What are commonly or informally known as "drones" refer to any aircraft which are piloted remotely and which do not have humans onboard. Technically speaking, that includes model aircraft.

Note that in the early 1990s, they were then popularly called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Nowadays, professionals in the field and most of the regulatory authorities refer to them as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPA/RPAS), a subset of the broader term Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UA/UAS) favored by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). There is a difference between RPA/RPAS and UA/UAS, but it's a subtle one: RPA/RPAS are controlled in real-time by a pilot, whereas UA/UAS can fly also autonomously.

Alright, let's get into the meat of it. You're REALLY interested in operating a drone, like one the following popular Small RPA/RPAS models:

• DJI Mavic (many variants, like the Mavic Air, Mavic Pro, etc... each with multiple iterations at this point), one of the most popular models out there

• DJI Phantom

• DJI Inspire

• Parrot Anafi

• Ryze Tello

• Protocol has many models of beginner racing drones

• That chinese-made drone that Amazon keeps highlighting to you when you're checking out (which I don't recommend, but to each their own)

Here are the steps any safe pilot starts off with:

Step 1: read all the material you can about drones and regulations, to help you pick the drone that's right for you, and understand the requirements for safely operating your drone. You're reading this blog post, so that's a good start, but don't stop there. Make sure to read the regulations and browse the website the regulatory authorities have set up:

• Canada's Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA): https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/flying-your-drone-safely-legally

• USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): https://www.faa.gov/uas/

• European Unions European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/faqs/drones-uas

Step 2: buy your drone. I will make separate blog posts to help you decide. You can start with the next step while you're waiting for your drone to arrive.

Step 3: obtain your pilot certificate. The one you need depends on your jurisdiction. There are also age restrictions. Refer to the table above.

Taking my example, in Canada you need at least a pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — basic operations as a minimum to operate a small RPAS, and even a pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — advanced operations if you want to fly your small RPAS:

(a) in controlled airspace;

(b) at a distance of less than 100 feet (30 m) but not less than 16.4 feet (5 m) from another person except from a crew member or other person involved in the operation, measured horizontally and at any altitude; [aka flying 'near people']

(c) at a distance of less than 16.4 feet (5 m) from another person, measured horizontally and at any altitude; [aka flying 'over people'] or

(d) within three nautical miles from the centre of an airport, or within one nautical mile from the centre of a heliport.

In Canada, you can obtain the pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — basic operations if you're at least 14 years old and after completing a relatively difficult online exam. My aeronautical knowledge is considered quite extensive, and let's just say I had to study hard to pass this one! You can also obtain a pilot certificate — small remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) — advanced operations if you're at least 16 years old and after passing an even more difficult online exam, and conducting a flight review with a flight reviewer.

In the USA, a remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating is necessary to operate a small UAS under Part 107. Alternatively, the operator should be under the direct supervision of a person who holds such a certificate. If you're at least 16 years old, you can obtain a part 107 remote pilot certificate by passing an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center;. If you're an existing Part 61 pilot certificate holder and have completed a flight review in the previous 24 months, your can get one my easily by taking a small UAS online training course provided by the FAA. BTW, Canadians that want to fly their small UAS in the USA must obtain a part 107 remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating, at least for the time being until the Canada-USA Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement is expanded to allow mutual recognition of eachothers' drone pilot certificates.

Step 4: register your drone. Refer to the table above for registration requirements depending on your jurisdiction. In Canada and the USA, small RPAS and small UAS must be registered. In Europe, you might not only need to register your drone, but also equip it with a transponder!

Step 5: have fun flying your drone, and respect the rules. This is the most important step 😎. Refer to the table above for a summary of the flight and operating rules (second reminder: this table doesn't cover all the rules in all jurisdictions, so it's your responsibility to check your local rules and abide by them). For example, in the USA, you are not allowed to fly your drone at light, whereas in Canada you may fly your drone at night if it's equipped with appropriate anti-collision lighting.

Here's a quick summary of flight rules that will keep you out of trouble (this list doesn't cover all the rules in all jurisdictions, so it's your responsibility to check your local rules and abide by them):

• Plan your flight by doing your research beforehand on the site where you plan to fly, and perform a site survey.

  • Avoid advertised events (any outdoor event that is advertised to the general public, including a concert, festival, market or sporting event), police and emergency operations (unless you are assisting the operation with the authorities' permission), and national parks.

  • Avoid flying near critical infrastructures.

  • Stay at least 3 nautical miles away from aerodromes, airport, heliport and waterdrome.

• Check the weather before flying. Do not fly your drone in strong winds or in risky environmental conditions (e.g. rain, icing conditions, snow, fog, hail...)

• Do a pre-flight inspection of your drone to ensure it is safe and airworthy before flying.

• Perform an operational risk assessment (or what I call a safety assessment) before flying. I talk about it in a separate blog post about how to fly your drone safely near people and properly.

