RPAS Site Survey: Everything You Should Know for Safe and Compliant Drone Operations
Drones have revolutionized aerial photography, surveying, and other industries. However, before launching your drone, conducting a site survey is crucial for safety and compliance, according to Transport Canada. RPAS Centre’s guide walks you through everything you need to know about RPAS site surveys in Canada.
What is a Site Survey?
A site survey is a mandatory pre-flight assessment required by Transport Canada. It ensures the area is safe for drone operations, checks for hazards, and keeps you compliant with regulations.
According to Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) – Section 901.27, drone pilots must assess:
- The boundaries of the area of operation
- Airspace classification and regulations from Transport Canada
- Altitudes and routes for takeoff and landing
- Proximity to manned aircraft and aerodromes
- The location and heights of obstacles like buildings, power lines, and antennas
- Weather and environmental conditions for the operational area
- Distance from persons not involved in the operation
Who needs to conduct a site survey?
- Recreational drone pilots flying drones over 250g
- Commercial operators with Basic or Advanced Certification
- Organizations conducting high-risk operations, such as BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight)
Pre-Survey Preparation
Regulatory Compliance
Before conducting a site survey, be sure to review the following:
- Transport Canada AIM RPA Section for airspace and drone regulations.
- Restricted zones (airports, national parks, etc.)
- Local & provincial laws for additional requirements.
These reviews are to ensure you are remaining compliant and effectively following the laws and regulations for drone flight in your area.
Tools & Resources
RPAS WILCO is an all-in-one platform and the only drone compliant tool authorized to use NAV CANADA aeronautical data, simplifying drone compliance with CT regulations. It offers site surveys, automated logging, safety checks, ensuring compliance for both commercial and recreational operators.
Essential Documentation
Before takeoff, ensure you have:
- RPAS registration & pilot certificate
- Emergency contacts including NAV CANADA, local authorities and team members.
How to Conduct a Site Survey
In this section, we will go over what a site survey should cover and how to approach each category. A proper site survey covers multiple factors, including:
Airspace & Environmental Assessment
During a site survey, identifying the airspace classification (A, B, C, D, E, or G) is crucial for ensuring a legal and safe takeoff. If operating in controlled airspace, you must obtain NAV CANADA approval to avoid potential fines. Additionally, checking NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) for temporary flight restrictions is essential to prevent any disruptions. Following these steps ensures compliance with regulations and helps avoid any restrictions that could hinder your drone operations.
Ground Area Inspection
Conducting a thorough site survey before any drone operation is essential for safety and compliance. This includes identifying potential emergency access points and ensuring you avoid flying over schools, public events, or densely populated areas unless explicitly authorized. Taking these precautions helps mitigate risks and ensures responsible drone operation.
Wildlife Considerations
When conducting a site survey and preparing for drone operations, it’s important to consider local wildlife. Avoid flying near nesting or breeding areas to minimize environmental impact, and research any local wildlife restrictions, such as protected species zones or conservation areas. Being mindful of these factors helps ensure responsible and environmentally conscious drone operation.
Hazard Identification
Identifying obstacles and potential hazards is one of the most important steps in a site survey. This includes identifying and being aware of the following:
- Physical Hazards:
- Buildings, trees, power lines, antennas, and roads
- Note proximity to roads, vehicles, and other infrastructure
- Weather Conditions:
- Wind speed, visibility, and potential sun glare
- Temperature and other weather conditions using UAV weather technology
- Electromagnetic Interference (EMI):
- Be cautious near cell towers, radio stations, or industrial zones with high EMI levels.
- Conduct a brief signal check before launching the drone.
- Terrain Analysis:
- Ensure flat, clear ground for takeoff/landing areas.
- Assess slopes or water bodies that could complicate landings.
Social & Safety Factors
Be sure to factor in your proximity to people and bystanders near the drone operation.
- For Basic Operations, maintain a minimum horizontal distance of 30m from bystanders.
