RPAS Symposium NAV CANADA Perspective

March 2015

Outline NAV CANADA Backgrounder

Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations

ANSP Issues/Concerns

NAV CANADA RPAS Activities & Initiatives

Private, non-share capital company

2nd largest ANSP in the world

12 million aircraft movements annually

Airspace over an area of 18 million km2

Regulated by Federal Government on safety performance

Who We Are

About NAV CANADA

Our People 4,650 employees across the country Air Traffic Controllers

Flight Service Specialists

Electronics Technologists

Engineering and IM Corporate Functions

Our Services Air Traffic Control

Flight Information

Weather Briefings

Aeronautical Information

Airport Advisory Services

Electronic Navigation Aids

Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations RPAS operations are regulated by Transport Canada:

– Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) – Non-recreational Operations (unless under exemption)

– Coordination with ANSP (if operating in controlled airspace)

– Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR) Exemptions introduced 26 November 2014

– 2kg or less, and 2-25kg categories

– Limited to VLOS in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace, <300ft, >5nm from airports, etc…

– Best practices-driven process pending regulatory development

Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations Majority of ops focused on small RPAS in VLOS, however…

Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations BVLOS Operations

– Segregated airspace being developed for two Centres of Excellence – Alma, Quebec (approx. 5,000 km2, up to FL290)

– Foremost, Alberta (approx. 2,400 km2, up to FL180)

BVLOS Operations

– Global Hawks (under MND authority) regularly use Canadian airspace (FL550B600) on great circle routes for international deployment

– Some Homeland Security Predators controlled in U.S. airspace delegated to NAV CANADA

ANSP Issues & Concerns Operator lack of aviation/airspace knowledge, RT

procedures… – Difficulty in distinguishing piloting capabilities without some form of

recognized training standard/national licensing requirement, etc.

– Radio communication discipline – clear, concise, familiarity with lexicon, situational awareness

– Critical need to establish common baseline – it will come, but needs to be taken on by the entire RPAS community

ANSP Issues & Concerns Lost Link Procedures

– Need for common awareness, predictability

– Need to address: – varying contexts of local environment

– airspace structure (terminal vs enroute, aerodrome, etc)

– varying performance characteristics

– Integration with conventional traffic and other RPAS (and their lost link procedures…)

– universal standardization

ANSP Issues & Concerns Communications

– Cell phone may be convenient…for operators…but not necessarily for ATS

– VHF radio monitoring is ideal for maintaining traffic awareness – Control zone (Control Tower, FSS Tower), uncontrolled airport

(MF/ATF)

– Cell phones may work in some, but not all situations

– Long-term solution is required

ANSP Issues & Concerns NOTAMs

– Used to point out hazards to aviation operations – Are RPAS operations a hazard?

– Where do we draw the line?

– Consultation requirements – ANSP/Regulator

– NOTAM Manual dictates terminology/abbreviations to be used

RPAS Development Activities & Initiatives ICAO

– ICAO RPAS Panel (CANSO observer)

– Doc 4444 PANS ATM gap analysis

CANSO RPAS WG – Controller/specialist training development

– Areas requiring ATS input: Discrete RPAS Lost Comm SSR code, Lost Command & Control Procedures, etc.

Transport Canada Regulatory Development – Amendments to Canadian Aviation Regulations

– Collaborative effort with Regulator, ANSP and RPAS industry

RPAS Development Activities & Initiatives Information Campaign

– NAV CANADA RPAS Web Site Development – One-stop shopping site for all UAV reference material

– SFOC Tracking Database

– RPAS Flight Safety Incident Tracking Database

– Support RPAS awareness/outreach programs – RPAS Ground Schools, Conference Briefings, etc.

– Investigating interactive, external web site (e.g. controlled airspace map, coordination procedures, points of contact, etc.)

– Monitor TC public awareness initiatives (Internet/social media)

– Develop RPAS procedures training for ATS units