I just passed my flight review🎉 Thank you, Don, for all the guidance, easy-to-understand training videos, and the Drone Pilot Canada app! It worked great for my review, and the reviewer was super impressed by the site survey and planing I produced for him with the app. Thanks again!! 😊
HEY! Congratulations, Dee!! Great achievement! So glad to hear my videos and the Drone Pilot Canada app helped you! (BTW, I was testing a new feature in Drone Pilot Canada today: exporting documents...per your suggestion!)
@@DonJoyce Thanks, Don! Sounds good. I'll look forward to the export functionality, and if you can make a flight plan editable after it's been saved, (e.g. to move the launch area, or add an obstacle you discovered after finalizing your plan), that would save us a ton of time avoiding starting from scratch. You guys have done amazing work making the app incredible at it is; these are just the thoughts I've had to make it even better from using it everyday for the last two weeks. Keep up the great work! :D
Hi Dee, where would I start to get my advanced. I have just done my basic but I only fly rc planes. I'm hoping i can learn to fly drones which is way more technical.
Hi there Would you be able to explain a bit of what your flight review consists of looking into mine here soon just wanted to know what to expect, im sure there all close to the same idea?
Hi Don, I passed my Advanced Flight Review today. I can't say "Due in part" to you for the study materials, app and instructional videos, because that would truly be a disservice and short-changing the impact that you had on it/me. I was anxious beforehand, truly nervous, The reviewer I had could not have been better. He made an effort to break the ice a bit with conversation before we got to the nitty-gritty and that in and of itself was HUGE. We chuckled a bit...he asked how I was feeling about it and I said "I had/have over 30 different IT certifications, and not one of them caused me as much grief beforehand!"...anyway, he was laid back, kind and I daresay forgiving. I used your app to print off most of the stuff I required for the site survey, he actually requested I bring a fire extinguisher, so I added in a first aid kit and a safety vest. I didn't actually wear it but of course pointed out that I had it with me. We began with a bunch of what I'd call "basic" questions. What airspace are we in, how far from an airport must we be without permission etc. etc. I was very well prepared due to this video and your app. I also have a couple other drone apps, but yours is sufficient in and of itself I'd think. So we went through the questions...and it was very conversational (which I appreciated), and not just a "cold" Q & A session. I believe I only got one wrong and didn't know the answer to another question, and damned if I can remember either question! haha. Next was pre-flight showed him ALL the documentation I had printed off...weather specifics about the one airport and two heliports in the area. Then Basically did a commentary of everything I was doing. Pointed out that all devices had fully charged batteries, bla bla bla. So, all good so far now the flying... If you'd asked me in advance what part of the review I was more confident in, or conversely more worried about, I would have said the Q & A portion and me not feeling confident about really knowing all the info, rather than just parroting it and not knowing what I was talking about. I couldn't have been more incorrect! The first part of the flight went great, we simulated a loss of signal and went through the protocol for fly-aways - Wait, that's one of the questions I didn't know! If there is damage to life or limb with your drone (say ya crash into someone physically and they're bleeding...what do you do, who do ya call? I answered first thing I would do is to apply any kind of relevant first aid I could, next is 911, and I guess I brain-farted because an incident like that must also be reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. I believe I wasn't aware of that...not sure if I missed it somewhere? Anyway, has wasn't overly concerned about that...back to the flying! All good until the last flight request before bringing it back and landing - Reviewer -"See that big tree across the field from us?" Me -" Yup" Reviewer -""I'd like you to fly over to it and circle it keeping it in the center of your view on camera first, then we're going to do it without the camera, just by LOS. Me INTERNALLY - "OH MY GAWD I HAVEN'T PRACTICED FLYING SIDEWAYS, let alone two different things at the same time. My drone (Air2S) has no side sensors, plus the software can do that so it hadn't crossed my mind!!! I flat out told him that, and that I didn't know how to do it. Now THERE was a piece of humble pie for me after seemingly aceing all the prior stuff. He was incredibly patient and gracious...He gave me some time to figure it out (I eventually kinda/sorta did, but it wasn't pretty and took quite some time. He allowed me to have a do-over and start again. This time I at least accomplished the task, albeit messy again lol. He could have justified failing me right then and there after my first attempt. He didn't due in LARGE part to how prepared I was when I showed up, and the fact that I knew the answers to what he was asking. I can't thank him enough for the patience he had with me. His demeanor was awesome, he made me feel welcome (if ya know what I mean), and am incredibly humbled by the experience with respect to me realizing I wasn't ready at that one moment, but he recognized some potential I guess....I coulda hugged him when he offered his hand to shake and said "congratulations". Oh...wait...there's more! After landing, equipment check etc. he asked how I felt about how it went. Of course I thought it went well up until the tree, and he shared the sentiment. He turned it into a teaching/learning moment and did it well. There was no focus on what I did poorly on that part of the review, only pointing out what I can practice on while being encouraging. A lesser man woulda failed me...no doubt in my mind. A very very big thank you for your contributions to the drone community. Particularly your time...this must all take a HUGE commitment, and I'm at least one person that must give ya kudos. You deserve it. THANKS!! /The End
Thank you for sharing your success story, Darryl! Congratulations on passing what sounds like a challenging, yet reasonable and fair Flight Review!! I'm glad to hear my videos and Drone Pilot Canada helped...but in the end, it was your achievement! Safe and happy flying!
@@DonJoyce Today I decided to take the plunge and challenge the Flight Reviewer Rating exam, and passed! Once again, thanks to you. Your previous study material was invaluable. Oh, I also joined your new association! What a great idea...hope you can squeeze in the time for it! haha
Don I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I've been really stressed about what to expect on the review and all the surprises that might come up. You have really calmed me down. I feel ready. Thank you again.
Thank you Don! I just passed passed my flight review. It would not have been possible without you. You're one in a million! The flight reviewer said anybody using your app is pretty much an automatic pass from a documents and checklists perspective.
Absolutely fantastic content. I flew years ago, tried to get into my local club but the wait list was miles long. Now the list is much shorter, the club managed to get approval to fly in a Class C airspace but obviously the hurdles to getting certified are much higher.
Your tutorials cam highly recommended by my flight instructor as prep for my upcoming advanced flight review. Fabulous information, Don! I am inspired to go out and nail this test!
@@DonJoyce They certainly do! Fortunately, I already have the written component taken care of. Now I just have to practice figure "8"s! In the meantime, I'll be watching. You have a new fan for sure!
Finally got through my Advanced Exam after 5 tries. Every one is different and they are all difficult. Studying for the Flight Review. The flight school I went through, suggests reading through the requirements to become a reviewer , from the TC documents. That is a help as well. Thanks for this Don. Enjoy all your videos' and yes, I do have your App. A huge time saver and organizer. Worth the money if you want to use your drone for business as I do. Cheers
I successfully passed my flight review yesterday and became advanced certified. Thank you for all the modules they were great and very resourceful!! btw the flight reviewer loved the Canada drone app
Hey, congratulations on achieving your Advanced RPAS Pilot Certification, VEGA Toronto!!! I'm glad my material and the Drone Pilot Canada helped! If you don't mind, could you privately let me know the Flight Reviewer's name via email to DonDronesOn@gmail.com? Thanks!!
I bought the app. It's very helpful. Thank you. The advanced exam is kicking my butt. 3 attempts with 3 weeks of studying now and can't attain better than 74. Hoping your videos put me over the top. Thanks again for posting.
@@tstewart88 I recommend the Advanced Study Guide (www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com/collections/drone-study-guides/products/dons-study-guide-for-the-canadian-drone-rpa-pilot-advanced-operations-exam) and the Don's Guide to Canadian Regulations (www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com/collections/drone-study-guides/products/dons-guide-to-the-canadian-rpas-regulations). The first one is a 250-page compendium of slideware used in a number of my videos on advanced topics. The second is a 114-page blow-by-blow interpretation of every single RPAS regulation, with an english translation of what they really mean.
I passed my flight review today! Thanks again Don your information was key to keeping me from getting stressed out going into the flight review. The flight reviewer stated that other drone pilot apps did NOT show class F airspace which was key to this review. I would recommend anyone looking into getting their advanced pilot certification to go through Don for study information and purchase the Drone Pilot Canada App!!
Congratulations on passing your Flight Review and attaining your Advanced RPAS Pilot Certification!!! And it's great to hear that Drone Pilot Canada helped you win the day!
I'm going through this incredibly thorough video for the second time and taking copious notes to prepare for my flight review. I've just stopped around 24:20 when you discuss demonstrating our ability to handle emergencies, and more specifically, "how to contact Transport Canada if an incident occurs". I'm not sure if the process is the same now in 2022 as it was when you recorded this video over 2 years ago, but when I look up your various emergency procedures and related contact information in the DPC app, it has us contact the Transportation Safety Board in case of medical incidents, and "the Aviation Emergency Phone Number" in case of a fly-away, but none of them state, nor advise, contacting Transport Canada as you state in this part of the video. At the moment, I would likely follow the steps you prescribe in the DPC app during my flight review since I've called the contact number I found on the Transport Canada website portal, and it doesn't seem to prompt you with a direct line to reporting an incident or emergency. Am I correct with this, or is there somewhere else in the DPC app I should be looking to find a number for Transport Canada instead of the other departments I've mentioned from the app?
Great spotting, Dee! You are absolutely correct about who to contact, and Transport Canada is not applicable for any kind of incident. The correct contacts and numbers are indeed in the Drone Pilot Canada app. And BTW, don't forget that Drone Pilot Canada also has the Emergency Button feature which offers you the correct numbers in the event of a flyaway. Thanks for sharing this, Dee.
Love these videos, especially for a newbie like myself who has just taken up this technology late last year...the schooling part only takes you so far especially with the reams of information there is to read and retain. These videos are clear and concise and really help me put everything in perspective and order. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge...it really helps us newbies!!
hey boss!! you should make a video with regards to your check lists and how you approach following them! it would be so nice to see a flight review “scenario”
I guess another tip is to make sure that your firmware is up to date. Great video. Do you have a video on what to do when you lose connection or get a fly away, etc?
Thanks, Sizzler! Funny you mention firmware. When I did my flight review, I deliberately and openly did not take a recent upgrade. I was at the cottage, have lousy internet, and did not want to brick my drone. Reviewer was fine with that. Check my emergency button video for what to do. Or my flyaway video....
Hi Don. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I passed my advanced exam at the 11th attempt. it was so frustrating considering I was always between 68-78. Your materials came in really informative. I will be taking my flight review soon. Thanks Don you're a superstar
Congratulations on passing your Advanced, Oluwaseun! And good for you to keep trying after so many frustrating attempts...78% is definitely the worst feeling! And thank you for the kind words!
