Contact Us

Our Reel ‍

More Videos ‍

Drones (UAVs) are becoming a common part of airspace and consumer technology in 2018. Read this guide to find some tips on where you can fly safely while living in Calgary.

A Guide to Flying‍‍‍ Safely in Calgary

From airspace, to privacy, to the safety of your drone.

‍‍‍‍‍‍Updated ‍‍‍May 5, 2018

Publishe‍‍‍d Jan 4, 2018

Things to Consider

There are lots of things worth thinking about when it comes to flying safely, regardless of where you take off.

In this article, I'll show you some basics for flying respectfully, avoiding crashes, and staying within rules set by Transport Canada.

Calgary, as seen in an airspace map for pilots called a Sectional‍‍‍

Drones are new tech, and if you're like me, you love how unique and futuristic they look.

Though when the general public sees a drone in the sky, they see a highly capable flying machine that looks like nothing you would have seen in the sky before about 2014.

It's for this reason that drones can scare some people, and raise questions of spying, privacy, legality and safety. When you find yourself beneath a flying machine with no known origin or purpose, you start to wonder "why is it here" or "could it fall out of the sky and injure someone?".

When you're at the sticks, it's important to follow a few simple guidelines to avoid drawing unwanted attention, invading people's personal space, or causing alarm.‍‍‍

Stay low, stay close. Don't go any higher than you need to, for a few reasons:

- Lower flight is less likely to collide with aircraft or birds

- Reduce the distance at which your drone is heard and seen

- Increase y‍‍‍our ability to see and avoid objects in your flight path- Reduce the likelihood of damage in the event of an impact, assuming your takeoff area is a safe space

Resist the urge to check out other properties, people, events or structures.

- Individuals walking their dog or playing with their family do not want to have to worry about UAVs overhead, ever.

- Some people are sensitive about their property and flying too close to a home or private property could end in a conversation with police or RCMP.

-  Should anything happen to your UAV or if it needs to land immediately, you could end up with it on someone's roof, or worse.‍‍‍

Generally, it is wise to stay away from individuals that are not aware that you may be flying a drone, and this includes thinking ahead. Parks, pathways, events or densely populated areas are all places where you might expect to see people or animals. Be aware of how your drone might affect people and plan your flight accordingly. See Where To Fly.

Copyright © 2018 Yellowhouse Aerial Inc - All rights reserved

SERVICES

CONTACT

About

Home

Jump To

Respect / Privacy

Transport Canada

These rules apply to drones over 250g and up to 35kg. Basically anything DJI Spark-sized or larger.

Can't make it happen under the rules for recreational flight‍‍‍? Read on:‍‍‍

Notably, TC requires that your name, address and phone number be clearly marked on the aircraft. Doing this can really change the way you fly, because if your drone ends up somewhere it shouldn't, you know your phone might ring. Avoiding those situations is better for everyone involved.

They also require that you fly during daylight hours (even in the winter) and stay within visual contact of your drone. For those of you that like to count the number of km you can take your drone down range, this one is important. Pilots call this VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) and it is necessary so you can see and avoid all obstacles, animals, individuals etc. in your flight path.

Read the rules set out by Transport Canada here. I won't list them on this page because they are subject to change and I want you to have the most up-to-date information.

TC's rules specify minimum distances for flight from vehicles, vessels, the public, aerodromes, helidromes, and natural disasters, ranging from 30m to 9km.

30m is a minimum safety buffer should you lose control of the drone, so that individuals and vehicles are already largely out of harms way.

9km is an adaptation from 5 nautical miles, which is a common measurement for safety and controlled airspace in the aviation industry. 5 NM is 9.26km, so TC has rounded down to 9km in this case.

Note: This number is frequently mistaken for 9 nautical miles by drone pilots and the media.

