@@knowthyself1981 Thanks! Canadian laws don't distinguish between using the drone recreationally and commercially. The easiest way to stay within the law is to fly sub-250g. That's a frictionless as your going to get in Canada and you don't have to worry about keeping logs, etc. If you are going to start using it commercially, depending on the activity, you may want to consider liability insurance. I don't believe it would be a requirement if you're just doing Real Estate work but if you work on some industrial sites they may require it. Always good to do a bit of research before you dive in. Cheers!
I passed...65% lol with absolutely zero knowledge on aviation and haven't even flew a drone yet. I skimmed the material provided on a few internet sites and took the plunge expecting to fail. The questions are pretty difficult but you can pick apart the wrong ones and get them that way. Google helped with about 3 questions, and the CAR I could only find 3 answers on. It was much easier for me to pass my RPAL exam, which allows me to own handguns and AR15s then this....go figure.
I saw your video last weekend and then as per your suggestion I followed the videos of Don Joyce and today I passed basic exam with 80% on first attempt. Thank you
I'm currently studying for my Advanced license through Coastal Drone. They have a great program and I bought the "Everything Package" since I want to fly professionally. Thank you for taking the time to make this video, because it helped me focus on what will be on the exam!
Keep up the great videos, I really dig that you still fly the Spark as I’m a new owner of a Spark as of three days ago! It’s nice to see a UA-camr supporting this product as I enter the hobby even years after its release.
Congrats! It's an amazing thing that the little Spark has opened up so many learning paths, be they photography, editing, drone laws, gear, researching legal places to fly... as well as all of the topics covered in becoming certified. It's truly a journey and it goes far beyond what I originally saw in the Spark marketing material! I do think that anyone who invests the time to take and pass the test will have no regrets! Great post!
I managed to score 88% with minimal studying(I looked at the length of most of the sources and said 'Hell no.'). I think I was able to do this because of some existing knowledge I already had(probably boosted my grade by at least 20%) and a decent ability to Google things quickly. In terms of looking things up, the sources available only helped me with 2 or 3 questions. Everything else I just googled. That said, I took up the full 90 minutes. I think the average person could probably pass this test without any studying(apart from watching Don's 29 minute study guide(very helpful on it's own)), as long as they have a decent ability to find answers on Google quickly.
I passed yesterday using the same method and also got 88%. Remember that the running theme is don’t fly in controlled airspace and keep your plane 30 meters horizontally from people, and have permission to fly from the property owner. It’s not rocket science and only as difficult as a drivers test.
Congratulations Steve on passing your test, thank you for the video, I have a spark myself and I’m studying for the test. And this video help me organize my thoughts, and my studying process.
Excellent video, thank you so much. I own a DJI Mini, two Mini 2,s , and ended up getting a DJI FPV so I need to write for my Basic License. If I get a high mark, I will apply for the advanced License. You did a great job researching the Canadian requirements on how to get a Drone License and explaining it clearly within your Video.
Thanks Dennis I appreciate the comment and kind words.. Oooh, I was very tempted with the DJI FPV, especially when they dropped the price a bit. Best of luck with the exams! I would also recommend checking out Don Joyce's channel for Canadian regulations and exams. Don does a very thorough job on more subjects than I cover. Cheers!
Good strategy to do "easy" questions first and make a last review to identify any "brain fart" answers at the end. As a student, I remember many colleagues burning the exam time on harder questions and not having time left for plenty of easy ones that came later in the test. I've also caught many silly mistake in my own exams by doing a final review. It is also good to start with easy questions to build-up confidence and get over the initial stress. Stumbling on a harder question in the beginning can increase stress and hinder your performance. On a timed test where all questions are worth the same amount of points, always go for the easiest first.
Blimey Steve that's a lot of hoops to jump through. Wonder what the deal is if you have a licence from, say the UK, would it entitle you to the same flight privileges there? Good to see you back on my screen chum.
Not as much as the Advanced but still a pretty hefty requirement. It's funny, I was thinking the same thing that perhaps one day your drone pilot's license from one country would permit you the same abilities in another. I don't think we are there yet though. Hopefully some day. 👍
Thank you Steve for the amazing information, and congratulations on passing your exam! I am definitely going to prepare for this, along with my wife, so we are prepared to take the exam. Your videos are informative, and educational. I see you take a lot of pride in your work. Happy droning!
Oh, thanks very much, I appreciate it! My wife Jen is going to give the exam a go too, we just ran out of time before vacation. Good luck to you and your wife on the exam, let me know how it goes.
This is terrific, Steve. Was having a devil of a time finding the correct study material. This eases my kind considerably. I'll just study this stuff at my own pace and should be ready for Summer. Were you able to cut and paste questions and ask google, during the test?
Thanks. If I recall correctly, I tried copy/paste in Google but usually that just came back with other folks asking the same question. It is in violation of the rules to reveal or post any of the questions/answers online so it's likely you won't find direct matches. I believe if you put in a decent amount of time so you know the base materials well, you should have no trouble. There wasn't more than a handful of questions I really didn't know and had to search for answers. Good luck!
I passed the exam doing it in my usual way of taking exam in IT License certificate. I know to much to study for this drone exam but my way (which I only reserve it to my self) is also a good way to pass the exam. Well nice sharing.
I don't know what it will take or if I would ever fly my drone in Canada, but right now I am studying to get my Commercial drone license here in the USA. IT really makes your head hurt!
Thank you for that video, I just received my Mavic Air 2, can't wait to be certified to fly it ! It's going to be a big upgrade from the Tello ! I appreciate the study guidelines you put out there, certainly is going to save me a lot of time !
Great video and excellent coverage of the documents required to read and study for the exam. Might be helpful to have 2 computers going, one for research and one to do the exam. Try not to have any distractions. First try and received 91%. Fly safe!
