RPAS Advanced key terms

The section of Canada's aviation regulations that sets the rules for unmanned aircraft: registration, pilot certification, safety declarations, and where and how remotely piloted aircraft may be flown.

A Transport Canada pilot certificate that allows flying in controlled airspace, near people, or beyond basic limits, issued after passing an online exam and a practical flight review.

A mandatory Transport Canada record of a remotely piloted aircraft that assigns the aircraft a registration number, which must be marked on the airframe and kept current.

A declaration by the manufacturer that a remotely piloted aircraft system meets the design and safety standard required for advanced operations such as flying in controlled airspace or near people.

A written authorization from Transport Canada for an operation that does not fit the standard rules, such as flying above 400 feet above ground level or beyond visual line of sight.

A practical assessment of a pilot's flying skills, completed within the previous 24 months, that must be current in order to hold and exercise an advanced operations pilot certificate.

Controlled airspace in which an aircraft needs an air traffic control clearance and two-way radio contact before entering; remotely piloted aircraft generally need special permission to operate there.

Controlled airspace around airports where entry requires established two-way radio communication with air traffic control; remotely piloted aircraft operations are normally restricted without authorization.

Uncontrolled airspace where no air traffic control clearance is needed; most basic remotely piloted aircraft flying takes place here, still subject to altitude, distance and other operating rules.

Airspace designated for a specific hazard or activity, such as a forest fire or a prison, that aircraft may not enter without permission from the agency controlling that area.

A notice distributed to pilots that warns of temporary changes to the aviation system, such as closed or restricted airspace, unserviceable navigation aids, or work at an airport.

Controlled airspace extending upward from the surface around a controlled airport, usually to a defined altitude, where an air traffic control clearance and radio contact are required.

A defined area around an uncontrolled aerodrome where pilots must broadcast their intentions on a published frequency before entering, taxiing, or departing the area.

The ability of the pilot to see the remotely piloted aircraft directly, without binoculars or a camera, at all times during flight in order to monitor it and the surrounding airspace.

Global Navigation Satellite System: a constellation of satellites, including GPS, that a receiver uses to calculate position, altitude and time; accuracy can degrade near buildings or with interference.

A software boundary programmed into a remotely piloted aircraft that prevents flight into defined areas, such as airports or restricted zones, or beyond a set distance or altitude.

A condition in which the communications link between the pilot station and the aircraft is lost, prompting an automatic response such as hovering, returning to home, or landing.

A visual flight rules navigation chart showing airports, airspace boundaries, navigation aids and terrain at a scale suited to low-altitude flight; useful for checking airspace before a flight.

The geodetic reference system, using latitude and longitude, on which GPS coordinates and Canadian aviation charts are based; coordinates taken in another datum can plot in the wrong place.

A routine coded observation of current weather at an airport, reporting wind, visibility, clouds, temperature, dew point and pressure, usually issued once each hour.

A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast: a coded prediction of expected weather at an airport over a stated period, typically 24 to 30 hours, including wind, visibility and cloud.

The height above ground of the lowest broken or overcast cloud layer; a low ceiling reduces the space available for visual flight and can hide the aircraft from the pilot.

Ice that builds on the airframe or propeller when flying through supercooled droplets; it adds weight, reduces lift and can make the aircraft uncontrollable.

A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance or time, often near thunderstorms or with a frontal passage, that can push an aircraft off its intended path.

The altitude the air behaves as if it were at, based on pressure, temperature and humidity; high density altitude reduces lift and propeller performance and lengthens takeoff.

A pilot's up-to-date understanding of the aircraft, surrounding airspace, weather and people nearby, which allows hazards to be noticed before they develop into emergencies.

A state of physical and mental tiredness that slows reactions, impairs judgement and increases error; it is a major cause of pilot mistakes, especially on long or repeated shifts.

A relaxed, overconfident attitude that develops when repeated flights go smoothly, leading a pilot to skip checks or stop scanning for traffic and hazards.

The point at which a pilot has more things to do than can be handled at once, so tasks are missed or rushed; it often follows an unexpected event that adds workload.

A structured process for choosing the safest course of action by identifying hazards, weighing options and committing to a plan before and during flight.

A crew technique of spotting threats in advance, trapping errors before they cause harm, and recovering when an undesired state occurs; it supports safe outcomes in dynamic operations.

A pre-flight inspection of the launch and recovery area to confirm clear space, safe ground, obstacles, airspace and emergency landing options before conducting a flight.

A written plan describing what the pilot will do if things go wrong, covering lost link, loss of GPS, low battery, fly-away, injury or fire, with assigned roles.

The check that the aircraft's total weight and the position of its centre of gravity stay within the manufacturer's limits, which affects stability, control and endurance.

A systematic check of the aircraft, propellers, batteries, controls and software before flight to confirm everything is serviceable and correctly set up.

A pre-identified open area, free of people and obstacles, where the aircraft can be put down if a failure or hazard prevents the flight from continuing.

The standard words used to spell out letters over the radio, such as Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, so that similar-sounding letters are not confused in transmission.

Repeating a clearance or instruction back to the controller to confirm it was heard and understood correctly; required for clearances involving altitudes, headings and frequencies.

The spoken distress signal, repeated three times, used when an aircraft or person is in grave and imminent danger and immediate assistance is required.

The urgency signal, repeated three times, used when a situation is serious but not immediately life-threatening, such as a precautionary landing or a minor system failure.