On the road to:
Canmore
Alberta, Canada
Canmore, Alberta is at the footsteps of Banff National Park, under an hour west of Calgary, Canada, and is considered the gate city to the Rockies. With a population of under 14,000 and situated in a valley completely surrounded by the peaks of the Rocky mountains, this area is a must visit for any explorer looking to veer slightly off he beaten path and wake up amongst picturesque views in any direction. Finding safe and compliant take-off locations proved to be a challenge; the area is rife with National and Provincial parks, which are strict no-fly zones as per Transport Canada guidelines, unless prior approval is received from a park warden or grounds superintendent (usually at a cost). Additionally, Calgary by-laws state:
No person in control of a model airplane of any nature shall use any portion of a Street for the purpose of flying or testing such a model airplane. (Calgary Bylaw 20M88 - Streets)
A quadcopter drone can be considered a model aircraft, so the challenge in finding a parcel of land to take-off can take hours of research, preparation and collaboration. Check out the short clip below and some tips on how to successfully fly in new areas within Canada.
Watch a short clip above (40 sec) or on youtube here.
Here's a few quick tips on how to select a take-off site within Canada:
National Research Council (NRC) has released a UAV site selection mapping tool to gage where it is safe and not safe to fly within Canada: https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/solutions/collaborative/civuas/uav_site_selection_tool.html
The NRC currently does not have its mapping tool set up for national and provincial park restrictions. Once a site is selected, research whether it is within parks boundaries. See if you're around a park zone in Google maps, and verify park boundaries from the official park website and trail maps.
Get familiar with local bylaws by finding or contacting local flight operators that are familiar with their zone's restrictions. We've referenced Calgary's Yellowhouse Aerial's excellent blog on local flight restrictions around the area.
Be mindful and turn on your drone's geo-fencing. Manufacturers such as DJI collaborate with cities and municipalities to geo-fence no fly zones, so even if you miss a no-drone zone sign your drone will not be able to proceed there.
Fly within Transport Canada's guidelines by either flying recreationally, drafting up a Special Flight Operating Certificate, applying for an exemption or reducing the size of your drone.
Do you need assistance in drafting your Special Flight Operating Certificate to fly within Canada? Contact us for a consultation!
Happy Flying!
sliʞka studio