It took me plenty of tries at the exam as well. 76% many times then finally 82%. When it said I passed, the rest of the people in my building must off thought I won lotto 649.
Thanks!! Yes the airspace and aerodrome data is updated per the 56 day CFS/DAH cycle. And it's all done automatically, so you don't need to do anything. Also, we're working on some nice little enhancements which will be ready soon...free!
Thank you again Don for all your great videos. Thanks to watching them all multiple times and purchasing your app I passed my exams and flight review. One thing that was mentioned is that vertical climb should be reported in feet per minute rather then seconds, but overall all good things about your app. It would be nice if we could edit the emergency script in future updates? . I know you can edit them in your checklist section but it would be great if that would reflect in the script that shows during the emergency flight. Thanks again for all your hard work!
Congratulations on achieving your Advanced Certification, Daniel!! Glad to hear my videos and Drone Pilot Canada helped! That's a good idea about the Emergency Button script. We may be able to make it one of the loadable procedures.
Nicely done Don. As you know, my flight review was a positive experience and less stressful than the Advanced exam was. Having failed the exam 4 times I was confident I had the knowledge and skill to pass the flight review. The reviewer WAS IMPRESSED by the Drone Pilot Canada app. Thanks!
Excellent ! Thanks for the efforts. Downloaded app, will undertake the review soon... in Ottawa but having trouble finding a reviewer for some reason....
@@DonJoyce thanks.. I did just that and found a reviewer. I talked to him for half an hour today. Great app... The work to get that App done and keep it up to date, astounding.
I did not pass the basic exam. Will try again - it was extremly hard, I found, but now i have a good idea of what I am dealing with and which areas to focus more.
@@DonJoyce I just passed the exam! This time I was well rpepared. Your vidoes were key - I followed your PDF line by line. Thank you so much for all this. Will keep watching your videos and coming back for news and updates.
Thanks Don! I skimmed through the videos at 1.5x and everything was clear, even at that speed. It helped me immensely even though the exam was poorly written, there were questions in there about horizontal stabilizers, the logical options were horizontal or lateral stability...what kind of a question is that...i picked lateral and got it wrong? At any rate i got 85%. Not sure why i would ever have to learn to read charts or what that has to do with drones. Its almost like the government is saying, "you want to fly drones in our airspace, you better learn ALL our rules even though you will never be able to fly in zones that use require them", its a form of punishment for wanting to fly in their airspace. Im Flying a mini 2 (sub 250G micro), however my municipality wants certification regardless of the size of the drone unfortunately. I wonder if the birds that weigh more than 250G have to get certification aswell? I guess we will never know.
Congratulations on passing your exam, Kevin!! The birds DO need to be certified BTW...they just don't know it. Hey, what municipality requires certification?????
@@DonJoyce Edmonton. As convoluted as it sounds, and as you are likely aware they can’t do anything if you are flying from private property. That said, taking off or landing from city of Edmonton property requires a permit, 2 million general liability insurance and a minimum basic certification regardless of drone size. I really could see many struggling with the basic exam without reading between the lines and, as you said, some serious google skills. Granted, I did not spend a ton of time studying/reviewing. At the end of the day, keep up the good work as you make the skies safer, which in turn aids our flying freedom and ensures the experience is enjoyable for all of us.
Edmonton's requirements/expectations sound overboard. I hope they don't allow unlicensed cyclists on city property!! or skateboards...or kites....or or or or
Thanks, Wesley! BTW, one further tip: do a mock walkthrough of the flight review, with your drone and Drone Pilot Canada, and whatever else you'll have with you....like a dress rehearsal. You'll feel ready!
Hi Don, great videos sir! Thanks much for all of your work on these. Are the pilots alowed to look at their screen or would you keep eyes on the drone at all times? If they do interrupt the original and ask, let"s say, to fly to two corners of the field, I often line myself up using the camera in the drone. Also for the distance estimations, we can give them the stats displaying on our screen? Thanks again!
Thanks! It is expected that you occasionally look at your screen...for telemetry and lining up shots etc. What they DON'T want to see is you glued to the screen the entire time. One tip (I may say it in the video) is to verbalize out loud as much as possible. In the example you gave, you could move your drone to roughly the right spot, then say, I'm checking the line-up on my screen now, and now watching my drone again. Something like that. Distance estimates should be based on your eyes and brain, not the drone. That said, a GREAT way to practice and get better at estimates of say the heights of trees is to use your drone to 'measure' them after you make an estimate. Do it enough times and you'll get good at it. A good life skill, if nothing else!
Excellent Video, one that I will be rewatching, listening and taking notes prior to writing the Advanced Exam and meeting Flight reviewer, and yes the App is fantastic.
Thank you for all the info you provide Don! Hand down the best quality info as with the DPC app!. I hope you can help me with a question please. I have searched for so long and continue to get conflicting info from trustworthy Flight Reviewers in Canada, confusion in my understanding of the documentation and have also seen conflicting answers from Transport Canada to other RPAS operators rather than to myself personally. Imma going to take Your word as gospel! ( well I guess the flight reviewer gets final word..) For a flight review, must the RPAS have the safety assurance declaration and registration , or, must it only have the registration?! The base question is ' Can I use a registered Mini 2 during my flight review? Or must I rent a registered drone model with the RPAS Safety assurance and registration to use during a flight review. Sorry for the lengthy post. Trying to be very careful with wording. :-)
Thank you so much for your kind comments, Geminieve! Your question is a good one and many have asked it...and have received conflicting answers!! So, I went straight to Frank B at Transport Canada for the correct answer. It's a bit complicated, so, I did a video recently explaining the ins and outs: th-cam.com/video/tKFFQa2cJbw/w-d-xo.html I hope you find that helpful! Good luck with your review!
Hey Don, great video, thanks for putting this out! I have a review this weekend and my reviewer requires me to have an ROC-A license and a VHF radio. Is this considered necessary for the review?
Hey Don, thanks for your videos. I managed to get my small Advance with the help of these and get my flight review done. I purchased your Canada drone pilot and it works really well. When I record a Manual flight, I'm not getting any weather conditions being logged, it shows up as N/A. Is this something coming in the future? I work for the department of Environment in Yukon and I'm assisting our Conservation Officers with their drone flight logs, and having this working would be a real help!
Firstly, congratulations on passing your Advanced exam and flight review! Regarding the weather info, please send me an email at DonDronesOn@gmail.com with details and an example. Assuming you have an internet connection at the time, you should get full weather details!
@@DonJoyce Sure I'll follow up with you in an email. The COs having been doing manual flight logs via pen and paper, and i want to recommend this app to all of them. I do have internet connection, but maybe has something to do with our remote location and where the weather data is pulled from.
Hi Don, Great content as usual. Im prepping for my flight review and this info is invaluable. :). Question though... is the expectation in the review that the PIC will be looking only at the drone, or is it ok to also refer to the console display when navigating, and responding to questions from the reviewer? Thanks.
Hi John! The expectation is that you only occasionally glance at the RC/phone display. You need to from time to time, obviously, but they don't want you to be staring at it, or flying from it's view alone. You can answer questions if it is safe/reasonable to do so, but feel free to stop them talking or asking you things if you find it distracting. In fact, they may do that to test you! Good luck with your review!
Just watched the video, quite informative. Decided to bite on the app for my Android phone. I took my basic on a Monday and passed with 80%, wrote my Advanced 2 days later on a Wednesday and failed 64%, then rewrote the following day and passed 88%. I guess all those years playing flight simulators paid off, lol. I'm looking at doing my exam at the end of next week, weather permitting. I think your overview of the actual flight assessment has settled me down a bit, as I thought it would be just as technical as the written portion. It looks like that app will make things a lot easier for me.
Congratulations on passing both exams, Derek! Yes, Drone Pilot Canada will help a lot, particularly for the airspace assessment. Be sure to do a dry run, using the checklists to be sure you are familiar with them. And practice estimating distances.
@@DonJoyce I used to be in the army, so I'm good up to about 300 meters horizontally, also spent quite a few years building cell phone towers so I'm good up to about 600 feet. Thanks for the tips!
Don, thanks for this sir. Flight review is this Friday and this was a wonderful little packet of information to add to the collection. In reference to Jeremy's earlier question, I'm wondering how (if at all) do you incorporate radio space into your operations? I'm planning on also taking the ROC-A exam Friday after the review, and would love to hear any additional information you may have gathered on that topic. Thanks again!
Thanks, David! Good luck with your Flight Review! Regarding radio use, I don't use one myself...I never fly anywhere with any amount of air traffic. Others have said they find it helpful to listen (and only listen) on their radio to be aware of nearby manned aircraft.
Hey Don, hope this finds you in good health and spirit. A couple of questions 1) I need to take my Flight Review again to keep it up with resency as it expires soon, can you please tell me how to go about this. 2) I transferred the Drone Pilot app to my new iphone, but it does not seem to show me at the centre of the map anymore, on either phone, what is up? I have 2 drones and would like to have a phone for each controler. Always good to hear from you. Thanks Chris
Hey Chris! Good news: recency is super easy, no flight review required: th-cam.com/video/5weCvtYV52I/w-d-xo.html . On Drone Pilot Canada, make sure "follow me" is enabled (dot menu). Otherwise send me an email with more details: DonDronesOn@gmail.com
Hey Don Thanks so much for all your videos. They were so good and so well presented. I have watched many of your videos and passed my basic on the 1st try with 88%. Advanced test, not so easy...76% 68% then 82%. But all thanks to you. I just have one question before my flight review. Can I use a micro drone, such as the Mavic Mini for the flight review? Or does it have to be a 250 plus gram drone? And if I fail the review. Do I have to pay another $200-$300 to retake it?
Hey Cal, congratulations on passing your Advanced exam!! Yeah, it is not easy! Yes you can do a Flight Review with a mini, BUT it must be registered...the flight reviewer must see the registration number and corresponding record. Easy to do and only 5 bucks. Give your Flight Reviewer a heads up so they don't have to look up the rules on the spot. It's tough to fail a Flight Review, but possible if you say or do something inappropriate or dangerous. Generally, you DO have to pay again if you fail. Talk to your reviewer in advance!