We're getting laws like this in Australia. They're not in place yet but CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) want us to register all of our drones over 250g, and businesses or freelancers have to pay over A$100 PER DRONE to fly commercially. Everyone who wants to fly a drone also has to do a small online quiz (every year I think) for less than A$20 to be registered. Luckily I have a Remote Pilot's License so I don't think I need to register my self, but I might need to register all my aircraft (I don't think you need to pay though).
Congrats!! Thanks for the info. Very informative. Should I take the exam if I visit Canada? Or should I leave my Spark at home:( Your videos are the best. You have taught me a ton of things. Thx.
You have to be a Canadian citizen in order to take the exam. I believe for visitors to Canada, you need to get a special exemption from Transport Canada to fly. Of course, you can also fly a sub 250g drone and then the restrictions don't apply. Glad the videos have been helpful. 😀
@@SteveCoutts Thanks Steve. I've been studying the material you suggested and have learned a ton of stuff. It was while looking the material over I noticed the Canadian citizenship requirement and a link for permission. I sent an email to Transport Canada through the link provided. There was a phone number also. My wife and I will be visiting your wonderful country mid July. If you have any suggestions, please respond, if not I just want to thank you again for your time and effort you have given in order for Spark owners and other drone enthusiasts to have a better experience. Sincerely, Don
@@donspringer8234 Here is the link to what you need to know to fly in Canada as a visitor - www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety/get-permission-fly-drone-outside-rules.html. Good luck!
Hey Steve, I would like to thank you for all the info that you have shared with the youtube community, I'm starting today to study for the exam so I hope that maybe tomorrow night ill take the basic operation exam. I'm rolling a Mavic Air and trout fishing season It's opening this weekend and I'll like to take my drone out for a spin :) Thank you again for sharing so much info with us!
Bought a M2Z, that evening winged the exam and passed first try, didint study what so ever but didint hurt that Im an ex pilot :) I suggest doing a bit of studying for sure if you have no history of flying previously!!! Great vid.
Haha! Well, I think for an ex-pilot it would be a breeze. 😀 I enjoyed learning about all the aviation bits and it sure made me appreciate what pilots have to go through to become licensed. Thanks and enjoy your drone!
@@SteveCoutts my dad has had his actual private pilot's license for many years in Canada, but English is not his first language, and he is not computer savvy. These drone rules are alienating and excluding many like my father from this hobby, who would otherwise be safe and responsible drone pilots. It's hardly Canadian to exclude people, as I've said elsewhere. My sister and I bought him his drone to enjoy in his retirement years, and I think a Mavic Mini is next.
@@chosenideahandle Yeah, that's tough. I agree with you but it's kind of how things go. The reckless and irresponsible among us ruin it for everyone. For your situation, I think the Mavic Mini is a good way to go. Sub-250g gets you around the restrictions and the Mini is just made to get up there and fly and not have to worry about anything else and simplified controls for capturing great video will make it a breeze. Good luck! 😀
@@SteveCoutts I love it! Absolutely no reason to buy a more expensive drone when you can buy the spark for way cheaper. Super stable in the wind. Love sport mode for when I'm not filming, and just overall a great product even still in 2019. 1080p isn't a problem either.
Hi Steve! Congratulations! Do you know if this certificate is necessary for tourists too? If I travel to Canada I must have this certificate to fly my Soark?
As a non-resident, you cannot register your drone or write the exam to become certified. Instead, you must apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). The link to do that is here - www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety/get-permission-fly-drone-outside-rules.html
Thanks! I can't really comment too much on the job prospects because I am not actively looking for drone work however I have picked up some paid Real Estate photo/video jobs. I'm sure the work is out there. Cheers!
My employer now wants to get a drone for our videos and I need to get certified. Thanks for this concise breakdown of what to expect. BTW, who are the communists who downvoted this???
You can fly in any uncontrolled airspace, which for me living in Calgary is about 10km from the city centre. Of course, there are City bylaws which specify other restrictions. If you get a sub-250g drone, basically none of the rules apply. This is a good tool for knowing where you can fly in Canada - nrc.canada.ca/en/drone-tool/
Nicely done summary! For our Canadian citizens who fly RPAS (not just drones, this includes EVERYTHING that flies remotely), please mention that becoming a member of MAAC (Model Aeronautics Assoc of Canada) completely EXEMPTS all remote-control pilots from CAR section IX. No joke! This applies to non-sanctioned MAAC fields, contrary to popular belief. This was only just approved on May 19, 20019. Information found at www.maac.ca/en/transport_canada.php.
Haha! Awesome! While studying for the basic exam I was thinking about how much pilots need to know. Crazy. I agree, the drone license is good enough for me too. 😀
@@herreraschannel8930 very good question, my read of this, after looking at various documents, is that, if no registration or license is needed, you can basically do what you want as long as you don't interfere with people or aircraft operations. 250g is the line, below which you're in the realm of toys.. footballs, soccer balls, frisbees, balsa model rockets (not to be 'hazardous to aviation safety'), etc.. of course it says to stay below 400' (as good practice), and the Dji fly app enforces that ( & even tracks your flights w GPS data) and i believe it will stop you from flying in the flight-paths of airport runways (good!). however, w/o the need for a drone license or registration though, i'm not entirely convinced that national/provincial parks are necessarily off limits to drones under 250g, i know its implied they are, but i assume again, that only drones of 250g and above are effected... check out the micro-drone section here ... tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/find-your-category-drone-operation ... im checking www.canlii.org/. .. if i find something definitive, i'll hopefully come back here and post it.
