Transport Canada sRPA Basic Operations Pilot Certificate

Started by sihinch, May 14, 2019, 05:01:23 PM

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sihinch

May 14, 2019, 05:01:23 PM
Hey Everyone,

I wanted to give you all an update on my experience with the Transport Canada Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft (sRPA) Basic certificate.

I signed up for the MAAC basic ground school course, kindly arranged by Athol.  Danny Karaiskakis (from D-Labs and Aerobotika) ran a 4 hour training session in the back of A&J Hobbies for $56, covering the Transport Canada requirements for both the Basic and Advanced certificate.

Let me just say this - the hope and expectation is that when the new Transport Canada laws come in to effect at the beginning of June, as flyers at a MAAC sanctioned site, we will be exempt from the certification requirements.  But I wanted to see what was involved, so that I could continue flying if the worst happened.  If you don't fly at a MAAC site, and you fly a model aircraft between 250g and 25kg, you will need to have the Basic Certificate.

The biggest revelation was that the exam, that is taken on-line via the Transport Canada website, is an "open book" exam.  That is, when you are taking the exam, you can use any reference material and the internet as you answer the questions.  There are 35 multiple choice questions to answer and you have 90 minutes, so you do have time to search for some answers.  Is this cheating - apparently not!  You still need to have some understanding of what they are asking for. It costs $10 per exam, and there is no limit to the number of times you can sit the test, if you fail.  ;D

So, 35 multiple choice questions in 90 minutes and you need 65% to pass. There are 8 subject areas:
1. Air Law, Traffic rules and Procedures
2. RPAS (remotely piloted aerial systems) airframes, powerplants, propulsion and systems - this is basically model knowledge!
3. Human Factors
4. Meteorology
5. Navigation
6. Flight Operations
7. Theory of flight - this covers fixed wing, helicopters and multicopters
8. Radio-telephony

Some of the questions you will know from our hobby - maximum altitude we can fly, what to do when a full size plane comes over, parts of a model, theory of flight, safe flight operations.  Some are common sense. Some are super, super specialised - but if you know where to look, or what you are looking for, you can search for it (thanks Google).  Things like "how does fog dissipate?" "Where do you get NOTAMs from?"

Anyway, I did the exam on Monday night.  I took the ground school course on Sunday, and wanted to take the test while the knowledge was still fresh.  For $10 I thought what the heck?  ;D  I passed!  It took me 36 minutes and I got 85% right.  What I am trying to say is, I didn't study and I rushed the exam, but I still passed!  :D

So, should you take the test? Athol is confident that as MAAC members flying at TEMAC, you won't need to.  But, if you have any fears about a MAAC exemption, don't be too afraid of the Basic Certificate sRPA (VLOS) test!   :)

I'm happy to talk about this with anyone who is interested.

Crazyflyer

#2
May 14, 2019, 09:25:29 PM
Do you know if any other training sessions will happen?

sihinch

#3
May 15, 2019, 11:15:11 AM
No idea, sorry.  ???

I responded to an email that was sent to all Zone L members, I think, in March.  It was for a MAAC "beta test" group.

I would ask @Athol  ;)

Athol

#4
May 15, 2019, 01:01:49 PM
Following up on Simon's detailed port on the RPAS Ground Scholl and test, I support everything he has mentioned.

I wrote the test on Staruday afternoon with minimal review/study and missed it! Only achieving 60% - 65% required for a pass mark.

I too attended the Ground School on Sunday and then on Monday morning did a review of the material and got through with a mere 75%.

Feel free to contact Danny Karaiskakis ([email protected]) to enquire about upcoming RPAS Ground School courses.

Good luck  :o
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