Excellent coverage and timely. I have my Basic license for a month and am considering the Advanced as I need to fly in controlled areas which require Advanced. I think it is good that Canada is formalizing some of the rules. That is the one positive thing - however I still think they erred on the side of caution as the hobby has suffered greatly. The problem is like all rules/laws is that it is near impossible to remove bad ones. Soapbox: In general, rules/laws like these should have a sunset provision so that bad rules/laws go away after some predetermined time (1/2 years?). I see a near future for this hobby/profession where we have ever increasing/restrictive laws which are appended to the current documents until there is no way to fly without breaking some vague law. Just like driving a car - it is near impossible to drive without breaking some rule/law despite trying one's best not to. Perhaps apply to the government of Canada as the new RPAS minister to help get Canada back on road to sanity - I'd vote for you. I've checked and there has not been a SINGLE reported catastropic incident between RPAS and manned flight in Canada. There have been some misses and foolish violations of flying RPAS in controlled/restricted airspace which current criminal negligence laws could easily be applied - but the overreaction is simply incredible for a few bad apples.
@@DonJoyce Hey - no problem Don. I'm very curious if you are in agreement with any of the points I made - thanks. It would be great if we as Canadian RPAS operators could somehow be more effective to changing the laws/rules beyond voting in federal elections. We don't even get to determine who the minister of Transport Canada is - so it's really hit and miss whether proper consideration is given concerning RPAS operators. Our skies are emptier due to COVID (aircraft operators), yet ever more restrictions are being planned for RPAS operators.
@@zira_fluff4105 The rules are not at all balanced against the risks and the reality of drones. I even proposed my own "Don's Drone Rules" (th-cam.com/video/yFePgA9cI44/w-d-xo.html ) and sent them to Transport Canada for consideration. But, me in politics? I think I'd rather stick props in my eyes!
Hi Don, thank you so much for this. Super helpful!! I've always kind of wondered when you're doing your flight review and you're in the air. If a low flying airplane or helicopter is nearby or coming towards you. (Even if they're not low but just in the same area) should you land immediately giving way to them or just be cautious and acknowledge that they are there? Normally I would just be cautious and fly lower but during the flight review should I be doing it different or change my habits? Thanks!
Thanks, Bryanna! That's a great question. I would keep in mind that the purpose of the Flight Review is to focus on safety, not your ability to fly. So, definitely erring on the side of caution by landing, or at least drastically reducing altitude would be best. Just as important is to verbalize your observations, decisions and actions: "I hear a helicopter. I'm not sure it's flight path, so I am going to immediately land to prevent any chance of a collision." Safe and happy flying!
Hey Don, I just wanted to thank you again for providing us with all the material that is absolutely necessary in passing the advanced exam. Regarding the flight review, I understand there is a possibility one might be asked to fly the drone in ATTI mode. I have a Mavic Pro which does not allow me to manually switch to this mode. I would appreciate to get your thoughts on this issue. Best regards, Bogdan
Hi Bogdan. The ATTI mode requirement came up a few times 'early days'. It was an attempt to test the pilot on handling emergency/unexpected situations. The reviewer can't ask you to do something your drone isn't designed to do. You should, however, be prepared to discuss how you WOULD handle your drone should it lose GPS....how to determine it's orientation, and what you would need to consider for safely bringing it back, or landing. Good luck with the review!
Indeed...happened to me as well (with a Spark). Blew out of VLOS immediately... but it re-established GPS (and a new mid air home point...yikes!), but I flew by landmarks back to where I was standing...with soiled pants.
The procedure and eligibility requirements are on the TC Drone Safety web site here: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/drone-pilot-licensing/become-flight-reviewer-drones-1-overview
Hi Don, thank you for al the incredibly informative videos! I do have a question... you mention that you need to have the pre-flight checklist written down. Will the one in the Drone Pilot app suffice or should it be on paper?
Hi Don, does basic Operations require a flight review? I have seen that we need to do it online and to keep it with our documents. Thank you I learned so much with your videos
@@DonJoyceSorry to ask again, my mistake is not a flight review, but a Self-Paced Program. tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/getting-drone-pilot-certificate/remotely-piloted-aircraft-system-rpas-recency-requirements-self-paced-study-program. Not sure if you have already talk about it. Thanks again, you are my best teacher ever!
No worries. Yes, you need to retain 'recency' with your Basic certificate. There are multiple options, including watching some of my videos! Here's the story: th-cam.com/video/5weCvtYV52I/w-d-xo.html
Amazing Stuff! While I don't expect, I'll ever need an "Advanced Certificate"... all of Don's awesome videos have incited, and encouraged me to step up from Basic, and be a very Proud Advanced Certificate Holder!! :-)
Thank you very much Don for the excellent information. I probably won't attempt to get my advance certificate at this time. For the kind of nature aerial photography that I do, my basic certificate should be sufficient. Also for now, when I am flying my Mavic Mini, I certainly have sufficient flexibility for now for other aerial operations. Hard to say in the future if the regulations change.
Is there a resource online to find the contact number for various aerospaces in Canada? Or do I always need a new copy of the Canada Flight Supplement? (Could get expensive...) Thanks.
Hi again Matt! Well, to find contact numbers, you can either pay NAV CANADA $4000 per year, or... you can use the Drone Pilot Canada app. The Drone Pilot Canada app provides contact numbers for all registered and certified aerodromes, as well as controlled and restricted airspace. In fact, you can even download with a tap of the finger all aerodromes (with their contact numbers) within 20 km of any given location. And much much more.
@@DonJoyce I've got one more question. Once I'm fully certified, do my credentials ever expire? (I can't remember, I took flight school and the exam over 6 months ago) I would hate to have to do those exams again... ugh.
Hey Don, great video. The Mavic drones don’t have an “atti” mode so I won’t be able to demonstrate my ability to fly in this setting. Are you aware of what they do in this case?
Thanks! The Flight Reviewer cannot ask you to demonstrate something your drone is not capable of. The reviewer may ask you, however, what you would do should your drone start acting erratically or start to fly away, or some other out-of-control scenario.
@@Saugerdees That's not accurate, Matt: Sport mode merely allows faster speeds/responsiveness, but positional control is still based on GPS. Atti mode means your position is not being controlled via GPS positioning. Atti mode is entered either by equipment failure (ie, cannot get a GPS lock -- horrible!!), by flying indoors (or some other GPS blocking environment), or in some drones manually selected.
Matt Humphrey sure was. Also, probably not a good idea in a test environment. That’s like going to a driving test and saying pin it! It’s extremely fast and should only be used in wide open space
Hi Don, I just downloaded the Drone Canada App in preparation for my flight review and it looks great! You do mention that it's not necessary to have the checklists printed out as they are readily available on the app. However, if the phone you have the app running on is the same phone you have connected to the drone's remote, wouldn't that be an issue if you do end up having an emergency and need to open up the app? Your help and advice is as always much appreciated. Regards, Bogdan
Thank you, YYZ Bogdan! Many flight reviewers request access to your checklists in advance of the in-person Flight Review. They can be in soft copy format, which you can export from Drone Pilot Canada via the data management menu item. Also, while it is not a strict requirement, it is recommended that you use a separate device from your drone-connected phone for any flight management software such as Drone Pilot Canada. I use an old phone and find it very convenient.
@@DonJoyce Tx for the prompt reply Don! I have downloaded the app on the same phone I use to fly my drone. Would I be able to download the app on a different device? I do have an old Samsung phone I am not using anymore. Regards, Bogdan
Drone Pilot Canada can be freely downloaded to any number of devices using the same Google or Apple account. Separate purchases are required for Android and iOS platforms.
Hi Don, I have my flight review soon and had a question. Is it expected that we mostly navigate the drone based on what we see with our eyes instead of using the dji app gps map, camera view, etc ? My eyes are sensitive to bright lights, so I have trouble looking up at the blue sunny sky for more then 15 seconds without my eyes hurting for 15 minutes, and the glasses I wear have some special type of lenses to slow myopia, but this type of lens cannot become darker outdoors. Is it best to explain that to the flight reviewer before the flight starts, or do a mission that is really close with like 20 meters of distance between the drone and me ? Thanks
That's a tough question! I would definitely discuss your concerns with the Flight Reviewer in advance of the review. Just be prepared with an answer to how you normally fly and maintain a reasonable amount of visual line of sight to your drone for safety. A reasonable amount of 'accommodation' (the key word to use) should be acceptable to the flight reviewer and Transport Canada. Have fun!
@@DonJoyce great, thanks. The Drone Pilot Canada app was really helpful to prepare all the checklists and procedures, so everything should be ready for a smooth flight review.
Hi Don, just purchased DJI Mini 2, and thoroughly enjoying it, my question is about the VLOS, I am not able to see my drone clearly ie.(at 150 ft and 500 meters away even though I have an unobstructed view.) I am I doing something wrong ?
The Mini 2 is tiny and depending upon the background, can 'disappear' in a matter of a hundred feet. Try to keep your eye on it as much as possible (vs watching your screen); that will help. BTW, this video provides some practical guidelines for safe operation: th-cam.com/video/K7H2TsEOlMw/w-d-xo.html
If they ask you to read a METAR, tell them to jump in the lake...that's just dumb! Seriously, there is NO reason a drone pilot needs to interpret METARs!! BUT, they could easily ask you about CFS entries or even reading a VFR map. I recommend you watch this video and be prepared: th-cam.com/video/zJIzLLPe9ko/w-d-xo.html
There is a link below the video to my material (some/most of which you have already purchased): www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com/collections/drone-study-guides
One more question: will I need to buy and have a Transceiver 2 Way Radio with me at the flight review (e.g. to show I have a back-up in case of emergency and can't reach the appropriate officials by phone)?
Absolutely not!! In fact Transport Canada is backing away from that requirement since ISED (the guys who license the radios) have pushed back on licensing the radios themselves for this kind of application!!!! You will always be able to reach the FICs by phone, if not the tower or nearby aerodromes, and they can take appropriate action.
If I am not flying in controlled airspace for the review is there any need to even bring it up with flight reviewer? Also, do I actually need to know how to read a metar for the flight review if I have a decent weather app?
You should always know what class of airspace you are in, and it is definitely something that should be mentioned to the Flight Reviewer as part of your Site Survey...even if it is Class G. Regarding METARs, you do not need to know this for a Flight Review. Interpretation of METARs can come up in the Advanced exam, but the Flight Reviewer should not be bringing up that kind of stuff...it is NOT a re-hash of the exam. And no, no sane person would use a METAR if they had a decent weather app, and was able to read the local weather reasonably well, including micro-climate considerations.
@@EDSC_CANADA lol...I wondered if you meant NOTAMs! And yes, you must check notams for a flight review. Only basic interpretation though... effective date/time, whether it applies to you (location, fires, no rpas...that kind of thing). Reading all notam information is as bad as METARs!
