The Town of Athabasca does not require a permit to operate a drone. However, all operators are required to follow Transport Canada regulations.
You need a drone pilot licence to fly drones that weigh 250 grams (g) up to and including 25 kilograms (kg).
You need to be 14 years old to get a basic licence and 16 years old to get an advanced licence. Children younger than 14 must be supervised by someone with a licence. This includes clubs, camps and other youth groups.
All drones between 250 g and 25 kg in weight must be registered and you must clearly mark your drone with its registration number. Drones under 250 g do not need to be registered unless something is attached to it that increases its weight to 250 g or more. Drones over 25 kg also do not need to be registered, but require a special flight operations certificate.
Follow the basic safety rules. Not doing so may put lives, aircraft and property at risk. If you fly where you are not allowed or choose not to follow the rules, you could face fines of up to $3,000.
Fly your drone:
- where you can always see it, you can fly at night if you have lights on your drone
- below 122 metres (400ft) in the air
- away from bystanders, at a minimum horizontal distance of 30 metres
- away from emergency operations and advertised events
- Avoid forest fires, outdoor concerts and parades
- away from airports and heliports
- 5.6 kilometres from airports
- 1.9 kilometres from heliports
- Outside all restricted or controlled airspace
- far away from other aircraft
It’s important for you to be aware of privacy rules when flying. Some violations of a person’s privacy may go beyond privacy laws and may be offences that result in charges. This includes using drones in a way that could be:
- voyeurism
- mischief
- creating a nuisance
- violations of provincial or municipal laws
You’re responsible for knowing all the laws that may apply to your drone use. Rules and regulations are constantly being updated, please make sure you are following the most recent laws for drone usage for both recreational and commercial flying.
Transport Canada’s full Rules and Regulations
A Guide to Drone Safety in Canada
https://3dinsider.com/drone-safety-canada/
Privacy guidelines for drone users