‍‍‍Transport Canada governs the airspace in Canada, even though Nav Canada administers the day-to-day enforcement and airports. When specific approvals are needed (like that for aircraft, SFOCs or flight operators), Transport Canada is involved. Same goes for all investigations of unlawful conduct by an individual or corporation.

Transport Canada (TC) issued a set of guidelines for Recreational use, which means any flight that is not for commercial gain, publication of footage (video/photos), research, or education.

If you fall under any‍‍‍ of the other categories above, at time of writing, you will need an SFOC. See SFOCs and Part IX.

Here are some basics of how TC's rules affect you.

‍‍‍Part IX! What is it? It's the name for the new UAV regulations coming from TC later this year. See their first proposal summarized here.

Basically, they will open up a lot of flight conditions typically restricted to SFOC holders to everyone, so long as you follow a specific new set of rules. More on that later.

Do I need an SFOC? Well... let me help:

- Are you working for a business, school, college, or university?

- Do you provide products or services as a result of flying your drone?

- Do you regularly share photos or videos from your flight publicly? On the internet or otherwise.

- Will your photos or videos appear anywhere like for real estate listings or promotional material?

If you answered YES to any of those questions, you will almost certainly need an SFOC.

The good news is SFOCs are free.

This guide is not for commercial users, so if you think you might need an SFOC, let me try to quickly summarize the process:

- Read and fill out the application form, while reading TC's staff instruction document for SFOCs.

- Send your completed application and documents to your regional TC office. Click here‍‍‍ ‍‍‍to see TC's regional breakdown.

- Receive your SFOC anywhere from 5 to 90 days later, depending on which region you are in and their workload as of late. Calgary is in Prairie Northern Region, and their SFOC approval times seldom fall below a few weeks.

So what is Part IX? TC announced their intent to release "Part IX" later in 2018 along with their proposed new regulations in Fall last year. The workload of approving thousands of SFOCs is not sustainable and so they are working on a more open framework for UAV operation.

You can read the proposal here. One of the biggest changes is requiring (after a grandfathering period, yet to be announced) that aircraft operating in urban areas meet a design standard. This might include certification from the drone manufacturer, or perhaps a third party testing firm. This means that most current drones operated by both recreational pilots and professionals are at risk of becoming barred from flying in built-up/urban areas.

See TC's definition of a built-up area here‍‍‍‍‍‍. You'll see this definition is quite all-encompassing.

Transport Canada is expected to release "Gazette II", which will be the second release of proposed Part IX guidelines, following the three-mon‍‍‍th feedback period that took place after Gazette I in Fall of 2017.

The proposed Part IX rules could see changes for better or for worse, as TC tries to balance safety with the needs of Canadian drone operators.‍‍‍

So one of the biggest points of contention between drone pilots and Transport Canada regarding Part IX is where current, non-compliant craft (see TC's list of compliant UAVs, currently only available to submission by manufacturers) will be able to fly after Part IX comes into effect.

SFOCs and Part IX

Parks a‍‍‍nd Bylaws

Calgary city parks are governed by the Parks and Pathway Bylaw 20M2003. S‍‍‍ection 24 (c) states:

This means that all city parks are off limits, so just like you wouldn't ride your motorcycle through Confederation Park, you should not operate a drone there, unfortunately.

Another common place for large green spaces is around schools from K-12. Though the open space seems inviting, you must be aware that like school and playground zones, during daylight hours, these areas serve as safe places for children of all ages. Be mindful that children may come and go at any time, from any direction, any day of the week.

Flight during school hours should not even be considered.

"No Person shall set off, launch or operate, while in a Park: any remote control device including boats, planes, helicopters or cars; except where such activity is specifically allowed by the director."

No person in control of a model airplane of any nature shall use any portion of a Street for the purpose of flying or testing such a model air‍‍‍plane.

No person shall interfere with the right of others to the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of a public land recreation area unless such interference is incidental to an activity or use of public land that is the subject of a disposition.