Curious what you do if your drone doesn't have ATTI mode. My mavic pro 2 as far as I am aware doesn't have the ability to switch back and forth. YOu can hack it with tinfoil to loose the GPS, or fly it purposely under cover or something. Presume you just explain this to them? OR am I wrong on the dji Mavic pro 2.
You are not expected to demonstrate something your drone cannot do. You MAY however be asked how you would control your drone in the event of a GPS failure.
In the discussion on what to do in case of a fly away, it only mentions possibly contacting the local FIC but in the Drone Pilot Canada app it says to call the Aviation Emergency number. Pretty sure the latter is correct but online info on this is kind of all over the map. I know the flight reviewer has to verify the pilot knows how to contact Transport Canada (pretty generically). Any advice on a definitive answer to who to contact?
Hi Kyler! I have been attempting to get an official answer from the NAV CANADA RPAS team for a full year. They do not have an official procedure. The closest we can come is what is shown in the Drone Pilot Canada app: 1) attempt to regain control (obviously); 2) Contact aerodromes in flight path and/or control tower for controlled airspace in flight path (including vertically if applicable); 3) Call the aviation emergency number if all else fails OR if there is an imminent threat to aviation. That said, I have just discovered that the procedure in the iOS version of the app is out of date. It will be fixed in an update within 48 hours. Thanks for the discussion point...otherwise I may not have noticed this discrepancy.
Yes, you should be able to do so. And you are correct, it must be registered. I would advise you to discuss your plan with the Flight Reviewer in advance, to ensure there is no confusion at the time of the review.
Yikes! No, it is NOT true! It might be handy if you intend to fly where you might eventually need a radio, but it is not a requirement, and also not a requirement if you are on a listen-only scanner. (BTW, my reviewer offered ROC-A certification as part of the "package". Was pretty easy.
If the forecast says that winds are a little above the recommended threshold for my drone on the day of my flight review, and I choose to fly anyways (without incident) do you think I could be failed for choosing to go against recommend drone specs, even if there were no incidents? The reason I ask is because my drone flight reviewer is only in town once every few months, and I'm at almost a year since I passed my advanced exam, so I can't afford to fail or abort the flight review if at all possible.
Matt...think about it. One of the main goals of a Flight Review is to test the pilot's ability to make decisions based on safety and the regulations. The ability to actually fly is secondary. If you break a rule during the Flight Review, the reviewer should fail you.
@@DonJoyce Hmm. It's just that I've seen tests done with the Mavic Air 2 and it's actual ability to fight the wind is way above what it says in the specs. Just wasn't sure if the test went by the pilot's personal judgement or the manufacturers suggestions. But yeah, I guess that's something else I have to add to my pile of worries now. Whether the wind will cooperate.
Yes you can. Of course, you will need to have a spotter with you. You will likely be expected to show how the spotter was trained and how you ensure effective communications. Also, the drone will need to be registered, which means it has to be over 250g.
Don - The Drone Pilot app is excellent! Doing my review in weeks time. Question, how much information is expected to be committed to memory and to what extent can you refer to information organized in your "Flight Review Binder" and in The Drone Pilot app? Thanks.
Thank you, Philip! You need to understand the concepts (eg, how you find out what kind of airspace you are in...) by heart, but the specifics of your flight do not need to be memorized. Of course, all of this depends upon your reviewer to a large extent.
No, you do not need a 2-way (or even a 1-way) radio on a flight review. While listening on aviation frequencies is recommended, it is NOT a requirement.
Correct, you can't just set ATTI mode like in the older drones, but your Flight Reviewer may ask you to demonstrate how you would control your craft if you lose GPS...it happens! And you have a procedure for dealing with a lost link...adjusting antennae, changing position, etc. Also ensuring your RTH settings are appropriate.
Don, I've played around with your app a bit yesterday and I can't seem to figure out how to put a flight log in the app....Is there a detailed tutorial (aside from the quick tutorial) somewhere? Also, what if I am using the app during the test but using the same phone to fly the drone? I have a Samsung s20 Ultra. My other phone and tablet are both iOS. I'm having this problem with using iOS with my drone as it tells me I have a Front Sensor Error Code 8, however using Android there's no error and nothing noticeable during flights. I don't exactly want to use the iPad during the test because of that error and obviously I can't use the app in iOS because it's not cross platform. ( And I really don't want to have to buy the app twice ) Any tips/solutions?
Hi Derek. First, about manual flight logs. Use the 'Record Flights Manually' function on the dot menu. The feature was introduced in v1.3 and explained in that video: th-cam.com/video/LFrNmCTRO30/w-d-xo.html (and yes, I need to refresh the 'full instructional' video for all these new functions...). Second, about using app on same device as for controlling drone. While it is generally better to use different devices for these applications, it is OK to use the same device for both the Drone Pilot Canada app and your flight controller. Just do all of your checklist type functions FIRST, then the flight control functions, and flip back as necessary. Remember, the Flight Review is about following the rules and procedures, not necessarily having an 'efficient' operation. Just take your time. It is ok also to 'do' a number of activities (eg, check battery, check satellites), then check all of them off on the checklist. Do a dry run to ensure you know this stuff smoothly.
@@DonJoyce I suppose what I was thinking would trip me up a bit was the take off, landing and flyaway/signal loss check lists while my drone is in flight. I might just take screenshots of those checklists and throw them on my iPad for use, then I don't have to switch back and forth between apps. Thanks again for those pointers.
Consider the take off and landing items as procedures rather than checklists. You then need to have them, and follow them, but are not required to literally tick each item off.
@@DonJoyce Hi Don, I tried to find your email, can't seem to find it. Is it possible to get a site survey for Class G airspace without applying for a SFOC? Or do I just apply regardless to get that information?
Yes, with a few caveats: Most importantly, you will need to have a visual observer with you, assuming you are flying with the goggles. The DJI FPV is on the 'approved for advanced operations' list for flying in controlled airspace and near people, but not over bystanders. Finally, I would recommend you let your flight reviewer know in advance, so they are not surprised at the time of the review...just in case they have concerns. Good luck!!
Right here: th-cam.com/video/ut44cLyXWLk/w-d-xo.html . Please also check out my other drone regulations videos, starting with this 'visual index' with a free downloadable list with links to each video: th-cam.com/video/iumXJNvVgPs/w-d-xo.html
For most drones, you cannot intentionally put them in ATTI mode. You MAY be asked what you would do if you lost GPS, and even to demonstrate how you would manage (eg, maneuvers to determine your orientation etc)
I just passed my flight review🎉 Thank you, Don, for all the guidance, easy-to-understand training videos, and the Drone Pilot Canada app! It worked great for my review, and the reviewer was super impressed by the site survey and planing I produced for him with the app. Thanks again!! 😊
HEY! Congratulations, Dee!! Great achievement! So glad to hear my videos and the Drone Pilot Canada app helped you! (BTW, I was testing a new feature in Drone Pilot Canada today: exporting documents...per your suggestion!)
@@DonJoyce Thanks, Don! Sounds good. I'll look forward to the export functionality, and if you can make a flight plan editable after it's been saved, (e.g. to move the launch area, or add an obstacle you discovered after finalizing your plan), that would save us a ton of time avoiding starting from scratch. You guys have done amazing work making the app incredible at it is; these are just the thoughts I've had to make it even better from using it everyday for the last two weeks. Keep up the great work! :D
Hi Dee, where would I start to get my advanced. I have just done my basic but I only fly rc planes. I'm hoping i can learn to fly drones which is way more technical.
Hi there Would you be able to explain a bit of what your flight review consists of looking into mine here soon just wanted to know what to expect, im sure there all close to the same idea?
Everything about this is gloriously Canadian in the best way. Love how conscientious and considerate. Don, you're a national treasure.
Lol. Thanks! I hope you don't mean I should be locked up!
Hi Don, I passed my Advanced Flight Review today. I can't say "Due in part" to you for the study materials, app and instructional videos, because that would truly be a disservice and short-changing the impact that you had on it/me. I was anxious beforehand, truly nervous, The reviewer I had could not have been better. He made an effort to break the ice a bit with conversation before we got to the nitty-gritty and that in and of itself was HUGE.
We chuckled a bit...he asked how I was feeling about it and I said "I had/have over 30 different IT certifications, and not one of them caused me as much grief beforehand!"...anyway, he was laid back, kind and I daresay forgiving. I used your app to print off most of the stuff I required for the site survey, he actually requested I bring a fire extinguisher, so I added in a first aid kit and a safety vest. I didn't actually wear it but of course pointed out that I had it with me. We began with a bunch of what I'd call "basic" questions. What airspace are we in, how far from an airport must we be without permission etc. etc.
I was very well prepared due to this video and your app. I also have a couple other drone apps, but yours is sufficient in and of itself I'd think.
So we went through the questions...and it was very conversational (which I appreciated), and not just a "cold" Q & A session. I believe I only got one wrong and didn't know the answer to another question, and damned if I can remember either question! haha. Next was pre-flight showed him ALL
the documentation I had printed off...weather specifics about the one airport and two heliports in the area. Then Basically did a commentary of everything I was doing. Pointed out that all devices had fully charged batteries, bla bla bla. So, all good so far now the flying...
If you'd asked me in advance what part of the review I was more confident in, or conversely more worried about, I would have said the Q & A portion and me not feeling confident about really knowing all the info, rather than just parroting it and not knowing what I was talking about. I couldn't have been more incorrect! The first part of the flight went great, we simulated a loss of signal and went through the protocol for fly-aways - Wait, that's one of the questions I didn't know! If there is damage to life or limb with your drone (say ya crash into someone physically and they're bleeding...what do you do, who do ya call?
I answered first thing I would do is to apply any kind of relevant first aid I could, next is 911, and I guess I brain-farted because an incident like that must also be reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. I believe I wasn't aware of that...not sure if I missed it somewhere? Anyway, has wasn't overly concerned about that...back to the flying! All good until the last flight request before bringing it back and landing -
Reviewer -"See that big tree across the field from us?"
Me -" Yup"
Reviewer -""I'd like you to fly over to it and circle it keeping it in the center of your view on camera first, then we're going to do it without the camera, just by LOS.
Me INTERNALLY - "OH MY GAWD I HAVEN'T PRACTICED FLYING SIDEWAYS, let alone two different things at the same time. My drone (Air2S) has no side sensors, plus the software can do that so it hadn't crossed my mind!!! I flat out told him that, and that I didn't know how to do it. Now THERE was a piece of humble pie for me after seemingly aceing all the prior stuff. He was incredibly patient and gracious...He gave me some time to figure it out (I eventually kinda/sorta did, but it wasn't pretty and took quite some time. He allowed me to have a do-over and start again. This time I at least accomplished the task, albeit messy again lol.
