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.
From flying to operating: what makes an operation advanced
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.
- 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 example | Basic | Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 14 | 16 |
| Test | Online basic exam | Online advanced exam + flight review |
| Distance from uninvolved people | More than 30 m | Can be closer, with a declared drone |
| Controlled airspace | No | Yes, with ATC permission |
- Basic operations: drone under 25 kg, keep it in sight, stay 30 m from people, fly in uncontrolled airspace and 5.6 km from airports.
- Source: Transport Canada, flying your drone safely and legally: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/learn-rules-you-fly-your-drone/f
- 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
- Write one operation you would like to fly one day (for example, filming a building for its owner, or mapping a farm field).
- Write the drone's weight with everything attached.
- 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?
- Open your aviation authority's page (in Canada, Transport Canada's advanced operations page) and decide which category the operation falls in.
- Write what the pilot needs (certificate, age, flight review) and what the drone needs (registration, any declaration).
- Check: you can say "This is a basic / advanced / other operation because..." in one sentence.
Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.
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."
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
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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.
Sources
- Transport Canada, Advanced operations: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/learn-rules-you-fly-your-drone/d
- Transport Canada, 2025 summary of changes to Canada's drone regulations: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/2025-summary-changes-canada-dron
- Transport Canada, Basic operations: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/learn-rules-you-fly-your-drone/d
The site survey: eight things to check
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Airspace, permissions and special certificates
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Risk assessment and the operation plan
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Crew roles and the pre-flight briefing
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Emergency procedures and contingency plans
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Maintenance, records and the operations binder
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Final project
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Quiz
What usually turns a simple flight into an advanced operation?
Flying closer to people, in controlled airspace, or in other conditions outside the basic rules, depending on your country.
Besides the pilot, what must be suitable for an advanced operation in many countries?
The drone itself (for example, declared to meet safety requirements).
Name four things a site survey checks.
Airspace and notices, routes for take-off and landing, nearby aircraft and aerodromes, obstacles, weather, and distance from people.
Is a map with "no restriction" a complete site survey?
No. You still check on site, and local rules and people can change the plan.
Who do you ask before flying in controlled airspace?
The air traffic or aviation office named by your country's rules, and you wait for a yes.
How do you score a risk in the classroom risk table?
Likelihood x severity.
A drone lists about 20 minutes of flight and you keep a 30% reserve. How long do you plan to fly?
About 14 minutes.
What does a visual observer do?
Watches for other aircraft and hazards and tells the pilot quickly.
Who has the right of way, a drone or a crewed aircraft?
The crewed aircraft, always.
Should a crew member work if they are tired or have been drinking?
No. Crew must be fit and not impaired.
Name three emergencies your procedures should cover.
Lost link, fly-away, control station failure (also flight termination and people entering).
Why keep flight and maintenance records?
To show who flew and what was repaired, find patterns, and meet your country's rules.
Final exam
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Certificate
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