RPAS 300  Level 1 Complex Operations

TP15530 (Level 1 Complex Operations) ground school.

You may start flying BVLOS, EVLOS, or Sheltered operations after November 4, 2025.

VAP is offering 5-Days of ground school and practical flight training to exceed Transport Canada's training and ground school requirements for Complex Level 1 Pilots 

Course subjects and Duration of ground training (hours of classroom time and hours of online training specifically dedicated to TP 15530 material)         

 Course Subjects:

(i)   Advanced Study: Air law, air traffic rules and procedures 

(ii)   RPA airframes, power plants, propulsion, and systems

(iii)  Human factor

(iv)  Meteorology

(v)   Navigation 

(vi)  Flight operations (including practicals)

(vii) Theory of flight 

(viii) Radiotelephony 

Hours of study:    30

Email info@victoriaairphotos.com for query, to register, or to be added to the interest list for next session TBA. Call 250 507 6421.

The new regulations introduce a new pilot certification process for lower-risk BVLOS called Level 1 Complex Operations. To conduct lower-risk BVLOS, you must:

• ►  Be at least 18 years old
• ►  Pass the online exam for advanced and Level 1 Complex Operations
• ►  Complete at least 20 hours of ground school and successfully pass a flight review

Individuals, businesses, and organizations wishing to conduct BVLOS operations must have an RPAS Operator Certificate (RPOC). To obtain an RPOC, pilots, businesses, and organizations will be required to have policies and procedures in place that reflect the size and complexity of the operations they will carry out.

Where you will be able to fly BVLOS

All lower-risk BVLOS operations must

• ►   remain in uncontrolled airspace
• ►   stay below 122 metres (400 feet)
• ►   stay away from airports and aerodromes

If you are flying a small or medium drone, you may operate at least 1 km away from a populated area.

If you are flying a small drone, you may also operate over a sparsely populated area or less than 1 km from a populated area.

Sheltered operations

Sheltered operations are flights with a small drone that are close to a structure, such as a building. To conduct sheltered operations, you must fly the drone:

• More than 30 metres (100 feet) away from people not involved in the operation
• No greater than 30 metres (100 feet) above the structure
• Less than 61 metres (200 feet) horizontally from the structure

Extended visual line-of-sight (EVLOS) operations

EVLOS operations are short-range flights with a small drone, but where the drone is far away enough from the pilot that it cannot be seen by an unaided eye. To conduct EVLOS, you must:

• Remain in uncontrolled airspace
• Fly more than 30 metres (100 feet) away from people not involved in the operation
• Receive assistance from a trained Visual Observer (VO) holding an RPA pilot certificate
• Fly the drone within 2 nautical miles (3.6 km) of yourself, the VO and the Control Station

New requirements for microdrones at advertised events

As of April 1, 2025, an SFOC will now be required to fly microdrones at advertised events.