Barring the fact that moving vehicles are a danger to you, flying a drone over or near a road can distract drivers and cause other hazards.

Flying over a road is a terrible idea.

Calgary road‍‍‍s are governed by the Calgary Bylaw 20M88 - Streets. Section 12 states:

Though park and road bylaws prohibit the use of drones as you'll read below, the City of Calgary does not have any bylaws prohibiting UAVs directly, given you follow all relevant Transport Canada rules.

"A person shall not take off or land an aircraft in a park or recreation area except where allowed to d‍‍‍o so by a permission of the Minister and in accordance with any conditions set out in the permission"

An "aircraft" is defined in the bylaw as "a device that is designed to carry one or more persons or objects through the air in powered or powerless flight", so this includes drones.

So provincial parks are out as well, including the large, beautiful Fish Creek Provincial Park. Not only does flying in a park open you up to a visit from the park officers, it can also encourage imitation from people who see it happen.

Alberta parks are governed by the Provincial Parks Act. Section 16 (a) st‍‍‍ates:

National Parks are governed by the National Parks Act‍‍‍. Section 2 (1) states:

Section 5 writes that permission may be granted if necessary and deemed not to have an‍‍‍y adverse effects on the park and its safety. Section 6 goes on to explain that permission may be granted for:

- Natural or cultural resource m‍‍‍anagement and protection directly related to the administration of the park

- Any other management or control function directly related to the administration of the park

- Public safety

- Law enforcement

In this case, drones are grouped in with all aircraft, meaning that aside from Parks Canada operations, helicopters and private aircraft are forbidden from conducting a take-off or landing in a park just the same.

In conclusion, regarding drones in parks, it's really never a good idea. See our n‍‍‍ext section, Where to Fly:

If you don't want to head out to a PLUZ, large pieces of private property are the holy grail. You can get a good idea of who comes and goes and when, and you don't have to worry about the public, vehicles, or anything like that.

If you own a large home or building, that property can be a safe distance from the public, roads and aerodromes, it might serve as an okay place to operate your drone recreationally. Use your best judgement.

Aside from that, you'll likely be headed indoors (with permission, you could fly your drone in a warehouse) or out of the city.

There is no land in the city that is neither owned by a private owner or governed by a parks bylaw.

If you know someone who has a large plot of land outside the city that is private and free of animals, consider shooting some photos or video for them in exchange for the ability go out and fly 'til your heart's content!

If you don't have someone with property on which you can fly, perhaps try a Public Land Use Zone:

If you're interested in how these maps are made or just want a more in-depth look at how airspace is mapped out, I recommend taking a look at the sectional maps on FltPlan. Zoom in to Calgary and you will see either runways or small bold circles denoting aerodromes, and either circles or + shapes with an "H" in the middle denoting heliports like the Calgary Eau Claire heliport, or any of the five hospitals in Calgary. Airmap is also a great resource, but does not include city or provincial parks.

You can also use Fltplan to browse areas outside the city. It will show Class C airspace (like that around YYC and Springbank) with a series of [ brackets in a line, and will show restricted airspace as a box or shape with lines inside it, like those surrounding Ghost Lake, west of calgary. See Ghost Lake on Airmap.

Fltplan sectionals (based off real paper sectionals provided and updated regularly by Nav Canada) do not show parks, meaning even though the airspace is clear, you could actually be inside a park in the Kananaskis or Alberta Foothills regions.

‍‍‍If you have questions about these areas or resources, tweet us at @AskYellowhouse!

I'll go over a few things in this section:

- Features of a good place to fly

- Features of a good day for flying

- Methods for safe flight

- Before and after flying

Good places to fly are free of obstacles like buildings, but there are other things that can help ensure a safe and successful flight.

Flying over land and avoiding flying past fences can avoid tricky situations where you drone may land on the other side of, or even in the water.

