Canada's Professional Drone Training School

Frequently asked questions

I am completely new to drones. Where should I start?

Start with the mission, not the certificate.

Ask yourself what you eventually want to do with drones.

If your goal is recreational flying or straightforward lower-risk operations, Basic may be enough.

If your goal is commercial drone work, inspection, mapping, public safety, construction, photography, utilities or building a professional RPAS career, Advanced is usually the more useful training pathway.

Advanced certification is usually the better choice for pilots who intend to build a professional RPAS career.

We recommend Advanced training for many commercial pilots, public-safety personnel, inspection teams, photographers, surveyors, construction operators and organizations developing an internal RPAS program.

If your goal includes certain BVLOS operations, enterprise-scale RPAS programs or more complex professional operations, you should begin planning toward Level 1 Complex.

For organizations looking toward BVLOS, larger operational areas, scalable enterprise programs or increasingly sophisticated RPAS missions, Level 1 Complex is becoming an important professional qualification.

Because 4DUAV’s courses build on one another, you do not have to worry about paying repeatedly for the same foundational training. That allows you to choose the level that matches where you are going rather than where you happen to be today.

Not sure which certificate you need? Tell us what you want to fly, where you want to fly and what type of work you plan to perform. We can help you identify the most appropriate pathway before you invest in unnecessary training or equipment.

What is the difference between Basic, Advanced and Level 1 Complex?

A simple way to think about the three levels is:

Basic = foundational and lower-risk operations
Advanced = professional capability and broader operating privileges
Level 1 Complex = advanced professional operations including certain lower-risk BVLOS capabilities

Basic Operations

Basic Operations covers lower-risk VLOS operations in uncontrolled airspace and within the limitations established by Transport Canada.

For someone who wants to fly recreationally, perform straightforward rural work or simply build a strong foundation, Basic is often an excellent starting point.

Advanced Operations

Advanced Operations builds on those fundamentals and prepares pilots for more demanding operating environments and additional privileges.

An Advanced certificate provides greater privileges than Basic, although the aircraft must also meet the applicable safety requirements for the Advanced operation being conducted.

Level 1 Complex Operations

Level 1 Complex represents a significant step forward in Canadian RPAS operations.

The regulatory changes introduced a certification pathway for certain lower-risk BVLOS operations.

A Level 1 Complex pilot certificate also allows the holder to conduct Basic and Advanced operations.

If I start with Advanced, do I pay for Basic training twice?

When you purchase our Advanced Ground School, your Basic Ground School training is included.

When you purchase our Level 1 Complex Ground School, both Basic and Advanced training are included.

We structure training this way because aviation knowledge is cumulative. Airspace, weather, human factors, regulations, aircraft systems, emergency procedures and operational decision-making become increasingly important as the complexity of the operation increases.

Rather than teaching you only enough to pass the next exam, our goal is to help you understand how the entire Canadian RPAS system fits together.

Do I need my own drone for training or a flight review?

No.

Whenever possible, we recommend training and completing your flight review with your own aircraft. You become more comfortable with the exact controller, flight modes, menus, emergency procedures, battery system and operating characteristics you will use after certification.

That familiarity has real operational value.

However, we understand that many students want to become certified before purchasing a drone, or may own an aircraft that is not appropriate for the flight review they need.

4DUAV maintains aircraft that can be made available for Basic, Advanced and Level 1 Complex training and flight reviews for an additional fee.

Contact us before your course or flight review and we can discuss the most appropriate aircraft for your situation.

Do you offer corporate or group training discounts?

Yes.

4DUAV offers group and corporate training options for organizations training multiple pilots.

Depending on group size and training requirements, we can provide discounted pricing and develop a customized program around your organization’s actual operations.

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