• When flying:

  • Maintain the drone in direct visual line-of-sight (VLOS), and avoid operating it beyond visual line-of-sight (VLOS). Even if you can fly the drone pretty far while still technically keeping it in VLOS, remember to keep the drone close enough to maintain the connection with the remote controller.

  • Do not fly your drone above 400 feet above ground level (AGL).

  • Keep a safe distance between your drone and any bystanders (at least 100 ft or 30m).

  • Stay clear of aircraft, at all times.

Hope this helps you get started! If this blog post helps you out, don't hesitate to contact me and let me know...

I mentionned that the regulations above usually apply to Small RPA/RPAS or Small UA/UAS, which by definition are those weighing at least 250 grams (0.55 pounds).

Seeing the "market opportunity" for casual drone pilots that just want a more fancy way of taking a selfie or getting that epic aerial footage when they're performing extreme sports or crazy stunts, popular civilian drone makers like DJI developed what people casually and informally now refer to as "Micro-drones" or Micro RPA/RPAS or Micro UA/UAS, which are drones weighing 249 grams and below. The mRPA/mRPAS and mUA/mUAS acronyms are also becoming more prevalent to refer to these types of drones.

Micro-drones are drones weighing less than 250 g. The weight of the remote control is not factored in to the weight calculation, but the weight of anything attached or carried, such as optional cameras or safety cages or lens filters, will be considered part of the weight. The DJI Mavic Mini, which I own, is probably the most popular micro-drone, and it weighs 249 grams (note that that's without the protective safety cage that comes with it if you buy the "fly more" combo", or any lens filters that you may install on the camera,s o beware when operating it with the cage or lens filters since it might be considered a sRPA/sRPAS and not an mRPA/mRPAS). It can fly 30 minutes on one battery (my "fly more" combo came with 3 intelligent flight batteries), and it's capable of shooting awesome stabilized 4K video. Since buying it in the summer of 2020, DJI has released the Mavic Mini 2, which has improved performance and an even more awesome camera!

Micro-drones are designed to allow civilian drone owners to operate drones without needing to get a pilot certificate or to register their drones, both of which the new regulations now require for sRPA/sRPAS and above. simply said, pilots of micro-drones are not bound by the same requirements as other drones. While this means that most of the new regulations won't apply to micro-drone pilots (so they usually won’t need to register their drone or get a drone pilot certificate to fly them), it's important to note that some regulations do apply to micro-drones depending on the jurisdiction where you operate them (for example, in Canada, you must not operate any drone in a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of anyone). More on that below, and in the table above. Therefore, and a common-sense approach is nonetheless required to ensure pilots operate their micro-drone safely while respecting all other laws (like people's right to privacy).

While there are no prescriptive elements of the regulations, there is an expectation that the pilot of a micro-drone use good judgment, identify potential hazards, and take all necessary steps to avoid any risks associated with flying your drone.

For example, TCCA's website recommends that, as a good practice, micro-drone pilots should always:

• maintain the drone in direct visual line-of-sight (VLOS), and avoid operating it beyond visual line-of-sight (VLOS)

• do not fly your drone above 400 feet in the air

• keep a safe distance between your drone and any bystanders

• stay far away from aerodromes, airport, heliport and waterdrome

• avoid flying near critical infrastructures

• stay clear of aircraft, at all time

• do a pre-flight inspection of your drone to ensure it is safe and airworthy

• keep the drone close enough to maintain the connection with the remote controller

• avoid advertised events (any outdoor event that is advertised to the general public, including a concert, festival, market or sporting event)

However, strictly speaking, the only aviation rule that applies to micro-drones in Canada is Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR) Part IX paragraph 900.06 which states that "No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system in such a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of any person. ". Of course, other laws apply as well (e.g. Privacy Act). Therefore, even though micro-drones pose less of a risk to people, property, and aircraft, it's important to use sound judgement when making the decision to fly your micro-drone where the regulations would otherwise prohibit you from flying a Small RPA/RPAS (see my blog post about flying your drone safely near people and property), and follow the guidelines above to avoid flying in a negligent or reckless manner and being subject to fines.

Bottom line: just follow my guidelines in step 5 below every time you fly your drone, and you'll enjoy a safe flight and minimize the risk of incidents. Remember: if you feel that your flight is risky, don’t do it.

One last thing for Canadian micro-drone pilots. Micro-drones are considered aircraft under the Aeronautics Act and Canadian Aviation Regulations and are therefore prohibited to enter the following zones without the proper authorizations:

• Class F Special Use Restricted Airspace.

• Zones covered by a NOTAM for Forest Fire Aircraft Operating Restrictions.

• Zones where section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act restrict the use of airspace to all aircraft.

BTW, don't forget that if your drone weighs over 25 kilograms or you want to fly your small drone outside the sRPA/sRPAS rules, you will need to get special permission from Transport Canada before you fly.