Haha! Yeah, that's a tough decision. Both are great but is the Air 2 worth twice as much? Hard to say. Depends on your needs and your budget. Good luck! 😀
@@SteveCoutts hmm good point. well there's no budget, if I'm being honest, I want the air 2 but I don't want to bother with Canadian drone laws, so I'm trying to justify if the mini is good enough. or if the convenience is worth more than the image quality because to me it looks no better than an oversized sample of my spark I previously had because it still has grain beyond thankful for technology honestly so cool to see how much tech they pack into a little thing like this, the only thing I saw that was making my eyes dance was the mavic 2 pro files, those look incredible, so maybe I'll use the mini 2 until I can get the mavic 3? you made a good point that next year another one is going to be better so no need to feel bad about it
Thanks for the excellent advice! Thinking about getting a drone for personal videos work. Can see the need for controls for piloting a drone big and heavy enough to do real damage but all this red-tape is a bit ridiculous for small drones - how soon before the regulate baseballs and hockey pucks - those can do real damage!
Thanks and thanks for watching! Get yourself a sub 250g drone like the new DJI Mavic Mini and you don't have to register, get certified and you can almost fly anywhere you want - ua-cam.com/video/MdEPmpyneS0/v-deo.html
Good for you! I believe RC helicopters fall under the RPAS umbrella - remotely piloted aircraft systems. Members of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) may also be exempt from CARs part IX too. Worth checking out.
I didn't even know about the requirement to get licensed. Tried out the drone and on the third flight it lost connection. It took off on its own and today is drone search day. My wife said it was a blessing, because a $ 1000 fine is worse...
Oh no!!! Check your flight logs for position and trajectory information, it may help limit the search area. Good luck with the search! I have been there a few times myself.
Haha! I can't say it made me a better pilot but I definitely have a better understanding and that isn't a bad thing. I actually enjoyed learning more about aviation in general and it sure made me appreciate the kind of knowledge required to become a *real* pilot. 😀
Thanks! I'm not completely familiar with all the rules for the advanced operations certificate. I know you have to write the exam and do an in person flight review. Just like the basic certificate you also have to meet "recency" requirements to show you are keeping your knowledge current or you may lose your status. Best information is here - tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/find-your-category-drone-operation. You can also contact TC directly. Cheers!
Great job and congratulations, well my question is if am not a Canadian but will be visiting to fly drones should i do the same exam as you guys or there is some other rules and regulations for visitors with temporary visa? thanks for sharing the great information it really helps . Cheers man
Thanks. Registering a drone and obtaining a certificate, which is required for flying in Canada, is only open to Canadians at the present time. There doesn't seem to be any provisions for tourists yet. You may be ok with a sub-250g drone but I would call Transport Canada to be sure.
@@SteveCoutts Thank you Steve, i wish it was open to anyone even from outside so when they come they can easily fly, but now i will have to check the transport Canada, but i guess i should do that when i come, or i wont even be allowed to carry my drone which is spark so far into the country?
@@under60secondjourney19 I dont think DJI would block you, but its upon us to follow the regulations, tho at some point it feels Odd but however the case we should follow so we dont get fine for nothing
I tried doing the exam without studying, mostly to see what I would need to study up on. I didn't k lnow about Fon's page at the time, but looking at what I needed even for the basic...I'm having a hard time just finding the time to study. It's been a while since I last flew my Spark too so I'm debating if I should bother and sell it or keep it around and maybe if I stumble upon a couple days off to study and take the exam.
Yeah, if you're a good "Googler" you could probably just read through the basic material and then Google the rest during the exam. I over prepared. I didn't think the test was too difficult. Don's study guide is a great resource too. Good luck.
Thanks Steve. Wrote my Small Basic Exam yesterday and did quite well thanks to your video assistance and a few hours studying. Also, thanks for your pointer to Don. I also found his videos very helpful. Keep up the good work and thanks again.
say that i am a foreign tourist who want to visit canada, i also like to fly drone and capturing beautiful natural landscape in canada, so with this new regulation, i cant fly my drone?
@@chipinfoos not true at all. Under 250grams you do not need to register. Over 250grams you can apply for a special operations licence if you are a tourist I am aware of this as I am going to canada next week as a tourist with my drone. Hopefully will soon be a resident
Hello From Prince Edward Island I am going to be Writing my Exam tomorrow as needed for the Mavic Air 2 is it hard as I have been out of school for quite some time
Hi Seth. I fall in to the same category - "out of school for quite some time" - haha. I would not say it was difficult. My only complaint was that some of the questions had multiple answers that were close but of course only one will be correct. Intentionally designed to be confusing, I suppose, to make sure you know your stuff. There were not many of them, maybe 6 or so. If I wasn't 100% sure of my answer I just moved on to the next question and looped back. Don't waste too much time on one question. I think maybe I had to give my best guess on 2 or 3. If you've done some decent prep and can Google quickly (it's completely open book), you should be able to achieve a passing grade without too much trouble. Good luck on the exam! Cheers!
No card gets mailed. You need to carry proof of license so you can print out your certificate. Make sure you carry physical flight log & maintenance books too unless you plan on doing that electronically. Happy flying!
Crappy. 🙁 It's not an easy exam. The video pretty much breaks it down but I really put in some good, hard study time. I came in to the test really prepared and I still didn't find it by no means easy. Sure there were a bunch of questions I banged off right away knowing the correct answers but so many seemed purposely designed to confuse. I spent a lot of time at the end trying to make sure I had those correct and some I had to give it my best "guess". If you are game to give it another go, check out more of Don Joyce's material on UA-cam. And, I suppose, you could always just go with a sub-250g drone, which is what I mostly fly now, and then you don't have to be certified at all. Good luck!
Thank you very much Steve for this useful information. Question : I tried to take the exam before register a drone ( because I didn't purchase one yet) Looks like I can't take the exam before register a drone , is that true or I did something wrong with my log in . Thank you
You're welcome, thanks for watching. Honestly, I don't know that one. I registered my drone before taking the test too but that does sound logical that it wouldn't let you write the exam without having at least one drone registered. They might have done that to help prevent people from taking the exam only to sell/give exam that information to others.
