School of Science

Drone Operations: rules and planning

Step 6 of 7 in Science Center

Next in your path: 15.7.3 Embedded Systems: microcontrollers and sensors

What you'll be able to do
  • Explain what turns a simple flight into an "advanced" operation, using Canada's rules as the worked example, and find the matching rules in your own country.
  • Run a full site survey that covers airspace, notices to airmen, obstacles, weather and people.
  • Know when you need permission to fly in controlled airspace or a special flight certificate, and how to ask for it.
  • Write an operation plan with altitude limits, maximum distance, battery reserve and a simple risk table.
  • Brief a crew and use a visual observer properly.
  • Write emergency procedures for lost link, fly-away, control station failure and people entering the area.
  • Keep flight and maintenance records and an operations binder.

Important: drone rules change and differ by country. Canada is the worked example in this course: its rules come from Transport Canada pages and the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part IX, checked on 2026-11-12. Other countries are in the In your country boxes. Always check your own aviation authority's current rules before you fly. This course is education only. It does not replace your drone maker's manual, a pilot certificate or the law.

Safety rule for this whole course: do the planning exercises on paper first. Fly only operations you are legally allowed to fly, with the certificate, registration and permissions your country requires. Kids and teens: plan with an adult and fly only within the rules for your age.

Words in this course 39Open the Vocabulary Hall
01

From flying to operating: what makes an operation advanced

In simple words

Flying in an empty field is like riding a bike in your driveway. An operation is like a planned trip across town: you check the route, the rules of the road, who is coming with you and what to do if something breaks. The more people, airports and buildings nearby, the more planning and permission you need.

Before this course: Drone Skills: flight practice (course 15.10.2). You should already be able to choose a safe practice site, fly the hover, box and figure 8 drills, use a go/no-go card and an emergency card, and keep a flight log. Here we stop practising and start planning real operations.

Key facts
  • In Canada, an advanced certificate gives more privileges than a basic one: flying closer to people, in controlled airspace with air traffic control (ATC) permission, with medium drones, and in some new kinds of operation.
  • To get it in Canada: be at least 16, pass the advanced online exam, pass a flight review, and apply through the Drone Management Portal (fee CAD 25). Carry the certificate and proof of registration when you fly. It does not expire, but you must keep your skills current.
  • The drone matters too: for an advanced operation you may only use a drone that meets the safety assurance requirements for that specific operation (the maker's declaration).
  • Canadian small-drone (250 g to 25 kg) operations that need the advanced certificate and a declared drone include: controlled airspace with ATC permission; flying less than 30 m but more than 5 m from uninvolved people; and flying within 5 m of, or over, uninvolved people.
  • Since 4 November 2025 Canada also allows, for advanced pilots: sheltered operations (close to a building or structure) and extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) with a trained visual observer. Medium drones (more than 25 kg to 150 kg) are advanced operations or beyond.
  • Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) at lower risk is a separate Canadian category (Level 1 Complex, minimum age 18). Course 15.10.4 covers that pathway.
  • In Canada, flying without a required declaration can mean a fine of up to CAD 1,000 for an individual.
Canadian exampleBasicAdvanced
Minimum age1416
TestOnline basic examOnline advanced exam + flight review
Distance from uninvolved peopleMore than 30 mCan be closer, with a declared drone
Controlled airspaceNoYes, with ATC permission
In your country
  • The aviation authority is the FAA. Almost all non-recreational flying (work, business) falls under Part 107, which needs a remote pilot certificate; when in doubt, assume Part 107.
  • Source: FAA, Recreational flyers: www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers
  • The aviation authority is the CAAC. The main rule is the Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aircraft (State Council Order No. 761), in force since 1 January 2024. Drones are sorted into micro, light, small, medium and large classes.
  • Source: CAAC, Regulations text: www.caac.gov.cn/XXGK/XXGK/FLFG/202401/t20240115_222642.html
  • The authority is MLIT, under the Civil Aeronautics Act. Aircraft of 100 g or more are under the flight permission and approval system, handled through MLIT's flight permission web portal.
  • Source: MLIT, Unmanned Aircraft Registration WebPortal: www.mlit.go.jp/koku/drone/en/
  • MOLIT lists the drone filings: aircraft registration, business registration, flight approval (about 3 working days), special flight approval (about 30) and aerial photography application (about 4).
  • Source: MOLIT drone page (Korean): www.molit.go.kr/USR/policyTarget/m_24066/dtl.jsp?idx=584
Step by step
  1. Write one operation you would like to fly one day (for example, filming a building for its owner, or mapping a farm field).
  2. Write the drone's weight with everything attached.
  3. Answer four questions: How close will it be to people who are not part of the job? Is the airspace controlled? How close is the nearest airport or heliport? Will you always see the drone?
  4. Open your aviation authority's page (in Canada, Transport Canada's advanced operations page) and decide which category the operation falls in.
  5. Write what the pilot needs (certificate, age, flight review) and what the drone needs (registration, any declaration).
  6. Check: you can say "This is a basic / advanced / other operation because..." in one sentence.
Watch on YouTube
Advanced drone exam study guide 2025: Canadian RPASDon Joyce · YouTube · youtube.com

Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.

