NAV Drone Web: Categories of Operations

NAV Drone Web supports the planning of five categories of operation. Each category corresponds to specific operation types and is validated against the applicable Transport Canada rules and regulations.

This section provides an overview of each category, including the supported operation types, allowable operating weights, and pilot licensing requirements.

For detailed rules and regulations, please refer to Transport Canada’s Drone Safety webpage.

The following categories of operation are available for planning in NAV Drone Web:

• Microdrone
• Basic
• Advanced
• SFOC
• Level 1 Complex

Select the Micro drone category of operation in NAV Drone to plan a micro drone operation.

• The total operating weight (drone plus payload) must be less than 250 g.
• Micro drone operations do not require a drone pilot certificate or drone registration.

Select the Basic category in NAV Drone to plan an operation conducted under Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) conditions. 

• The operating weight must be between 250 g and 25 kg.
• Select a drone with a valid drone registration recorded in the Gear screen.
• Select a pilot with a Basic, Advanced, or Level 1 Complex pilot certificate recorded in the Documents screen.

Basic operations are limited to areas away from bystanders and outside of controlled airspace.

Select the Advanced category in NAV Drone to plan operations in higher-risk environments such as near people or in controlled airspace.

The Advanced category supports the following operation types:

• VLOS (Visual Line of Sight)
• EVLOS (Extended Visual Line of Sight)
• Sheltered Operations

Operating weight limits:

• 250 g to 25 kg for VLOS, EVLOS, or Sheltered operations (Small RPAS)
• >25 kg to 150 kg for VLOS operations only (Medium RPAS)

Requirements:

• The drone must have a valid drone registration entered in the Gear screen.
• The pilot must hold an Advanced or Level 1 Complex pilot certificate recorded in the Documents screen.

Select the Level 1 Complex category of operation in NAV Drone to plan lower-risk Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

The Level 1 Complex category supports the following operation type:

• BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight)

Operating weight limits:

• 250 g to 25 kg (Small RPAS)
• >25 kg to 150 kg (Medium RPAS)

Requirements:

• The drone must have a valid drone registration entered in the Gear screen.
• The pilot must hold a Level 1 Complex pilot certificate recorded in the Documents screen.

Select the SFOC category in NAV Drone to plan an operation conducted under an approved Transport Canada Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC).

This category applies to operations that fall outside the standard Basic, Advanced, or Level 1 Complex rules.

You must hold a valid SFOC approval issued by Transport Canada. If you do not have one, you must apply directly through Transport CanadaOpen a new window.

Foreign operators may use their approved SFOC number in place of a Transport Canada drone registration.