I believe MAAC members have an exemption to the drone rules but I would check the MAAC itself or TC to be sure. EDIT: There is actually a blurb on the MAAC exemption on this page - tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/flying-your-drone-safely-legally. Cheers!
Honestly, it's not that hard. Put in a decent amount of prep time and make sure you have the materials ready when writing and you'll be set. Good luck! 👍
The Mini certainly solves the "problem". I think you'll find travelling to be an issue too though. Many countries are adopting laws similar to Canada, some are worse and every country is different. Cheers!
I have a DJI mavic Pro. And I think the Drone laws are stupid in Canada. But I am okay now because I am a registered drone pilot and my drone is registered with the government. So I can basically fly it anywhere just not close to an airport.
Hey Steve! Congratulations on passing your exam, and thank you for the shout out and kind words! Happy droning!
You bet Don, thanks!
Don Joyce u related to joe joyce
Thankyou
@@SteveCoutts Steve with the basic liscenene can you do commercial and work for real estate, etc or you need advanced?
Keep inspiring
@@knowthyself1981 Thanks! Canadian laws don't distinguish between using the drone recreationally and commercially. The easiest way to stay within the law is to fly sub-250g. That's a frictionless as your going to get in Canada and you don't have to worry about keeping logs, etc. If you are going to start using it commercially, depending on the activity, you may want to consider liability insurance. I don't believe it would be a requirement if you're just doing Real Estate work but if you work on some industrial sites they may require it. Always good to do a bit of research before you dive in. Cheers!
I passed...65% lol with absolutely zero knowledge on aviation and haven't even flew a drone yet. I skimmed the material provided on a few internet sites and took the plunge expecting to fail. The questions are pretty difficult but you can pick apart the wrong ones and get them that way. Google helped with about 3 questions, and the CAR I could only find 3 answers on. It was much easier for me to pass my RPAL exam, which allows me to own handguns and AR15s then this....go figure.
I saw your video last weekend and then as per your suggestion I followed the videos of Don Joyce and today I passed basic exam with 80% on first attempt.
Thank you
That is awesome! Good for you! Happy, safe flying! 👍
I'm currently studying for my Advanced license through Coastal Drone. They have a great program and I bought the "Everything Package" since I want to fly professionally. Thank you for taking the time to make this video, because it helped me focus on what will be on the exam!
Glad the video was helpful. Best of luck with the Advanced Exam! 👍
You got scammed. These laws are all scans that jyst make it more dangerous. Not more safe. I am sorry you had to do that.
How was your exam?
Congratz, I passed my basics first try.i got 5 wrong. I got it yeturday. Utube helped me with where to look. Great video. Advanced is my next step
Congratulations Jason and best of luck on your Advanced! Cheers!
Keep up the great videos, I really dig that you still fly the Spark as I’m a new owner of a Spark as of three days ago! It’s nice to see a UA-camr supporting this product as I enter the hobby even years after its release.
Thanks! Congrats on your Spark! Such a fun, capable little drone. I love mine and it's still got plenty of miles left to go. 😀
Congrats Steve! Don's study is very well done, and it helped me tremendously.
Thanks! Yeah, Don's video was great!
Congrats! It's an amazing thing that the little Spark has opened up so many learning paths, be they photography, editing, drone laws, gear, researching legal places to fly... as well as all of the topics covered in becoming certified. It's truly a journey and it goes far beyond what I originally saw in the Spark marketing material! I do think that anyone who invests the time to take and pass the test will have no regrets! Great post!
Thanks. I never really considered that but you're right the little drone that could has "sparked" a whole new adventure. 😀
Well done steve on passing. Keep them videos coming pal 👍
Thanks! You bet, more on the way... 😀
I feel like this video was a great place for me to start. Thanks!
Awesome Randy! Good luck pursuing your pilot's certificate!
Quite an encouraging video. Thanks man. Hope you are enjoying you Drone.
Thanks and thanks for watching. Definitely enjoying my drone. Cheers!
I managed to score 88% with minimal studying(I looked at the length of most of the sources and said 'Hell no.'). I think I was able to do this because of some existing knowledge I already had(probably boosted my grade by at least 20%) and a decent ability to Google things quickly. In terms of looking things up, the sources available only helped me with 2 or 3 questions. Everything else I just googled. That said, I took up the full 90 minutes.
I think the average person could probably pass this test without any studying(apart from watching Don's 29 minute study guide(very helpful on it's own)), as long as they have a decent ability to find answers on Google quickly.
Yeah, I don't disagree. I'm not a very good or quick Googler - haha!
I passed yesterday using the same method and also got 88%.
Remember that the running theme is don’t fly in controlled airspace and keep your plane 30 meters horizontally from people, and have permission to fly from the property owner.
It’s not rocket science and only as difficult as a drivers test.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I prepare it for one hour and my 1st attempt is 79% mark. Lost most of them in NAVIGATION and RADIOTELEPHONY.
Congrats!!! There are definitely some tricky questions in there. Happy, safe flying!
Great video! You are now one of the small few who has this. I will be joining you soon.
Thanks! I think there's more people certified than you think. Good luck with it!
Congratulations Steve on passing your test, thank you for the video, I have a spark myself and I’m studying for the test. And this video help me organize my thoughts, and my studying process.
Thanks! Good to hear and good luck on the test! 👍
Congratulations Steve for passing that exam. It is a great video thank you so much👍
Thanks and thanks for watching! Cheers!
Thanks for your help. Very kind of you to recommend Don Joyce.
You're welcome. Don's a great guy and super knowledgeable on the subject matter. 👍
Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent video, thank you so much. I own a DJI Mini, two Mini 2,s , and ended up getting a DJI FPV so I need to write for my Basic License. If I get a high mark, I will apply for the advanced License. You did a great job researching the Canadian requirements on how to get a Drone License and explaining it clearly within your Video.