He could have justified failing me right then and there after my first attempt. He didn't due in LARGE part to how prepared I was when I showed up, and the fact that I knew the answers to what he was asking. I can't thank him enough for the patience he had with me. His demeanor was awesome, he made me feel welcome (if ya know what I mean), and am incredibly humbled by the experience with respect to me realizing I wasn't ready at that one moment, but he recognized some potential I guess....I coulda hugged him when he offered his hand to shake and said "congratulations". Oh...wait...there's more!
After landing, equipment check etc. he asked how I felt about how it went. Of course I thought it went well up until the tree, and he shared the sentiment. He turned it into a teaching/learning moment and did it well. There was no focus on what I did poorly on that part of the review, only pointing out what I can practice on while being encouraging.
A lesser man woulda failed me...no doubt in my mind.
A very very big thank you for your contributions to the drone community. Particularly your time...this must all take a HUGE commitment, and I'm at least one person that must give ya kudos. You deserve it.
THANKS!!
/The End
Thank you for sharing your success story, Darryl! Congratulations on passing what sounds like a challenging, yet reasonable and fair Flight Review!! I'm glad to hear my videos and Drone Pilot Canada helped...but in the end, it was your achievement! Safe and happy flying!
@@DonJoyce Today I decided to take the plunge and challenge the Flight Reviewer Rating exam, and passed! Once again, thanks to you. Your previous
study material was invaluable. Oh, I also joined your new association! What a great idea...hope you can squeeze in the time for it! haha
Don I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I've been really stressed about what to expect on the review and all the surprises that might come up. You have really calmed me down. I feel ready. Thank you again.
Great, Jonny! Good luck with the review!
Thank you Don! I just passed passed my flight review. It would not have been possible without you. You're one in a million!
The flight reviewer said anybody using your app is pretty much an automatic pass from a documents and checklists perspective.
Congratulations on passing your Flight Review! I'm glad to hear my material and the Drone Pilot Canada app helped!
Almost as good as dateline to fall asleep to. Excellent info, thank you don. I just can’t get more than 6 mins then fall asleep.
Study guides disguised as ASMR sleep videos...my new career!
Same!!! 6 minutes max! So good! Move over dateline, Don drones on is in the house!
@@Christine-ut4dvha ha!
Absolutely fantastic content. I flew years ago, tried to get into my local club but the wait list was miles long. Now the list is much shorter, the club managed to get approval to fly in a Class C airspace but obviously the hurdles to getting certified are much higher.
Hi Don, last Sunday morning I had my Flt Review and all went great. Thanks again for your valuable videos.
We'll stay in touch!
Congratulations!!!!!
Your tutorials cam highly recommended by my flight instructor as prep for my upcoming advanced flight review.
Fabulous information, Don! I am inspired to go out and nail this test!
Thank you for sharing this feedback, Rob! My videos cover all the knowledge requirements for the Advanced exam.
@@DonJoyce They certainly do! Fortunately, I already have the written component taken care of. Now I just have to practice figure "8"s!
In the meantime, I'll be watching. You have a new fan for sure!
Finally got through my Advanced Exam after 5 tries. Every one is different and they are all difficult. Studying for the Flight Review. The flight school I went through, suggests reading through the requirements to become a reviewer , from the TC documents. That is a help as well. Thanks for this Don. Enjoy all your videos' and yes, I do have your App. A huge time saver and organizer. Worth the money if you want to use your drone for business as I do. Cheers
Congratulations on passing your Advanced exam, RC Van!! Safe and happy flying...and happy new year as well!
I successfully passed my flight review yesterday and became advanced certified. Thank you for all the modules they were great and very resourceful!! btw the flight reviewer loved the Canada drone app
Hey, congratulations on achieving your Advanced RPAS Pilot Certification, VEGA Toronto!!! I'm glad my material and the Drone Pilot Canada helped! If you don't mind, could you privately let me know the Flight Reviewer's name via email to DonDronesOn@gmail.com? Thanks!!
Just passed my review, between the Drone Pilot Canada app and my binder of documents it was a breeze. Thanks for the help.
Congratulations on achieving your Advanced Certification!! Great to hear that Drone Pilot Canada helped you.
Was just watching the old version and hoping you'd come out with an updated version soon... and VOILA! Thank you!
Yep...just for you, Reid. Just ignore the little blinking red light on the bookshelf behind you.... LOL
I bought the app. It's very helpful. Thank you. The advanced exam is kicking my butt. 3 attempts with 3 weeks of studying now and can't attain better than 74. Hoping your videos put me over the top. Thanks again for posting.
Thanks, Grumpy! You'll get there!
@@DonJoyce question please? Which PDF do I purchase to give me what I need to pass the Advanced Exam. I'm a bit confused. Sorry.
@@tstewart88 I recommend the Advanced Study Guide (www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com/collections/drone-study-guides/products/dons-study-guide-for-the-canadian-drone-rpa-pilot-advanced-operations-exam) and the Don's Guide to Canadian Regulations (www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com/collections/drone-study-guides/products/dons-guide-to-the-canadian-rpas-regulations). The first one is a 250-page compendium of slideware used in a number of my videos on advanced topics. The second is a 114-page blow-by-blow interpretation of every single RPAS regulation, with an english translation of what they really mean.
I passed my flight review today! Thanks again Don your information was key to keeping me from getting stressed out going into the flight review. The flight reviewer stated that other drone pilot apps did NOT show class F airspace which was key to this review. I would recommend anyone looking into getting their advanced pilot certification to go through Don for study information and purchase the Drone Pilot Canada App!!
Congratulations on passing your Flight Review and attaining your Advanced RPAS Pilot Certification!!! And it's great to hear that Drone Pilot Canada helped you win the day!
I'm going through this incredibly thorough video for the second time and taking copious notes to prepare for my flight review. I've just stopped around 24:20 when you discuss demonstrating our ability to handle emergencies, and more specifically, "how to contact Transport Canada if an incident occurs". I'm not sure if the process is the same now in 2022 as it was when you recorded this video over 2 years ago, but when I look up your various emergency procedures and related contact information in the DPC app, it has us contact the Transportation Safety Board in case of medical incidents, and "the Aviation Emergency Phone Number" in case of a fly-away, but none of them state, nor advise, contacting Transport Canada as you state in this part of the video. At the moment, I would likely follow the steps you prescribe in the DPC app during my flight review since I've called the contact number I found on the Transport Canada website portal, and it doesn't seem to prompt you with a direct line to reporting an incident or emergency. Am I correct with this, or is there somewhere else in the DPC app I should be looking to find a number for Transport Canada instead of the other departments I've mentioned from the app?
Great spotting, Dee! You are absolutely correct about who to contact, and Transport Canada is not applicable for any kind of incident. The correct contacts and numbers are indeed in the Drone Pilot Canada app. And BTW, don't forget that Drone Pilot Canada also has the Emergency Button feature which offers you the correct numbers in the event of a flyaway. Thanks for sharing this, Dee.
I just passed my flight review, your app helped so much. Thanks again Don! 🎉
Congratulations on achieving your full Advanced RPAS Pilot Certification, Patrick!!! Great to hear Drone Pilot Canada covered all the bases!!
Thank you Don. Very helpful to ensure I don’t miss anything. FR is this Sunday for me in Victoria, BC.
You can do it!!!
@@DonJoyce thanks Don for all your help on this journey so far.
@@DonJoyce I passed!!!!!!!!!
I passed!!!!!!!!
@@thekeytothegateCongratulations!! A huge achievement!
Love these videos, especially for a newbie like myself who has just taken up this technology late last year...the schooling part only takes you so far especially with the reams of information there is to read and retain. These videos are clear and concise and really help me put everything in perspective and order. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge...it really helps us newbies!!
Thank you so much, Sue. My precise aim is be clear and concise! Sounds like it's working!
Listened to this several times. It is comforting and educational. Great Material. Now to Study and Practice. FR Real soon!
Glad you found it helpful and comforting!! Best wishes on your Flight Review!!
hey boss!! you should make a video with regards to your check lists and how you approach following them! it would be so nice to see a flight review “scenario”
Thanks for the idea!
Very nice Don. Thanks. I've got my Flight Review scheduled next week and look forward to using your instruction towards successfully passing it.
You'll do great, Dean!!
I guess another tip is to make sure that your firmware is up to date. Great video. Do you have a video on what to do when you lose connection or get a fly away, etc?
Thanks, Sizzler! Funny you mention firmware. When I did my flight review, I deliberately and openly did not take a recent upgrade. I was at the cottage, have lousy internet, and did not want to brick my drone. Reviewer was fine with that. Check my emergency button video for what to do. Or my flyaway video....
Thank you so much Don! Passed my Advanced Exam first try and looking forward to using your great advice to pass my Flight Review as well.
Congratulations on passing your Advanced exam!
Hi Don. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I passed my advanced exam at the 11th attempt. it was so frustrating considering I was always between 68-78. Your materials came in really informative. I will be taking my flight review soon. Thanks Don you're a superstar
Congratulations on passing your Advanced, Oluwaseun! And good for you to keep trying after so many frustrating attempts...78% is definitely the worst feeling! And thank you for the kind words!
It took me plenty of tries at the exam as well. 76% many times then finally 82%. When it said I passed, the rest of the people in my building must off thought I won lotto 649.
Great video Don! Very informative and detailed advice. Hoping to schedule the Flight Review in the next couple of weeks - I'll report back!
Thanks, Steve! Be sure to watch my moat recent video too! Good luck!
Thanks Don! Prepping for my review and was really happy to find this video! Also have the app and just love it!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi! Thanks for the great resource and bought the app as well. I assume you keep it current? 🙂 thanks so much for this fabulous app!
Thanks!! Yes the airspace and aerodrome data is updated per the 56 day CFS/DAH cycle. And it's all done automatically, so you don't need to do anything. Also, we're working on some nice little enhancements which will be ready soon...free!
Thank you again Don for all your great videos. Thanks to watching them all multiple times and purchasing your app I passed my exams and flight review. One thing that was mentioned is that vertical climb should be reported in feet per minute rather then seconds, but overall all good things about your app. It would be nice if we could edit the emergency script in future updates? . I know you can edit them in your checklist section but it would be great if that would reflect in the script that shows during the emergency flight.
Thanks again for all your hard work!
