PROFESSIONAL RPAS OPERATIONS
COURSE
Delivers and surpasses Transport Canada knowledge requirements.
Delivers
Offline by design. For an engaged & collaborative learning experience.
100% In-classroom
Hit the Skies Running!
360 Training
Theory. Piloting Skills. Industry best-practices.
Equip your team with the knowledge, piloting skills, and industry best practices you need to be successful.
The Professional RPAS Operations course for Industry, delivers and surpasses the regulatory knowledge requirements to conduct advanced flight operations. In combination with hands-on flight training, this course effectively prepares students to sit the written and practical exams coming into force in 2018/2019 for the issuance of an RPAS Pilot Permit.
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Using a scenario-based approach to training, a highly-regarded construct in aviation, this course ensures that students have the opportunity to apply newly acquired theoretical knowledge to practical exercises delivered throughout the course.
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Syllabus
DAY
01
Introduction, Regulation & Systems
0900 to 1700 | 8 hrs
Module 1: Introduction
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This foundational module provides the course participant with the historical, regulatory, and operational context they need to navigate the remotely piloted aircraft industry. By exploring the past, present, and future of these aircraft and the industrial applications they’ve come to dominate, we can understanding how this disruptive technology is creating both opportunities and challenges.
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Module 2: Regulation*
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By appreciating the need for regulation, and understanding how aviation authorities have achieved the unprecedented levels of safety in our industry, we can then explore the practicalities of regulation as it applies to RPAS operations in Canada. This module will explore:
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Common terms and definitions
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The Canadian Aviation Regulations
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Canadian Air Traffic Services and Procedures
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The role of the Canadian Transportation Safety Board
Module 3: Systems*
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The systems module closely examines those components that comprise a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System; The aircraft, the Ground Control Station (GCS), the command and control link, and the various payloads we carry. An example of the topics covered in this module are:
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Aircraft terminology
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Aircraft systems such as navigation, air data, electrical, and auto-pilot systems
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Launch and recovery systems
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Maintenance procedures and requirements
( * ) = Required Module Assessment: 80% Pass Mark
DAY
02
Human Factors, Meteorology, & Navigation
0900 to 1700 | 8 hrs
Module 4: Navigation*
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A fundamental skill for all RPAS operators is being able to critically assess your operational environment. That assessment, from a navigation perspective, needs to account for risks such as obstacles, terrain, property lines, airspace restrictions, and possible disruptions to your aircraft’s navigation systems. Key concepts in Module 4 are as follows:
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Navigation systems such as Global Navigation Surveillance Systems (GNSS)
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Aeronautical products available to Pilots
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Flight Planning
Module 5: Human Factors*
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Following the in-depth discussion of the technical systems in Module 3, we transition our understanding to how human operators interact with those systems. We'll also examine the role of the human as it applies to the operation itself, and the impact that our environment has on our work. Discussed will be topics such as:
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Aviation physiology and psychology
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Crew Resource Management (CRM)
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Operating environments
Module 6: Meteorology*
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Given that our work takes us out of our climate controlled spaces, we need to spend some time understanding how the physical properties of the atmosphere will touch on nearly all aspects of our operation. Regulatory requirements, aircraft performance, flight planning, and human factor considerations are all significantly impacted by meteorological conditions. This module will explore:
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Meteorological Theory
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Meteorological services available to Pilots
( * ) = Required Module Assessment: 80% Pass Mark
DAY
03
Theory of Flight, Radiotelephony & Flight Operations
0900 to 1700 | 8 hrs
Module 7: Theory of Flight*
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Module 7 begins with the principles of flight as first discovered and defined by the likes of Sir Isaac Newton, and Daniel Bernoulli. It then explores the evolution of modern aircraft flight control systems used on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and concludes with an examination of multi-rotor flight theory. Core concepts in this module include:
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Forces acting on an aircraft in flight
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Aircraft components and terminology
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Fixed-wing, rotary-wing and multi-rotor principles of flight
Module 8: Radiotelephony
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As you will have learned throughout the course there are times where you will be required to be in communication with Air Traffic Control and/or other aircraft operators. To operate and communicate on an aeronautical frequency, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada requires that you have a Restricted Operator’s Certificate with an Aeronautical Qualification (ROC-A). This module ensures that you have the necessary radio theory, and skills, prior to writing this exam. As Flytbox Aerial Solutions is an accredited examination authority for ISED Canada, the exam will be undertaken in class. Students can then expect to receive their ROC-A in the mail approximately 2-3 weeks following the course.
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Module 9: Flight Operations
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Module 9 provides an opportunity for the course participant to coalesce and assimilate the prior learning in the course by stepping through an RPAS Operation and systematically dissecting the process along the way. Topics of discussion will be:
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Pilot-in-command (PIC) roles and responsibilities
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Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
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Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
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Module 10: Course Examination
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This 50 question multiple-choice exam has been structured to emulate the ​proposed Transport Canada online exam for pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems conducting advanced operations. In this way, students gain familiarity with not only the content to be expected on the exam but also the structure of the questions themselves. The pass mark for the final exam is 80%.
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1
( * ) = Required Module Assessment: 80% Pass Mark
Industry Canada requires a minimum pass mark of 70% on the ROC-A exam
1
DAY
04
Flight Training
0900 to 1700 | 8 hrs
The practical flight training modules ensure the participants are sufficiently prepared to undertake and pass the flight review requirement as part of the new RPAS certification requirement soon to be released by Transport Canada and as defined in the TP15263E document.
Module FT1: Pre-Flight
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Flight training participants will be introduced to the standardized Pre-Flight planning procedures. During this module participants will have the opportunity to conduct:
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Site surveys
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Flight planning activities
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Weather briefings
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Crew briefings
Module FT2: Flight Training
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Flight training participants will be paired up as a functional flight crew with participants getting an opportunity to act as the pilot in command and as a visual observer. Participants will conduct normal procedures such as take-off, landing, and cruise manoeuvres as well as have the opportunity to conduct non-normal procedures such as simulated emergencies, and abort manoeuvres. A combination of automated and manual flying exercises will be introduced.
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Assessment: Pilot Evaluation
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:
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Describe the regulatory requirements to conduct legal RPAS operations in Canada
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Critically assess the factors that have the potential to introduce risk to RPAS operations (e.g. weather, human factors, systems, etc.) and describe how they would mitigate those identified risks
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Access and analyze aeronautical charts and flight publications for the purposes of conducting site-survey, ATC coordination, property permission, and pre-flight activities
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Retrieve weather and NOTAM information and assess the impact on flight operations
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Assess the airworthiness of their aircraft prior to and during a flight operation
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What is the difference between the course offered for industry and the course for freelancers?The course for industry includes a flight training component specific to the industry and client needs. For the freelance course the flight training component is offered as an optional element.
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Do I need to have my own drone to complete the flight training?No. We provide some very small drones to help with the manual flying skills and then transition to a DJI Mavic Pro Platform to provide experience in working with a comon professional platform.
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What do I need to bring with me?For the radio exam (ROC-A) you will require one piece of government issued photo identification containing your legal name and date of birth (i.e. Passport, birth certificate, driver's licence). Please make sure that you have pens, paper, and/or laptop or tablet for taking notes.