Thanks Dennis I appreciate the comment and kind words.. Oooh, I was very tempted with the DJI FPV, especially when they dropped the price a bit. Best of luck with the exams! I would also recommend checking out Don Joyce's channel for Canadian regulations and exams. Don does a very thorough job on more subjects than I cover. Cheers!
Congratulations Steve, thanks for the info, will definitely be going for the exams soon, summer is passing by I and cant fly my drone without it
Thanks! Yeah, absolutely! If you put in some good preparation it will be a piece of cake. Good luck if and when you write it! 👍
Good strategy to do "easy" questions first and make a last review to identify any "brain fart" answers at the end. As a student, I remember many colleagues burning the exam time on harder questions and not having time left for plenty of easy ones that came later in the test. I've also caught many silly mistake in my own exams by doing a final review. It is also good to start with easy questions to build-up confidence and get over the initial stress. Stumbling on a harder question in the beginning can increase stress and hinder your performance. On a timed test where all questions are worth the same amount of points, always go for the easiest first.
Passed the Basic with your help Steve, thanks.
Good job Nelson! Glad the video was useful. Happy, safe flying!
Blimey Steve that's a lot of hoops to jump through. Wonder what the deal is if you have a licence from, say the UK, would it entitle you to the same flight privileges there? Good to see you back on my screen chum.
Not as much as the Advanced but still a pretty hefty requirement. It's funny, I was thinking the same thing that perhaps one day your drone pilot's license from one country would permit you the same abilities in another. I don't think we are there yet though. Hopefully some day. 👍
Nice work Steve 👍 Glad you're grounded, no pun intended.
Haha! Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up!! Great advice and thorough guide. Will definitely try to get my certification soon!!
Thanks Mark. Good luck when you go to write the exam! Cheers!
Congrats Steve! I took mine back in January..glad to have done it early :) great video my friend
Thanks and congrats to you! Yeah, I was just too busy to even look at it and I couldn't put it off any longer. Haha! 😀
KENNY !! Steve is gonna come livestream with us on Sept 11 ... Soooooo I'm thinking it's about time we get you on TOOOOOOOO !! LOL
I wish I was up there brother but love all your videos! Cheers
Thanks!
Excellent video buddy ! Thanks for the comments and Don’s reference. I really appreciated
Thank you. Good luck if you're writing it. Honestly, it's not too bad if you do some prep. Cheers!
Love the outro lol. Thanks for your input.
The video is so old I had to go back and watch it to see what I did at the end - haha! Thanks for watching, especially all the way to the end. Cheers!
Congrats Steve!! Good video! Thanks!
Thanks Paul!
Great, concise and informative video. Well done.
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Great video, very helpful, will be using it as my study guide.
Awesome and thanks! Good luck on the test, it's honestly not too bad. 😁
Thank you Steve for the amazing information, and congratulations on passing your exam! I am definitely going to prepare for this, along with my wife, so we are prepared to take the exam. Your videos are informative, and educational. I see you take a lot of pride in your work. Happy droning!
Oh, thanks very much, I appreciate it! My wife Jen is going to give the exam a go too, we just ran out of time before vacation. Good luck to you and your wife on the exam, let me know how it goes.
@@SteveCoutts Absolutely, it will happen sometime next year.
You are a good cheerleader! Good tips!
Thanks!
Print out CARS 901 from TC website, studies about 2 hrs, wrote test, passed 82%.
same - 77%
Hi Mirage, can you put link for CARS 901 Thank you
@@carofiglioroberto6688 laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-433/page-164.html#h-1111565
This is terrific, Steve. Was having a devil of a time finding the correct study material. This eases my kind considerably. I'll just study this stuff at my own pace and should be ready for Summer. Were you able to cut and paste questions and ask google, during the test?
Thanks. If I recall correctly, I tried copy/paste in Google but usually that just came back with other folks asking the same question. It is in violation of the rules to reveal or post any of the questions/answers online so it's likely you won't find direct matches. I believe if you put in a decent amount of time so you know the base materials well, you should have no trouble. There wasn't more than a handful of questions I really didn't know and had to search for answers. Good luck!
Thanks for the great walkthrough! Nice work!
Thanks and thanks for watching!
I passed the exam doing it in my usual way of taking exam in IT License certificate. I know to much to study for this drone exam but my way (which I only reserve it to my self) is also a good way to pass the exam. Well nice sharing.
Awesome! Congratulations on passing the exam! Happy, safe flying.
@@SteveCoutts We can fly now.
I don't know what it will take or if I would ever fly my drone in Canada, but right now I am studying to get my Commercial drone license here in the USA. IT really makes your head hurt!
Wow, good for you! Good luck! 👍
Thank you Steve. Informative and very important to know. I shall give it a go.
Terrific! Good luck!
Thanks for the info. I need to take the exam too
You bet! Good luck when you write. 👍
Thank you for that video, I just received my Mavic Air 2, can't wait to be certified to fly it ! It's going to be a big upgrade from the Tello ! I appreciate the study guidelines you put out there, certainly is going to save me a lot of time !
Thanks for watching! Yeah, I'll say the MA2 is a BIG upgrade from the Tello! Exciting! Good luck on the exam. Cheers!
It is easy to pass. Lots of time. I agree with your analysis
Thanks for the tips, I’ve done basic flight school courses ages ago and feel like it will be good to learn the drone laws before i start flying again
Thanks for watching! It was a bit of work but I enjoyed learning some new stuff. Good luck.
Very well explained. Bravo!
Thanks! 👍
Great video and excellent coverage of the documents required to read and study for the exam. Might be helpful to have 2 computers going, one for research and one to do the exam. Try not to have any distractions. First try and received 91%. Fly safe!