- For Advanced Operations, refer to Transport Canada guidelines based on the drone category.
Avoid flying in crowded areas unless specifically authorized with a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). To ensure compliance with local laws and regulations, coordinate with local authorities or property owners and obtain any necessary permissions before starting your drone operations. This helps maintain safety and adherence to legal requirements.
RPAS WILCO makes this easy for you, with our built-in site survey feature on our mobile app, making it easy to do site surveys on the fly! RPAS WILCO checks all your boxes with a checklist made exclusively for drone operations, and ensures you fly safely and with confidence. As the only platform authorized to use NAV CANADA’s aeronautical data, our app will handle everything you need for flight data.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
Minimizing risk is a crucial component of drone operations, ensuring your own safety and the safety of others around you. Some of the best ways to minimize risk before drone operations includes:
Collision Avoidance Plans
Configure obstacle sensors and define geofencing boundaries in your drone software. Also, establish a manual override protocol in case of GPS failure.
Emergency Planning
Develop a clear communication plan with team members or air traffic control (if applicable). This includes identifying multiple emergency landing zones in the operational area, establishing a plan should anything go wrong, and being prepared for any potential failures.
Safety Zones & Risk Register
Set up a secure takeoff and landing area with barriers or visual markers. Document identified risks using a Risk Register with likelihood, impact, and mitigation strategies to ensure you are fully aware of the operation, plans, and any potential impacts.
Checklist for Operators
Before each flight, follow this checklist:
- Confirm drone registration & pilot certification
- Review weather forecast & airspace permissions
- Conduct a visual site inspection for hazards
- Check NOTAMs for new airspace restrictions
- Verify drone systems (battery charge, propellers, sensors)
For an easy-to-follow checklist, RPAS WILCO offers pre, during and post-flight checklists, ensuring you never miss a step! Check it out!
Emergency Procedures
What if something goes wrong? Follow these best practices:
- Loss of Signal: Ensure that the RPAS return-to-home function is enabled and ensure a backup controller or team is ready just in case.
- Power Failures or Malfunctions: Identify safe landing zones before takeoff, and test the RPAS emergency protocols.
- Incident Reporting: Report incidents via CADORS (Transport Canada’s reporting system).
Post-Survey Actions
After each flight, conduct a debrief and update your logs. Compare planned versus actual site conditions, noting any discrepancies and areas for improvement. Document new hazards, obstacles, and any unexpected weather conditions. Regularly reflecting on your operations and refining your process will enhance the quality of your site surveys, improve flight safety, and help you grow as a skilled drone pilot.
With RPAS WILCO, updating flight logs is seamless—track your flights efficiently and improve future operations! RPAS WILCO is designed to have accurate and up-to-date information catered to your drone mission needs. Check out flight logs here
Common Challenges & Tips
Here are some of the most common challenges faced during a site survey, and some tips to help overcome them!
Dynamic Weather: The weather is always changing, so having an alternate flight plan can come in handy to help you adapt to any situation as a drone pilot.
EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) Risks: You may encounter electromagnetic interference while flying drones or conducting a site survey. To counteract this, be sure to test your drone signal strength before takeoff.
Public Interaction: Onlookers may have questions about your drones and conducting a site survey, so be prepared with a quick response if this occurs.
Advanced Considerations
Be sure to consider the following advanced criteria when planning your site survey:
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight) Flights
In order to conduct BVLOS flights, you must obtain an SFOC (Special Flight Operations Certificate). You may also need additional requirements for spotters and communication tools to ensure safe and compliant drone operations. Find more information here.
Night Operations
If you are conducting nighttime drone operations, be sure to equip your drone with anti-collision lights to maintain visibility at all times. Additionally, you will need to conduct extra visibility checks before you take off.
Final Thoughts
Conducting a proper site survey ensures safe and legal drone operations. RPAS WILCO simplifies this process, automating site surveys and compliance tracking.
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Thank you for reading!