Large buildings, especially industrial installations like power substations or high-tension transmission lines can cause interference that can confuse your drone. The same goes for mountains and valleys, because large masses of rock can influence magnetic signals your drone uses to navigate and stabilize itself.

Calibrating your drone before flying in a new location and staying clear of anything involving high voltage or machinery are things some drone pilots forget to think about.

Clear skies are not always necessary, but fog or any clouds that can interfere with your ability to see your drone and the airspace can be a serious concern.

A perfect flying day is not just made by wide-open spaces free of obstacles, it requires calm winds and predictable temperatures within the operational range of your drone.

Some pilots make the mistake of flying the drone downwind in high wind speeds, and the max speed of the drone is not enough to bring the drone home. This problem is exacerbated by increasing wind speeds at high altitudes.

If this happens to you, bring your drone down closer to the ground, avoiding obstacles of course, and then try to bring it home.

Extreme cold can cause issues taking off and staying in the air as your battery fights to stay warm - the same goes for any device you use for watching the video feed and telemetry. Thin, metal iPads can get cold in a hurry, rendering your main source of information useless.

Pilots in warmer regions have issues with overheating in the summer, aided by the generation of heat by smart devices on the controller, or the LiPo battery in your drone as it drains to power the motors. LiPo batteries can reach 40ºC even when the surrounding air temperature is -15ºC, so imagine if the air temperature is 30ºC, you've got yourself one hot drone.

Most drones will notify you if temperatures exceed the normal safe parameters for operation.

Methods for safe flight:

- Always fly your drone facing away from you whenever possible. Facing you with controls reversed is a common reason pilots crash.

- Intelligent modes are great but they can be unpredictable. Always be ready to take over control and consider testing any intelligent modes like "Follow Me" or "Point of Interest" in a wide-open space before attempting to use them around trees, people or buildings.

- Stand back from takeoff and landing. These times are the most delicate for UAVs and many unpredictable things can happen, including winds, drift, or possible stress reactions from the pilot.

Even if the drone comes near the ground but has not cut power to the motors, if one leg happens to catch on the ground, the drone can move quickly in one direction to attempt to recover. Shins, knees and even hands (used in an effort to protect shins and knees) have been cut as‍‍‍ drones fly toward pilots and spectators during some of these mishaps during takeoff and landing. Had the drone been 5m or more from people during takeoff and landing, these injuries could have been avoided.

- Try not to fly in confined spaces. Trees, branches, walls, hallways, and tunnels can cause anomalies in airflow causing a drone to fly differently from an open space. When the drone encounters different airflow dynamics it has to compensate, and you don't want this compensation to be into the wall of a tunnel or your garage.

Even the most advanced sensors (ground tracking, obstacle avoidance) cannot compensate for unpredictable air currents in a small space.

- Practice! Practice where it's safe. Practice with a smaller drone from your local electronics store. Just move around, try to circle things moving in different directions and getting used to the sticks. This will give you more intuitive control over the drone when it really mattters.

I've drawn this next section from our real preflight checklist. We do these things, just in more depth, as a regular part of providing aerial cinematograp‍‍‍hy services to Western Canada.

Before and after flight:

- Check for loose parts. Ensure props are attached and tight. Ensure the props are free of cracks or damage.

- Check the motors rotate smoothly and do not make any unusual noises.

- Ensure batteries are free of warping and damage. Charge batteries within 48hrs of flight. If they have been sitting for more than 48 hours, top them up before flying.

- Ensure your compass and IMU etc. are calibrated and functioning properly before you attempt any real flight maneuvers.

- Store the drone in a cool, dry place, and do not leave charging batteries unattended.

- Fly your drone from a safe place where:

That's it for this article! Questions? Comments? Contact us or send us a message on Twitter.

- You can ensure you will not be affected by movement, water, or any changes in the safety of your piloting location. This means roads, sidewalks, oceanside, or on cliffs would all be considered poor places from which to pilot a drone.

- You can see the drone at all times. Do not pilot from behind buildings, trees, etc.