Thanks and good point. 91%! Great job! Happy flying! 👍
Great video! Lots of useful info.
Thanks!
We're getting laws like this in Australia. They're not in place yet but CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) want us to register all of our drones over 250g, and businesses or freelancers have to pay over A$100 PER DRONE to fly commercially. Everyone who wants to fly a drone also has to do a small online quiz (every year I think) for less than A$20 to be registered. Luckily I have a Remote Pilot's License so I don't think I need to register my self, but I might need to register all my aircraft (I don't think you need to pay though).
Cool, thanks for sharing that. Yeah, I expect many countries will end up adopting similar laws to Canada.
Great job man
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Congrats!! Thanks for the info. Very informative. Should I take the exam if I visit Canada? Or should I leave my Spark at home:( Your videos are the best. You have taught me a ton of things. Thx.
You have to be a Canadian citizen in order to take the exam. I believe for visitors to Canada, you need to get a special exemption from Transport Canada to fly. Of course, you can also fly a sub 250g drone and then the restrictions don't apply. Glad the videos have been helpful. 😀
@@SteveCoutts Thanks Steve. I've been studying the material you suggested and have learned a ton of stuff. It was while looking the material over I noticed the Canadian citizenship requirement and a link for permission. I sent an email to Transport Canada through the link provided. There was a phone number also. My wife and I will be visiting your wonderful country mid July. If you have any suggestions, please respond, if not I just want to thank you again for your time and effort you have given in order for Spark owners and other drone enthusiasts to have a better experience. Sincerely, Don
@@donspringer8234 Here is the link to what you need to know to fly in Canada as a visitor - www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety/get-permission-fly-drone-outside-rules.html. Good luck!
Hey Steve, I would like to thank you for all the info that you have shared with the youtube community, I'm starting today to study for the exam so I hope that maybe tomorrow night ill take the basic operation exam.
I'm rolling a Mavic Air and trout fishing season It's opening this weekend and I'll like to take my drone out for a spin :)
Thank you again for sharing so much info with us!
Thank you! Good luck on the exam! 🤞
Btw I passed he basic exam last night!
:)
@@FishonFishgone Oh sweet! Congratulations and happy, safe flying! 👍👍
Steve Coutts thank you!
Getting ready for the advanced exam!
Great advice. Thanks!
George E boy george
Thanks and thanks for watching! 😀
Nice Editing!
Thanks!
Nice vid! I can't wait to get my mavic pro in the air and film some shots of Denver (and Colorado). Thanks for sharing. 😀
Thanks! I bet there are some gorgeous places to fly in Colorado. 😀
Bought a M2Z, that evening winged the exam and passed first try, didint study what so ever but didint hurt that Im an ex pilot :) I suggest doing a bit of studying for sure if you have no history of flying previously!!! Great vid.
Haha! Well, I think for an ex-pilot it would be a breeze. 😀 I enjoyed learning about all the aviation bits and it sure made me appreciate what pilots have to go through to become licensed. Thanks and enjoy your drone!
@@SteveCoutts my dad has had his actual private pilot's license for many years in Canada, but English is not his first language, and he is not computer savvy. These drone rules are alienating and excluding many like my father from this hobby, who would otherwise be safe and responsible drone pilots. It's hardly Canadian to exclude people, as I've said elsewhere. My sister and I bought him his drone to enjoy in his retirement years, and I think a Mavic Mini is next.
@@chosenideahandle Yeah, that's tough. I agree with you but it's kind of how things go. The reckless and irresponsible among us ruin it for everyone. For your situation, I think the Mavic Mini is a good way to go. Sub-250g gets you around the restrictions and the Mini is just made to get up there and fly and not have to worry about anything else and simplified controls for capturing great video will make it a breeze. Good luck! 😀
congratulations well done stay safe see ya
Thanks Bene.
Congrats!
Thanks Isaac! How's your Spark treating you?
@@SteveCoutts I love it! Absolutely no reason to buy a more expensive drone when you can buy the spark for way cheaper. Super stable in the wind. Love sport mode for when I'm not filming, and just overall a great product even still in 2019. 1080p isn't a problem either.
Great video! This will help me!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful. Good luck should you write the test.
Hi Steve! Congratulations! Do you know if this certificate is necessary for tourists too? If I travel to Canada I must have this certificate to fly my Soark?
As a non-resident, you cannot register your drone or write the exam to become certified. Instead, you must apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). The link to do that is here - www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety/get-permission-fly-drone-outside-rules.html
Thanks for the very informative vlog
Thanks for watching!
Thanks Steve! Going to start my hardcore study today! Cheers :)
Sweet! Good luck! 👍
Thanks Steve
Thanks for watching Paul!
Congratulations
Thanks!
Nice one Steve what are job prospects after passing this exam is there enough work out there ? thanksalot
Thanks! I can't really comment too much on the job prospects because I am not actively looking for drone work however I have picked up some paid Real Estate photo/video jobs. I'm sure the work is out there. Cheers!
I have 6 licences is 8 countries. Thankyou guys
wow
My employer now wants to get a drone for our videos and I need to get certified. Thanks for this concise breakdown of what to expect. BTW, who are the communists who downvoted this???
LOL! Glad the video was helpful. Good luck on the exam Jeremy! Cheers!
Doesn’t basic license limit you to “g” classified airspace which can only be found in very remote areas most likely 5-8 hour drive from any major city
You can fly in any uncontrolled airspace, which for me living in Calgary is about 10km from the city centre. Of course, there are City bylaws which specify other restrictions. If you get a sub-250g drone, basically none of the rules apply. This is a good tool for knowing where you can fly in Canada - nrc.canada.ca/en/drone-tool/
Nicely done summary! For our Canadian citizens who fly RPAS (not just drones, this includes EVERYTHING that flies remotely), please mention that becoming a member of MAAC (Model Aeronautics Assoc of Canada) completely EXEMPTS all remote-control pilots from CAR section IX. No joke! This applies to non-sanctioned MAAC fields, contrary to popular belief. This was only just approved on May 19, 20019. Information found at www.maac.ca/en/transport_canada.php.