Congratulations on achieving your Advanced Certification, Daniel!! Glad to hear my videos and Drone Pilot Canada helped! That's a good idea about the Emergency Button script. We may be able to make it one of the loadable procedures.
Thanks a lot Don, already finished the first video as per your advice, going to watch the other one now 👍🏻
Cool, thanks
Nicely done Don. As you know, my flight review was a positive experience and less stressful than the Advanced exam was. Having failed the exam 4 times I was confident I had the knowledge and skill to pass the flight review. The reviewer WAS IMPRESSED by the Drone Pilot Canada app. Thanks!
Thank you, Gary!
Excellent ! Thanks for the efforts. Downloaded app, will undertake the review soon... in Ottawa but having trouble finding a reviewer for some reason....
Thanks, Steve! There is a list of Flight Reviewers in the app...look under the hamburger menu! Good luck!
@@DonJoyce thanks.. I did just that and found a reviewer. I talked to him for half an hour today. Great app... The work to get that App done and keep it up to date, astounding.
I did not pass the basic exam. Will try again - it was extremly hard, I found, but now i have a good idea of what I am dealing with and which areas to focus more.
You can do it! Take your time and double check things as you go.
@@DonJoyce I just passed the exam! This time I was well rpepared. Your vidoes were key - I followed your PDF line by line. Thank you so much for all this. Will keep watching your videos and coming back for news and updates.
Thanks Don! I skimmed through the videos at 1.5x and everything was clear, even at that speed. It helped me immensely even though the exam was poorly written, there were questions in there about horizontal stabilizers, the logical options were horizontal or lateral stability...what kind of a question is that...i picked lateral and got it wrong? At any rate i got 85%. Not sure why i would ever have to learn to read charts or what that has to do with drones. Its almost like the government is saying, "you want to fly drones in our airspace, you better learn ALL our rules even though you will never be able to fly in zones that use require them", its a form of punishment for wanting to fly in their airspace. Im Flying a mini 2 (sub 250G micro), however my municipality wants certification regardless of the size of the drone unfortunately. I wonder if the birds that weigh more than 250G have to get certification aswell? I guess we will never know.
Congratulations on passing your exam, Kevin!! The birds DO need to be certified BTW...they just don't know it. Hey, what municipality requires certification?????
@@DonJoyce Edmonton. As convoluted as it sounds, and as you are likely aware they can’t do anything if you are flying from private property. That said, taking off or landing from city of Edmonton property requires a permit, 2 million general liability insurance and a minimum basic certification regardless of drone size. I really could see many struggling with the basic exam without reading between the lines and, as you said, some serious google skills. Granted, I did not spend a ton of time studying/reviewing. At the end of the day, keep up the good work as you make the skies safer, which in turn aids our flying freedom and ensures the experience is enjoyable for all of us.
Edmonton's requirements/expectations sound overboard. I hope they don't allow unlicensed cyclists on city property!! or skateboards...or kites....or or or or
Great video. Got my review in a few days. Confident but I feel a lot better about it now that I bought your app. Thanks!
Thanks, Wesley! BTW, one further tip: do a mock walkthrough of the flight review, with your drone and Drone Pilot Canada, and whatever else you'll have with you....like a dress rehearsal. You'll feel ready!
Hi Don, great videos sir! Thanks much for all of your work on these. Are the pilots alowed to look at their screen or would you keep eyes on the drone at all times? If they do interrupt the original and ask, let"s say, to fly to two corners of the field, I often line myself up using the camera in the drone. Also for the distance estimations, we can give them the stats displaying on our screen?
Thanks again!
Thanks! It is expected that you occasionally look at your screen...for telemetry and lining up shots etc. What they DON'T want to see is you glued to the screen the entire time. One tip (I may say it in the video) is to verbalize out loud as much as possible. In the example you gave, you could move your drone to roughly the right spot, then say, I'm checking the line-up on my screen now, and now watching my drone again. Something like that. Distance estimates should be based on your eyes and brain, not the drone. That said, a GREAT way to practice and get better at estimates of say the heights of trees is to use your drone to 'measure' them after you make an estimate. Do it enough times and you'll get good at it. A good life skill, if nothing else!
Great advice! Thanks so much Don
Excellent Video, one that I will be rewatching, listening and taking notes prior to writing the Advanced Exam and meeting Flight reviewer, and yes the App is fantastic.
Thank you for all the info you provide Don! Hand down the best quality info as with the DPC app!. I hope you can help me with a question please. I have searched for so long and continue to get conflicting info from trustworthy Flight Reviewers in Canada, confusion in my understanding of the documentation and have also seen conflicting answers from Transport Canada to other RPAS operators rather than to myself personally. Imma going to take Your word as gospel! ( well I guess the flight reviewer gets final word..) For a flight review, must the RPAS have the safety assurance declaration and registration , or, must it only have the registration?! The base question is ' Can I use a registered Mini 2 during my flight review? Or must I rent a registered drone model with the RPAS Safety assurance and registration to use during a flight review. Sorry for the lengthy post. Trying to be very careful with wording. :-)
Thank you so much for your kind comments, Geminieve! Your question is a good one and many have asked it...and have received conflicting answers!! So, I went straight to Frank B at Transport Canada for the correct answer. It's a bit complicated, so, I did a video recently explaining the ins and outs: th-cam.com/video/tKFFQa2cJbw/w-d-xo.html I hope you find that helpful! Good luck with your review!
Hey Don, great video, thanks for putting this out! I have a review this weekend and my reviewer requires me to have an ROC-A license and a VHF radio. Is this considered necessary for the review?
Absolutely not.
Hey Don, thanks for your videos. I managed to get my small Advance with the help of these and get my flight review done. I purchased your Canada drone pilot and it works really well. When I record a Manual flight, I'm not getting any weather conditions being logged, it shows up as N/A. Is this something coming in the future? I work for the department of Environment in Yukon and I'm assisting our Conservation Officers with their drone flight logs, and having this working would be a real help!
Firstly, congratulations on passing your Advanced exam and flight review! Regarding the weather info, please send me an email at DonDronesOn@gmail.com with details and an example. Assuming you have an internet connection at the time, you should get full weather details!
@@DonJoyce Sure I'll follow up with you in an email. The COs having been doing manual flight logs via pen and paper, and i want to recommend this app to all of them. I do have internet connection, but maybe has something to do with our remote location and where the weather data is pulled from.
Hi Don, Great content as usual. Im prepping for my flight review and this info is invaluable. :). Question though... is the expectation in the review that the PIC will be looking only at the drone, or is it ok to also refer to the console display when navigating, and responding to questions from the reviewer? Thanks.
Hi John! The expectation is that you only occasionally glance at the RC/phone display. You need to from time to time, obviously, but they don't want you to be staring at it, or flying from it's view alone. You can answer questions if it is safe/reasonable to do so, but feel free to stop them talking or asking you things if you find it distracting. In fact, they may do that to test you! Good luck with your review!
One more great content . GPS Job, Don. Thanks
Thank you!
Just watched the video, quite informative. Decided to bite on the app for my Android phone. I took my basic on a Monday and passed with 80%, wrote my Advanced 2 days later on a Wednesday and failed 64%, then rewrote the following day and passed 88%. I guess all those years playing flight simulators paid off, lol. I'm looking at doing my exam at the end of next week, weather permitting. I think your overview of the actual flight assessment has settled me down a bit, as I thought it would be just as technical as the written portion. It looks like that app will make things a lot easier for me.
Congratulations on passing both exams, Derek! Yes, Drone Pilot Canada will help a lot, particularly for the airspace assessment. Be sure to do a dry run, using the checklists to be sure you are familiar with them. And practice estimating distances.
@@DonJoyce I used to be in the army, so I'm good up to about 300 meters horizontally, also spent quite a few years building cell phone towers so I'm good up to about 600 feet. Thanks for the tips!
Don, thanks for this sir. Flight review is this Friday and this was a wonderful little packet of information to add to the collection. In reference to Jeremy's earlier question, I'm wondering how (if at all) do you incorporate radio space into your operations? I'm planning on also taking the ROC-A exam Friday after the review, and would love to hear any additional information you may have gathered on that topic. Thanks again!
Thanks, David! Good luck with your Flight Review! Regarding radio use, I don't use one myself...I never fly anywhere with any amount of air traffic. Others have said they find it helpful to listen (and only listen) on their radio to be aware of nearby manned aircraft.
Hey Don, hope this finds you in good health and spirit.
A couple of questions 1) I need to take my Flight Review again to keep it up with resency as it expires soon, can you please tell me how to go about this. 2) I transferred the Drone Pilot app to my new iphone, but it does not seem to show me at the centre of the map anymore, on either phone, what is up? I have 2 drones and would like to have a phone for each controler.
Always good to hear from you.
Thanks
Chris
Hey Chris! Good news: recency is super easy, no flight review required: th-cam.com/video/5weCvtYV52I/w-d-xo.html . On Drone Pilot Canada, make sure "follow me" is enabled (dot menu). Otherwise send me an email with more details: DonDronesOn@gmail.com
Amazing video to Don.
Thank you so much
Thanks! Good luck on your Flight Review!
Thanks. App. Ordered and downloaded! 😀
I'm sure you will find Drone Pilot Canada a great aid for safe and legal drone flying, Michael!
Hey Don Thanks so much for all your videos. They were so good and so well presented. I have watched many of your videos and passed my basic on the 1st try with 88%. Advanced test, not so easy...76% 68% then 82%. But all thanks to you. I just have one question before my flight review. Can I use a micro drone, such as the Mavic Mini for the flight review? Or does it have to be a 250 plus gram drone? And if I fail the review. Do I have to pay another $200-$300 to retake it?
Hey Cal, congratulations on passing your Advanced exam!! Yeah, it is not easy! Yes you can do a Flight Review with a mini, BUT it must be registered...the flight reviewer must see the registration number and corresponding record. Easy to do and only 5 bucks. Give your Flight Reviewer a heads up so they don't have to look up the rules on the spot. It's tough to fail a Flight Review, but possible if you say or do something inappropriate or dangerous. Generally, you DO have to pay again if you fail. Talk to your reviewer in advance!