- You are out of the way of the public. Piloting near a door or in a parking lot can lead to bystanders distracting the pilot from their duties.

- Your gear is secure and clean. Piloting from a messy pilot station or where your gear may get wet, blow away etc. can be distracting for the pilot and crew.

- Everyone nearby knows you are flying. I would not recommend surprising your grandma with a drone flight at your next family reunion.

"Subject to section 5, it is prohibited for a person to conduct a take-off or landing of an aircraft in a park..."

At first glance, parks seem like the ideal place to fly a drone, but there are a few considerations that make doing so a lot wors‍‍‍e of a decision.

Most parks have bylaws that prohibit flying remote controlled aircraft.‍‍‍ This goes all the way from small parks like Confederation Park or Prince's Island Park, to Banff and Jasper national parks. I'll discuss each below.

To be perfectly honest, there are not a lot of places you can fly worry-free in the city. But in this section and the next, I'll do my best to give you suggestions for where to go for best results.

There are a‍‍‍ few areas of public land in Alberta called Public Land Use Zones (PLUZs). See the next section for everything on that.

Calgary is huge, but sometimes it feels like there's nowhere to fly your drone.

Where To Fly In Calg‍‍‍ary

Alberta Public Land Use Zones (PLUZs)

Begin by watching the following video:

Read about Canadian Airspace Types. CYA (T) means Advisory (Training). SFOC holders are permitted to fly there, with caution and preparation of course, but recreational pilots are not permitted to fly in Class F airspace.

So what are Public Land Use Zones? They are essentially crown land where municipal bylaws and normal Provincial or National park laws do not apply. This makes for a wonderful place to fly your drone!

Alberta PLUZs are governed by the Public Lands Administration Regulation, introduced in 2011.

Section 198 of the regulation states:

Ghost PLUZ includes some Class F airspace, designated for training and in effect from 7:00am - 1:‍‍‍00am every day. See the map below and avoid flying there:

I am not a lawyer, and this page is NOT legal advice, but that statement, as I mentioned in the video, is the closest PLUZs get to regulating UAVs, remote controlled aircraft, or drones within their boundaries. It is worth noting that there is a 200m distance minimum for landing manned helicopters near lakes, my best guess is out of respect to wildlife (birds, large game) that use bodies of water to relax, drink, etc.

It would be wise to avoid flying low over lakes or taking off from / recovering on their shores until real UAV legislation is passed in PLUZs.

Individuals have used PLUZs for years to snowmobile, shoot targets, go off-roading, camp (for free) away from civilization, and generally enjoy heavily isolated pieces of wilderness. If you head out to a PLUZ, you can expect to find mudders, regulars, hikers, RVs, fisherman and possibly even folks on horses. Be respectful of others using the space by maintaining a safe distance from other people, campsites and vehicles. There is a lot of space out there, believe me.

There are roughly eighteen PLUZs in Alberta, depending how you count them. You can find the full set of information about them on Alberta Environment and Parks website.

I've assembled a map of all of the PLUZs' general locations, as a means of seeing which ones are close to which areas, and what to expect. Use this map to gauge the scenery and distance of a given PLUZ before looking at the real trail maps, which you can find by clicking on any yellow pin.

Open the map in a full screen viewer by clicking here.

If there is anything I've missed or if you still have questions about PLUZs, feel free to tweet us @AskYellowhouse.

PLUZs are located in and around the Rocky Mountains, meaning unless you live outside Calgary, they are at least a 40-minute drive. Sometimes that just isn't feasible. So let's take a look at Calgary and its specific airspace, and what I suggest based on where you're located.

If visiting a PLUZ, be sure to take:

- Extra water, extra food

- Spare clothes

- Bear spray

- Bug spray

- A hat, sunglasses

- Some type of map (digital PDF pre-loaded, or paper)

- Batteries for any devices you intend to use

- A camera (why not)

- A first aid kit

- Weather-appropriate attire. Mud boots, a rain coat, a wind breaker, etc.