Thanks very much for passing that along. I will definitely check it out!
Grats!
Thanks!
Really useful. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Good luck if you're writing the exam! 👍
Thankyou for the info. Im just getting into drones
Thanks for watching! Flying drones is a lot of fun. Good luck with it.
Finally decided to get my license, always wanted to get my pilot license but this is close enough for me.
Haha! Awesome! While studying for the basic exam I was thinking about how much pilots need to know. Crazy. I agree, the drone license is good enough for me too. 😀
and if you buy the Mavic Mini you don't have to do any of this :D Just need to fly in proper areas.
Exactly why I added a Mini to the team. 👍😀
@@SteveCoutts if you have a mavic mini you can fly without a certification? but you have to do it like basic drone flying rules right?
@@herreraschannel8930 very good question, my read of this, after looking at various documents, is that, if no registration or license is needed, you can basically do what you want as long as you don't interfere with people or aircraft operations. 250g is the line, below which you're in the realm of toys.. footballs, soccer balls, frisbees, balsa model rockets (not to be 'hazardous to aviation safety'), etc.. of course it says to stay below 400' (as good practice), and the Dji fly app enforces that ( & even tracks your flights w GPS data) and i believe it will stop you from flying in the flight-paths of airport runways (good!). however, w/o the need for a drone license or registration though, i'm not entirely convinced that national/provincial parks are necessarily off limits to drones under 250g, i know its implied they are, but i assume again, that only drones of 250g and above are effected...
check out the micro-drone section here ... tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/find-your-category-drone-operation
... im checking www.canlii.org/. .. if i find something definitive, i'll hopefully come back here and post it.
my take is confirmed: ua-cam.com/video/sQ1YCsPUhqk/v-deo.html
@@herreraschannel8930 anybdrone below 250grams no license no registration required
Knowledge is power. Remember that everyone. Great video! 👏🏻
Absolutely! 👍
I'm wondering if I should take the test and get the air 2 or just get the mini 2 hmm, love from vancouver Canada
Haha! Yeah, that's a tough decision. Both are great but is the Air 2 worth twice as much? Hard to say. Depends on your needs and your budget. Good luck! 😀
@@SteveCoutts hmm good point. well there's no budget, if I'm being honest, I want the air 2 but I don't want to bother with Canadian drone laws, so I'm trying to justify if the mini is good enough. or if the convenience is worth more than the image quality because to me it looks no better than an oversized sample of my spark I previously had because it still has grain
beyond thankful for technology honestly so cool to see how much tech they pack into a little thing like this, the only thing I saw that was making my eyes dance was the mavic 2 pro files, those look incredible, so maybe I'll use the mini 2 until I can get the mavic 3? you made a good point that next year another one is going to be better so no need to feel bad about it
@@LouisLuzuka I just got the Mavic Air 2 and its so worth it. The pictures it takes is incredible
@@incadanman18 how is it, are you loving it and did you get the fly more package?
@@LouisLuzuka I got the fly more package! It is absolutely incredible and I highly recommend!
Thanks for the excellent advice! Thinking about getting a drone for personal videos work. Can see the need for controls for piloting a drone big and heavy enough to do real damage but all this red-tape is a bit ridiculous for small drones - how soon before the regulate baseballs and hockey pucks - those can do real damage!
Thanks and thanks for watching! Get yourself a sub 250g drone like the new DJI Mavic Mini and you don't have to register, get certified and you can almost fly anywhere you want - ua-cam.com/video/MdEPmpyneS0/v-deo.html
I passed my exam today i'm officially certified. But nothing there for RC helicopters just drones
Good for you! I believe RC helicopters fall under the RPAS umbrella - remotely piloted aircraft systems. Members of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) may also be exempt from CARs part IX too. Worth checking out.
I didn't even know about the requirement to get licensed. Tried out the drone and on the third flight it lost connection. It took off on its own and today is drone search day. My wife said it was a blessing, because a $ 1000 fine is worse...
Oh no!!! Check your flight logs for position and trajectory information, it may help limit the search area. Good luck with the search! I have been there a few times myself.
Great video. Question. Having gone through all this hassle and bureaucracy has it made you a better and safer drone pilot?
Haha! I can't say it made me a better pilot but I definitely have a better understanding and that isn't a bad thing. I actually enjoyed learning more about aviation in general and it sure made me appreciate the kind of knowledge required to become a *real* pilot. 😀
The answer is no, he became more dangeeous. The laws are horribly written and blatantly insulting.
Hi Steve, great video, thanks !
If you do the advanced exam, does the passed test on your record expire if you don't do the in personal training?
Thanks! I'm not completely familiar with all the rules for the advanced operations certificate. I know you have to write the exam and do an in person flight review. Just like the basic certificate you also have to meet "recency" requirements to show you are keeping your knowledge current or you may lose your status. Best information is here - tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/find-your-category-drone-operation. You can also contact TC directly. Cheers!
Need 10hrs total it says. No matter what I can't get past 5.5 hrs???
thank you for this
Thanks for watching! Cheers!
Great job and congratulations, well my question is if am not a Canadian but will be visiting to fly drones should i do the same exam as you guys or there is some other rules and regulations for visitors with temporary visa? thanks for sharing the great information it really helps . Cheers man
As a non resident, you won't be able to fly in Canada without special permission from Transport Canada.
Thanks. Registering a drone and obtaining a certificate, which is required for flying in Canada, is only open to Canadians at the present time. There doesn't seem to be any provisions for tourists yet. You may be ok with a sub-250g drone but I would call Transport Canada to be sure.