Excellent coverage and timely. I have my Basic license for a month and am considering the Advanced as I need to fly in controlled areas which require Advanced. I think it is good that Canada is formalizing some of the rules. That is the one positive thing - however I still think they erred on the side of caution as the hobby has suffered greatly. The problem is like all rules/laws is that it is near impossible to remove bad ones. Soapbox: In general, rules/laws like these should have a sunset provision so that bad rules/laws go away after some predetermined time (1/2 years?). I see a near future for this hobby/profession where we have ever increasing/restrictive laws which are appended to the current documents until there is no way to fly without breaking some vague law. Just like driving a car - it is near impossible to drive without breaking some rule/law despite trying one's best not to. Perhaps apply to the government of Canada as the new RPAS minister to help get Canada back on road to sanity - I'd vote for you. I've checked and there has not been a SINGLE reported catastropic incident between RPAS and manned flight in Canada. There have been some misses and foolish violations of flying RPAS in controlled/restricted airspace which current criminal negligence laws could easily be applied - but the overreaction is simply incredible for a few bad apples.
Thanks, Zira. Sorry somehow missed this comment....
@@DonJoyce Hey - no problem Don. I'm very curious if you are in agreement with any of the points I made - thanks. It would be great if we as Canadian RPAS operators could somehow be more effective to changing the laws/rules beyond voting in federal elections. We don't even get to determine who the minister of Transport Canada is - so it's really hit and miss whether proper consideration is given concerning RPAS operators. Our skies are emptier due to COVID (aircraft operators), yet ever more restrictions are being planned for RPAS operators.
@@zira_fluff4105 The rules are not at all balanced against the risks and the reality of drones. I even proposed my own "Don's Drone Rules" (th-cam.com/video/yFePgA9cI44/w-d-xo.html ) and sent them to Transport Canada for consideration. But, me in politics? I think I'd rather stick props in my eyes!
Hi Don, thank you so much for this. Super helpful!! I've always kind of wondered when you're doing your flight review and you're in the air. If a low flying airplane or helicopter is nearby or coming towards you. (Even if they're not low but just in the same area) should you land immediately giving way to them or just be cautious and acknowledge that they are there? Normally I would just be cautious and fly lower but during the flight review should I be doing it different or change my habits? Thanks!
Thanks, Bryanna! That's a great question. I would keep in mind that the purpose of the Flight Review is to focus on safety, not your ability to fly. So, definitely erring on the side of caution by landing, or at least drastically reducing altitude would be best. Just as important is to verbalize your observations, decisions and actions: "I hear a helicopter. I'm not sure it's flight path, so I am going to immediately land to prevent any chance of a collision." Safe and happy flying!
@@DonJoyce that's super helpful, thank you!!
Hey Don, I just wanted to thank you again for providing us with all the material that is absolutely necessary in passing the advanced exam. Regarding the flight review, I understand there is a possibility one might be asked to fly the drone in ATTI mode. I have a Mavic Pro which does not allow me to manually switch to this mode. I would appreciate to get your thoughts on this issue. Best regards, Bogdan
Hi Bogdan. The ATTI mode requirement came up a few times 'early days'. It was an attempt to test the pilot on handling emergency/unexpected situations. The reviewer can't ask you to do something your drone isn't designed to do. You should, however, be prepared to discuss how you WOULD handle your drone should it lose GPS....how to determine it's orientation, and what you would need to consider for safely bringing it back, or landing. Good luck with the review!
@@DonJoyce This is where VLOS is very important as well as knowing wind speed/direction. It actually happened to me and I managed just fine!
Thanks again for all your help! It's greatly appreciated!
Indeed...happened to me as well (with a Spark). Blew out of VLOS immediately... but it re-established GPS (and a new mid air home point...yikes!), but I flew by landmarks back to where I was standing...with soiled pants.
Thank you, Don. How can someone with an advanced drone pilot license become a reviewer?
The procedure and eligibility requirements are on the TC Drone Safety web site here: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/drone-pilot-licensing/become-flight-reviewer-drones-1-overview
Hi Don, thank you for al the incredibly informative videos! I do have a question... you mention that you need to have the pre-flight checklist written down. Will the one in the Drone Pilot app suffice or should it be on paper?
Absolutely the Drone Pilot Canada pre-flight checklist will do. "Written down" simply means not just in your head.
Hi Don, does basic Operations require a flight review? I have seen that we need to do it online and to keep it with our documents. Thank you I learned so much with your videos
There is no flight review for a Basic certification...just the online exam.
@@DonJoyceSorry to ask again, my mistake is not a flight review, but a Self-Paced Program. tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/getting-drone-pilot-certificate/remotely-piloted-aircraft-system-rpas-recency-requirements-self-paced-study-program. Not sure if you have already talk about it. Thanks again, you are my best teacher ever!
No worries. Yes, you need to retain 'recency' with your Basic certificate. There are multiple options, including watching some of my videos! Here's the story: th-cam.com/video/5weCvtYV52I/w-d-xo.html
Amazing Stuff! While I don't expect, I'll ever need an "Advanced Certificate"... all of Don's awesome videos have incited, and encouraged me to step up from Basic, and be a very Proud Advanced Certificate Holder!! :-)
Hey, congratulations, Bob!! (sorry for slow response...somehow missed this!)
Thank you for your videos Don!
Glad you are enjoying them!
Thank you very much Don for the excellent information. I probably won't attempt to get my advance certificate at this time. For the kind of nature aerial photography that I do, my basic certificate should be sufficient. Also for now, when I am flying my Mavic Mini, I certainly have sufficient flexibility for now for other aerial operations. Hard to say in the future if the regulations change.
Yes, between your M2P and Mini, you have a lot of flexibility without the additional difficulty and expense of the Advanced.
Great job for all of us. Thanks
Thank you, Clement!
Is there a resource online to find the contact number for various aerospaces in Canada?
Or do I always need a new copy of the Canada Flight Supplement? (Could get expensive...)
Thanks.
Hi again Matt! Well, to find contact numbers, you can either pay NAV CANADA $4000 per year, or... you can use the Drone Pilot Canada app. The Drone Pilot Canada app provides contact numbers for all registered and certified aerodromes, as well as controlled and restricted airspace. In fact, you can even download with a tap of the finger all aerodromes (with their contact numbers) within 20 km of any given location. And much much more.
@@DonJoyce I was hoping it would. The app sounds great. I'll probably end up getting it. :)
@@DonJoyce I've got one more question.
Once I'm fully certified, do my credentials ever expire? (I can't remember, I took flight school and the exam over 6 months ago)
I would hate to have to do those exams again... ugh.
Hey Don, great video. The Mavic drones don’t have an “atti” mode so I won’t be able to demonstrate my ability to fly in this setting. Are you aware of what they do in this case?
Thanks! The Flight Reviewer cannot ask you to demonstrate something your drone is not capable of. The reviewer may ask you, however, what you would do should your drone start acting erratically or start to fly away, or some other out-of-control scenario.
If your DJI drone has a "sport" mode, I think that counts as atti mode because it's all manual.
@@Saugerdees That's not accurate, Matt: Sport mode merely allows faster speeds/responsiveness, but positional control is still based on GPS. Atti mode means your position is not being controlled via GPS positioning. Atti mode is entered either by equipment failure (ie, cannot get a GPS lock -- horrible!!), by flying indoors (or some other GPS blocking environment), or in some drones manually selected.
@@DonJoyce ah, ok. Thanks for the clarification. I had read Sports mode was like Atti mode on a forum yesterday. Guess that was misinformation.
Matt Humphrey sure was. Also, probably not a good idea in a test environment. That’s like going to a driving test and saying pin it! It’s extremely fast and should only be used in wide open space
Hi Don, I just downloaded the Drone Canada App in preparation for my flight review and it looks great! You do mention that it's not necessary to have the checklists printed out as they are readily available on the app. However, if the phone you have the app running on is the same phone you have connected to the drone's remote, wouldn't that be an issue if you do end up having an emergency and need to open up the app? Your help and advice is as always much appreciated. Regards, Bogdan
Thank you, YYZ Bogdan! Many flight reviewers request access to your checklists in advance of the in-person Flight Review. They can be in soft copy format, which you can export from Drone Pilot Canada via the data management menu item. Also, while it is not a strict requirement, it is recommended that you use a separate device from your drone-connected phone for any flight management software such as Drone Pilot Canada. I use an old phone and find it very convenient.
@@DonJoyce Tx for the prompt reply Don! I have downloaded the app on the same phone I use to fly my drone. Would I be able to download the app on a different device? I do have an old Samsung phone I am not using anymore. Regards, Bogdan
Drone Pilot Canada can be freely downloaded to any number of devices using the same Google or Apple account. Separate purchases are required for Android and iOS platforms.
Hi Don, I have my flight review soon and had a question. Is it expected that we mostly navigate the drone based on what we see with our eyes instead of using the dji app gps map, camera view, etc ? My eyes are sensitive to bright lights, so I have trouble looking up at the blue sunny sky for more then 15 seconds without my eyes hurting for 15 minutes, and the glasses I wear have some special type of lenses to slow myopia, but this type of lens cannot become darker outdoors. Is it best to explain that to the flight reviewer before the flight starts, or do a mission that is really close with like 20 meters of distance between the drone and me ? Thanks
That's a tough question! I would definitely discuss your concerns with the Flight Reviewer in advance of the review. Just be prepared with an answer to how you normally fly and maintain a reasonable amount of visual line of sight to your drone for safety. A reasonable amount of 'accommodation' (the key word to use) should be acceptable to the flight reviewer and Transport Canada. Have fun!
@@DonJoyce great, thanks. The Drone Pilot Canada app was really helpful to prepare all the checklists and procedures, so everything should be ready for a smooth flight review.
Hi Don, just purchased DJI Mini 2, and thoroughly enjoying it, my question is about the VLOS, I am not able to see my drone clearly ie.(at 150 ft and 500 meters away
even though I have an unobstructed view.) I am I doing something wrong ?
The Mini 2 is tiny and depending upon the background, can 'disappear' in a matter of a hundred feet. Try to keep your eye on it as much as possible (vs watching your screen); that will help. BTW, this video provides some practical guidelines for safe operation: th-cam.com/video/K7H2TsEOlMw/w-d-xo.html
Just a question. Do you think they might ask you to read a METARS report, or decipher an entry from the CFS or a read a VFR map?
If they ask you to read a METAR, tell them to jump in the lake...that's just dumb! Seriously, there is NO reason a drone pilot needs to interpret METARs!! BUT, they could easily ask you about CFS entries or even reading a VFR map. I recommend you watch this video and be prepared: th-cam.com/video/zJIzLLPe9ko/w-d-xo.html
Don, mini 4 pro, should i buy an extended battery and register the drone or any dead weight is ok to tip it over 250 g? Thank you
Anything that takes it over 250g is fine. Here's a video I did a while ago for the Mini 3: th-cam.com/video/tKFFQa2cJbw/w-d-xo.html
The app is fantabulous
Yes it is!!
