RPAS/Drone Ground School Courses
Since 2012 we've been offering Online Ground School for RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System)/Drone operators.
Today we offer 2 courses, Small Basic and Small Advanced. Both of our courses are accepted by Transport Canada and prepare you for the Transport Canada written examinations.
RPAS Small Basic Online Ground School
This course covers all of the topics found in the Transport Canada "Recommended Knowledge Requirements for less than 25 kg, Visual Line of Sight Guide TP 15263":
- Section 1: Air law, air traffic rules and procedures
- Section 2: RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systems
- Section 3: Human factors
- Section 4: Meteorology
- Section 5: Navigation
- Section 6: Flight operations
- Section 7: Theory of flight
- Section 8: Radiotelephony
Includes 20 hours of course material including video, presentations, quizzes, and examination. Access to the course is for 270 days from any device for one user.
RPAS Advanced Online Ground School
This course covers all of the topics found in the Transport Canada "Recommended Knowledge Requirements for less than 25 kg, Visual Line of Sight Guide TP 15263":
- Section 1: Air law, air traffic rules and procedures
- Section 2: RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systems
- Section 3: Human factors
- Section 4: Meteorology
- Section 5: Navigation
- Section 6: Flight operations
- Section 7: Theory of flight
- Section 8: Radiotelephony
Includes 25 hours of course material including video, presentations, quizzes, and examination. Access to the course is for 270 days from any device for one user.
Frequently Ask Questions.
What's the difference between these operations?
Small Basic Operations
If you meet all 3 of these conditions, you're conducting basic operations:
- You fly it in uncontrolled airspace
- You fly it more than 30 metres (100 feet) horizontally from bystanders
- You never fly it over bystanders
If you do not meet any 1 of these 3 conditions, you are conducting advanced operations.
For basic operations, here are some of the rules you must follow:
- Register your drone with Transport Canada before you fly it for the first time
- Mark your drone with its registration number
- Pass the Small Basic Exam
- Be able to show your Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations and proof of registration when you fly
Small Advanced operations
If you meet any 1 of these conditions, you are conducting advanced operations:
- You want to fly in controlled airspace
- You want to fly over bystanders
- You want to fly within 30 metres (100 feet) of bystanders (measured horizontally)
For advanced operations, here are some of the rules you must follow:
- Register your drone with Transport Canada before you fly it for the first time
- Mark your drone with its registration number
- Pass the Small Advanced Exam
- Pass a flight review with a flight reviewer
- Be able to show your Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations and proof of registration when you fly your drone
- Fly within the operational limits of your drone
You can only use drones that meet the safety requirements for the operation you want to conduct. See tips on choosing the right drone before you fly.
If you have a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations, you do not need a Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations to conduct basic operations.
How does the examination work?
Examination for both RPAS courses are conducted online at Transport Canada Website.
Is this course Transport Canada approved?
Yes, our courses are accepted by Transport Canada. They meet the requirement both by Staff Instruction (SI) No. 623-001, and TP15263 Transport Canada does not approve ground schools. Transport Canada approves flight training units and the flight training unit can offer ground school training. Harv's Air Service operates Flight Training unit #3346. Decades of experience.
What/Who is Harv's Air?
Harv's Air is a flight training unit (TC#3466), operating since 1973. Currently operating 42 airplanes and simulators from 2 locations in the Winnipeg, Manitoba area. Starting in 1999, Harv's Air started offering online ground school training toward Transport Canada examinations and flying preparation. Today we offer more then 30 online ground school courses from the Ultralight Permit to the Airline Transport Pilot Licence.
What's the history of the course?
In 2012 we started offering RPAS ground school training after a Transport Canada inspector vented his frustration in dealing with SFOC applicants who didn't know anything about the system of aviation. After completing this course we started to get attention from Unmanned System Canada Association and was invited to join a working group with Transport Canada in Ottawa on crafting TP15263E. Over the course of several in person meetings and many web/phone based meetings the knowledge guide was completed in summer of 2014.
Do you offer training with actual RPAS?
We will be offering Flight Reviews, details to follow.