@@picoultwedding3357 Ohh i will have to check that out then
@@SteveCoutts Thank you Steve, i wish it was open to anyone even from outside so when they come they can easily fly, but now i will have to check the transport Canada, but i guess i should do that when i come, or i wont even be allowed to carry my drone which is spark so far into the country?
@@under60secondjourney19 I dont think DJI would block you, but its upon us to follow the regulations, tho at some point it feels Odd but however the case we should follow so we dont get fine for nothing
I tried doing the exam without studying, mostly to see what I would need to study up on. I didn't k lnow about Fon's page at the time, but looking at what I needed even for the basic...I'm having a hard time just finding the time to study. It's been a while since I last flew my Spark too so I'm debating if I should bother and sell it or keep it around and maybe if I stumble upon a couple days off to study and take the exam.
Yeah, if you're a good "Googler" you could probably just read through the basic material and then Google the rest during the exam. I over prepared. I didn't think the test was too difficult. Don's study guide is a great resource too. Good luck.
Thanks Steve. Wrote my Small Basic Exam yesterday and did quite well thanks to your video assistance and a few hours studying. Also, thanks for your pointer to Don. I also found his videos very helpful. Keep up the good work and thanks again.
Awesome! Congrats on passing the exam. Don does great work! Cheers!
What about tourists carrying a drone visiting Canada?
As a non resident, you won't be able to fly in Canada without special permission from Transport Canada.
Yea basically tourists not welcome in Canada when you enter customs with a drone and would be confiscated for Liberalistic peoples "SAFETY"
say that i am a foreign tourist who want to visit canada, i also like to fly drone and capturing beautiful natural landscape in canada, so with this new regulation, i cant fly my drone?
As a non resident, you won't be able to fly in Canada without special permission from Transport Canada.
A takeoff weight below 250g may exempt you but I would check with Transport Canada to be sure.
As a tourist with a drone, you will be turned away and not welcome in Canada due to drone ban effective in June 1st
@@chipinfoos not true at all. Under 250grams you do not need to register. Over 250grams you can apply for a special operations licence if you are a tourist
I am aware of this as I am going to canada next week as a tourist with my drone. Hopefully will soon be a resident
Hello From Prince Edward Island I am going to be Writing my Exam tomorrow as needed for the Mavic Air 2 is it hard as I have been out of school for quite some time
Hi Seth. I fall in to the same category - "out of school for quite some time" - haha. I would not say it was difficult. My only complaint was that some of the questions had multiple answers that were close but of course only one will be correct. Intentionally designed to be confusing, I suppose, to make sure you know your stuff. There were not many of them, maybe 6 or so. If I wasn't 100% sure of my answer I just moved on to the next question and looped back. Don't waste too much time on one question. I think maybe I had to give my best guess on 2 or 3. If you've done some decent prep and can Google quickly (it's completely open book), you should be able to achieve a passing grade without too much trouble. Good luck on the exam! Cheers!
@@SteveCoutts Thanks
took the basic exam first time failed with 60% then today passed with flying colours!!! Thanks to your video as well as Don's videos
The great thing - you are also allowed to fly a 747 now :-)
Haha! Well, it sure made me appreciate everything a pilot needs to know. 😀
Michael Kohlfürst 😂
Once the website says you pass what happens next? Does the government mail you something to carry around or what? Thanks for the video.
No card gets mailed. You need to carry proof of license so you can print out your certificate. Make sure you carry physical flight log & maintenance books too unless you plan on doing that electronically. Happy flying!
I've tried twice and just can't seem to get it.
Crappy. 🙁 It's not an easy exam. The video pretty much breaks it down but I really put in some good, hard study time. I came in to the test really prepared and I still didn't find it by no means easy. Sure there were a bunch of questions I banged off right away knowing the correct answers but so many seemed purposely designed to confuse. I spent a lot of time at the end trying to make sure I had those correct and some I had to give it my best "guess". If you are game to give it another go, check out more of Don Joyce's material on UA-cam. And, I suppose, you could always just go with a sub-250g drone, which is what I mostly fly now, and then you don't have to be certified at all. Good luck!
Thank you very much Steve for this useful information. Question : I tried to take the exam before register a drone ( because I didn't purchase one yet) Looks like I can't take the exam before register a drone , is that true or I did something wrong with my log in . Thank you
You're welcome, thanks for watching. Honestly, I don't know that one. I registered my drone before taking the test too but that does sound logical that it wouldn't let you write the exam without having at least one drone registered. They might have done that to help prevent people from taking the exam only to sell/give exam that information to others.
Link doesn't work for study
I fixed the link. Cheers!
if you have a MAAC license for over 30yrs, do i still need the basic to fly my drone, phantom 4pro
I believe MAAC members have an exemption to the drone rules but I would check the MAAC itself or TC to be sure. EDIT: There is actually a blurb on the MAAC exemption on this page - tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/flying-your-drone-safely-legally. Cheers!
You are really encouraged me to take the exam. (fist pump)
Honestly, it's not that hard. Put in a decent amount of prep time and make sure you have the materials ready when writing and you'll be set. Good luck! 👍
AlteX Academy has good classes! :)
Not a chance I am doing any of this. I'll just sell my spark and buy mavic mini. Or keep spark for when I go out of the country
The Mini certainly solves the "problem". I think you'll find travelling to be an issue too though. Many countries are adopting laws similar to Canada, some are worse and every country is different. Cheers!
What is the price for basic and advanced licensing
$10 to write the test.
I have a DJI mavic Pro. And I think the Drone laws are stupid in Canada. But I am okay now because I am a registered drone pilot and my drone is registered with the government. So I can basically fly it anywhere just not close to an airport.
Happy, safe flying! 👍
Nicely done and thanks for posting this. I agree with you on doing the best that you can rather than just a passing grade.
Thanks on both counts. 😀