Hi Don I would like to purchase all materials for the advanced exam and flight review. Can you tell me how to find the material below the video?
Low
There is a link below the video to my material (some/most of which you have already purchased): www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com/collections/drone-study-guides
Great information 🎉
Glad it was helpful!
Hey Don, question. What if you are borrowing a drone ? Will the examiner be alright as long as you have the owners registration? Thanks
You should be fine with that. I would recommend you advise your flight reviewer in advance so there are no surprises on the day.
@@DonJoyce Perfect. Thanks again for all of your tutoring videos.
One more question: will I need to buy and have a Transceiver 2 Way Radio with me at the flight review (e.g. to show I have a back-up in case of emergency and can't reach the appropriate officials by phone)?
Absolutely not!! In fact Transport Canada is backing away from that requirement since ISED (the guys who license the radios) have pushed back on licensing the radios themselves for this kind of application!!!! You will always be able to reach the FICs by phone, if not the tower or nearby aerodromes, and they can take appropriate action.
@@DonJoyce that’s a relief. Thank you!
Don, how to contact and who if an accident occurs, is it in your app too?
Yes, it's in Drone Pilot Canada. The app also has a complete 'script' for emergencies such as fly aways.
If I am not flying in controlled airspace for the review is there any need to even bring it up with flight reviewer? Also, do I actually need to know how to read a metar for the flight review if I have a decent weather app?
You should always know what class of airspace you are in, and it is definitely something that should be mentioned to the Flight Reviewer as part of your Site Survey...even if it is Class G. Regarding METARs, you do not need to know this for a Flight Review. Interpretation of METARs can come up in the Advanced exam, but the Flight Reviewer should not be bringing up that kind of stuff...it is NOT a re-hash of the exam. And no, no sane person would use a METAR if they had a decent weather app, and was able to read the local weather reasonably well, including micro-climate considerations.
@@DonJoyce yes sorry I meant to type is there any reason to bring up NOTAMS if the review is in Class G airspace?
@@EDSC_CANADA lol...I wondered if you meant NOTAMs! And yes, you must check notams for a flight review. Only basic interpretation though... effective date/time, whether it applies to you (location, fires, no rpas...that kind of thing). Reading all notam information is as bad as METARs!
Curious what you do if your drone doesn't have ATTI mode. My mavic pro 2 as far as I am aware doesn't have the ability to switch back and forth. YOu can hack it with tinfoil to loose the GPS, or fly it purposely under cover or something. Presume you just explain this to them? OR am I wrong on the dji Mavic pro 2.
You are not expected to demonstrate something your drone cannot do. You MAY however be asked how you would control your drone in the event of a GPS failure.
Can you use a drone under 250g for the flight review?
Mavic Mini? ...
Funny you might ask: th-cam.com/video/tKFFQa2cJbw/w-d-xo.html
In the discussion on what to do in case of a fly away, it only mentions possibly contacting the local FIC but in the Drone Pilot Canada app it says to call the Aviation Emergency number. Pretty sure the latter is correct but online info on this is kind of all over the map. I know the flight reviewer has to verify the pilot knows how to contact Transport Canada (pretty generically). Any advice on a definitive answer to who to contact?
Hi Kyler! I have been attempting to get an official answer from the NAV CANADA RPAS team for a full year. They do not have an official procedure. The closest we can come is what is shown in the Drone Pilot Canada app: 1) attempt to regain control (obviously); 2) Contact aerodromes in flight path and/or control tower for controlled airspace in flight path (including vertically if applicable); 3) Call the aviation emergency number if all else fails OR if there is an imminent threat to aviation. That said, I have just discovered that the procedure in the iOS version of the app is out of date. It will be fixed in an update within 48 hours. Thanks for the discussion point...otherwise I may not have noticed this discrepancy.
Can the flight review be completed with a
Yes, you should be able to do so. And you are correct, it must be registered. I would advise you to discuss your plan with the Flight Reviewer in advance, to ensure there is no confusion at the time of the review.
Hi Don, after passing the advanced test, I contacted a flight reviewer who says I also need to pass the radio ROC-A test. Is that true?
Yikes! No, it is NOT true! It might be handy if you intend to fly where you might eventually need a radio, but it is not a requirement, and also not a requirement if you are on a listen-only scanner. (BTW, my reviewer offered ROC-A certification as part of the "package". Was pretty easy.
very nice video
Thanks
@@DonJoyce I'm prepping for flight review. I've put it off for a year now, but no longer
If the forecast says that winds are a little above the recommended threshold for my drone on the day of my flight review, and I choose to fly anyways (without incident) do you think I could be failed for choosing to go against recommend drone specs, even if there were no incidents?
The reason I ask is because my drone flight reviewer is only in town once every few months, and I'm at almost a year since I passed my advanced exam, so I can't afford to fail or abort the flight review if at all possible.
Matt...think about it. One of the main goals of a Flight Review is to test the pilot's ability to make decisions based on safety and the regulations. The ability to actually fly is secondary. If you break a rule during the Flight Review, the reviewer should fail you.
@@DonJoyce Hmm. It's just that I've seen tests done with the Mavic Air 2 and it's actual ability to fight the wind is way above what it says in the specs.
Just wasn't sure if the test went by the pilot's personal judgement or the manufacturers suggestions.
But yeah, I guess that's something else I have to add to my pile of worries now. Whether the wind will cooperate.
Can you do your flight test with an FPV drone?
Yes you can. Of course, you will need to have a spotter with you. You will likely be expected to show how the spotter was trained and how you ensure effective communications. Also, the drone will need to be registered, which means it has to be over 250g.
@@DonJoyce awesome thanks Don. Indo have a knowledgeable spotter and a drone over 260. Love the videos keep up the great work.
Incidentally, the Drone Pilot Canada app includes a 'visual observer responsibilities' procedure/checklist which may be helpful. Have fun!!
@@DonJoyce I know that because I have that amazing app.
Don - The Drone Pilot app is excellent! Doing my review in weeks time. Question, how much information is expected to be committed to memory and to what extent can you refer to information organized in your "Flight Review Binder" and in The Drone Pilot app? Thanks.
Thank you, Philip! You need to understand the concepts (eg, how you find out what kind of airspace you are in...) by heart, but the specifics of your flight do not need to be memorized. Of course, all of this depends upon your reviewer to a large extent.
@@DonJoyce OK, thanks.
@@philipcastleton how did it go? any tips? mine is next week.
Loved your video 😍 great information. beautiful views Thanks for sharing. I left my support and watched your video. See you around thanks
Thank you, Lyn. I'm glad you enjoyed.
Don Joyce Hi Thanks a lot for your lovely comments and support 🥰 Stay connected
Do i need to have 2-way radio on flight review? My flight review will be in 5 nm zone from reg airdrome
No, you do not need a 2-way (or even a 1-way) radio on a flight review. While listening on aviation frequencies is recommended, it is NOT a requirement.
@@DonJoyce Thanks!
I don't think its possible for Mavic Pro 2 to fly in ATTI mode unless you hack it. How do you deal with 'lost link'?
Correct, you can't just set ATTI mode like in the older drones, but your Flight Reviewer may ask you to demonstrate how you would control your craft if you lose GPS...it happens! And you have a procedure for dealing with a lost link...adjusting antennae, changing position, etc. Also ensuring your RTH settings are appropriate.
Great information
Glad it was helpful!
Don, I've played around with your app a bit yesterday and I can't seem to figure out how to put a flight log in the app....Is there a detailed tutorial (aside from the quick tutorial) somewhere? Also, what if I am using the app during the test but using the same phone to fly the drone? I have a Samsung s20 Ultra. My other phone and tablet are both iOS. I'm having this problem with using iOS with my drone as it tells me I have a Front Sensor Error Code 8, however using Android there's no error and nothing noticeable during flights. I don't exactly want to use the iPad during the test because of that error and obviously I can't use the app in iOS because it's not cross platform. ( And I really don't want to have to buy the app twice ) Any tips/solutions?
Hi Derek. First, about manual flight logs. Use the 'Record Flights Manually' function on the dot menu. The feature was introduced in v1.3 and explained in that video: th-cam.com/video/LFrNmCTRO30/w-d-xo.html (and yes, I need to refresh the 'full instructional' video for all these new functions...). Second, about using app on same device as for controlling drone. While it is generally better to use different devices for these applications, it is OK to use the same device for both the Drone Pilot Canada app and your flight controller. Just do all of your checklist type functions FIRST, then the flight control functions, and flip back as necessary. Remember, the Flight Review is about following the rules and procedures, not necessarily having an 'efficient' operation. Just take your time. It is ok also to 'do' a number of activities (eg, check battery, check satellites), then check all of them off on the checklist. Do a dry run to ensure you know this stuff smoothly.
@@DonJoyce I suppose what I was thinking would trip me up a bit was the take off, landing and flyaway/signal loss check lists while my drone is in flight. I might just take screenshots of those checklists and throw them on my iPad for use, then I don't have to switch back and forth between apps. Thanks again for those pointers.
Consider the take off and landing items as procedures rather than checklists. You then need to have them, and follow them, but are not required to literally tick each item off.
@@DonJoyce Hi Don, I tried to find your email, can't seem to find it. Is it possible to get a site survey for Class G airspace without applying for a SFOC? Or do I just apply regardless to get that information?
Can I pass the review with a Dji Fpv?
Yes, with a few caveats: Most importantly, you will need to have a visual observer with you, assuming you are flying with the goggles. The DJI FPV is on the 'approved for advanced operations' list for flying in controlled airspace and near people, but not over bystanders. Finally, I would recommend you let your flight reviewer know in advance, so they are not surprised at the time of the review...just in case they have concerns. Good luck!!
Where can I find a study guide for the basic operations exam?
Right here: th-cam.com/video/ut44cLyXWLk/w-d-xo.html . Please also check out my other drone regulations videos, starting with this 'visual index' with a free downloadable list with links to each video: th-cam.com/video/iumXJNvVgPs/w-d-xo.html
great info Don
Thanks, Daniel!
What about a pail of sand.
That would be a very effective (if cumbersome) way to extinguish or at least contain a battery fire.
How do I "force" my drone into ATTI mode?
For most drones, you cannot intentionally put them in ATTI mode. You MAY be asked what you would do if you lost GPS, and even to demonstrate how you would manage (eg, maneuvers to determine your orientation etc)
Can I fly in tripod mode for the exam?
Sure! In fact, if you say you are flying in Tripod mode for safety, you'll likely get a knowing nod of approval.
@@DonJoyceawesome great to know thanks!
Well done
Thanks, Claude!