Calgary Neighbourhood Breakdown

Depending where you live in the city, it may be wise to look in one direction or another.

Most of Northwest Calgary is covered by the Class C airspace from Cgy Int'l and Springbank (CYYC and CY‍‍‍BW respectively) but there are lots of beautiful foothills features to the NW of Calgary that could be worth exploring.

Befriend someone who owns land outside the city, or find some crown land towards Waiporous Village.

North Calgary, recreational no-fly zones outlined in black.
Click for full size image.

The red box denotes Calgary Tower UAV Responsibility Area.
Recreational flight inside this box is a very, very bad idea.

The red box denotes Calgary Tower UAV Responsibility Area.
Recreational flight inside this box is a very, very bad idea.

Calgary‍‍‍ Northwest

Calgary Northeast

Northeast Calgary has the fortune of being close to the Calgary Radio Aero Modellers Society field near Irricana. Once you're a member of the club, you'll have access to their field and the ability to fly, practice and train all you like. Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) fields like this one are one of the few places to be exempt from almost all federal UAV regulations.

I'll divide Calgary into six parts. NW, NE, Central W + E, SW, SE.

Most of these areas except for the far SW and SE are inside what's called Class C controlled airspace from Calgary International or Springbank airports. This means you'll be headed out of town to find a safe place to fly.

I've also included large maps showing no-fly zones around heliports around Calgary. The Calgary Police Service has a map, but it's far from complete.

Your drone is is an investment. As I tell a lot of people, they're very easy to fly, but very easy to fly into things.

Let me share some tips on avoiding obstacles and as a result, saving money on new props and drone repairs.

It starts with the selection of where you'll be flying. Like the area in this photo, be sure that your flight path is free of buildings, power lines, and if you can manage it, trees.

The road in this photo is closed to the public, so it was the perfect place to fly.

Avoiding a Crash

Reco‍‍‍mmendations

This guide was intended to be a resource for where to fly in Calgary, but realistically, the legal and safe places to fly inside the city limits are few and far between. As professional pilots, we know this well, but figuring it out is part of the fun.

You will often have to commute, hunt, and contact friends to find interesting and reasonable places to fly, but respecting the general public while increasing your knowledge and skill will only benefit the industry.

So I encourage you to get out there and fly! Safely of course.

You can view our work in our portfolio or learn more about our professional film services.

Thanks for reading, and happy flying!

– Arden

If you live in Central East Calgary, you are likely best off looking East for friends with large pieces of land that are willing to let you fly.

Be mindful of the recreational no-fly zone extending almost to Janet, AB, but once you secure a suitable place to fly, it should be smooth sailing over the plains of Alberta.

Calgary Central East

Calgary Central West

Central Calgary, recreational no-fly zones outlined in black.
Click for f‍‍‍ull size image.

Southeast Calgary, recreational no-fly zones outlined in black.
Click for full size image.

Central West Calgary is infortunately close to Springbank airport, but also happens to have a lot of open land to the Southwest. If you know anyone who has property in that direction, it can make for safe flying and beautiful vistas!

Calgary Southwest probably has the best deal of all areas of the city. There is a lot of farm land out Southwest of the city, and you start to approach the foothills quickly. The only recreational no-fly zone is a single heliport a few kilometres south of highway 22X.

22X is a great artery West, and holds spectacular views only a short drive away.

Find crown or private land out West and you're golden.

Calgary Southwest

Calgary Southeast

My recommendation for South Calgary is finding public land South of the city where you can fly. If you are approached or if anyone else arrives, land your drone and keep a safe distance from vehicles, animals, and people.

‍‍‍The method of finding private land works well here, with an infinite number of farmsteads South of Calgary, all with amazing views.

Macleod and Deerfoot serve as a fast way to get out of the city for a morning or afternoon.