LESSON 01From flying to operating: what makes an operation advanced
LESSON 01 / ANIMATED LESSON / AI VOICE00:00 / 01:10
Read the video script
[Host in front of an office building] "Flying in a field is practice. Filming this building for a client is an operation."
[Text on screen: People? Airspace? Airport? In sight?] "Four questions decide the category: people, airspace, airports, and whether you can see the drone."
[Screen: table Basic vs Advanced] "In Canada, closer to people or in controlled airspace means an advanced certificate, a flight review and a drone declared safe for that job."
[Host] "Your country has its own version. Find it before you plan anything else."
Try it now

Take three operation ideas (a park video, a roof inspection next to a busy street, a farm field near a small airport). For each, write the category in Canada's example and the matching category or permission from your own aviation authority's website, with the page you used.

ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude

Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.

For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.

I'm learning "Drone Operations: rules and planning" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "From flying to operating: what makes an operation advanced".

What the lesson teaches:
- In Canada, an advanced certificate gives more privileges than a basic one: flying closer to people, in controlled airspace with air traffic control (ATC) permission, with medium drones, and in some new kinds of operation.
- To get it in Canada: be at least 16, pass the advanced online exam, pass a flight review, and apply through the Drone Management Portal (fee CAD 25). Carry the certificate and proof of registration when you fly. It does not expire, but you must keep your skills current.
- The drone matters too: for an advanced operation you may only use a drone that meets the safety assurance requirements for that specific operation (the maker's declaration).
- Canadian small-drone (250 g to 25 kg) operations that need the advanced certificate and a declared drone include: controlled airspace with ATC permission; flying less than 30 m but more than 5 m from uninvolved people; and flying within 5 m of, or over, uninvolved people.
- Since 4 November 2025 Canada also allows, for advanced pilots: sheltered operations (close to a building or structure) and extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) with a trained visual observer. Medium drones (more than 25 kg to 150 kg) are advanced operations or beyond.
- Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) at lower risk is a separate Canadian category (Level 1 Complex, minimum age 18). Course 15.10.4 covers that pathway.
- In Canada, flying without a required declaration can mean a fine of up to CAD 1,000 for an individual.

The exercise I'm working on:
Take three operation ideas (a park video, a roof inspection next to a busy street, a farm field near a small airport). For each, write the category in Canada's example and the matching category or permission from your own aviation authority's website, with the page you used.

I'm stuck. Please:
1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example.
2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step.
3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "From flying to operating: what makes an operation advanced" from the course "Drone Operations: rules and planning".

Here's what the lesson says:
Flying in an empty field is like riding a bike in your driveway. An operation is like a planned trip across town: you check the route, the rules of the road, who is coming with you and what to do if something breaks. The more people, airports and buildings nearby, the more planning and permission you need.

The activity:
Take three operation ideas (a park video, a roof inspection next to a busy street, a farm field near a small airport). For each, write the category in Canada's example and the matching category or permission from your own aviation authority's website, with the page you used.

Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words.
Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time.
Open Claude
Sources
My notes
02

The site survey: eight things to check

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

03

Airspace, permissions and special certificates

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

04

Risk assessment and the operation plan

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

05

Crew roles and the pre-flight briefing

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

06

Emergency procedures and contingency plans

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

07

Maintenance, records and the operations binder

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

++

Final project

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??

Quiz

  1. What usually turns a simple flight into an advanced operation?

  2. Besides the pilot, what must be suitable for an advanced operation in many countries?

  3. Name four things a site survey checks.

  4. Is a map with "no restriction" a complete site survey?

  5. Who do you ask before flying in controlled airspace?

  6. How do you score a risk in the classroom risk table?

  7. A drone lists about 20 minutes of flight and you keep a 30% reserve. How long do you plan to fly?

  8. What does a visual observer do?

  9. Who has the right of way, a drone or a crewed aircraft?

  10. Should a crew member work if they are tired or have been drinking?

  11. Name three emergencies your procedures should cover.

  12. Why keep flight and maintenance records?

EX

Final exam

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

CE

Certificate

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.