If you find a drone under your Christmas tree this year, you’ll have a new set of regulations to go along with it in 2017.
Transport Canada says the changes will address the growing popularity of these flying objects and increasing number of drone-related incidents.
“Transport Canada is exploring changes to the regulations that will address the growing popularity and economic importance of drones and integrate them safely into Canadian airspace,” a rep told CityNews in a statement.
The changes include new flight rules, registration requirements, knowledge testing, minimum age limits, and permits.
“Recreation drone use could become unreasonable,” Fraser Hahn, Manager at Drones Plus explains. “If you need a licence and you need to pay fees over and over again, I don’t think that would make sense for a recreational user.”
There are already some regulations in place that stipulate where drones should and shouldn’t be used, but the government says more is needed to address the growing number of drone users.
Currently, commercial drones and those weighing more than 35 kg must be certified for use, which stipulates how and where the objects are allowed to be used. The Transport Canada chart below shows how many Special flight Operations Certificates were issued since 2010. In Ontario that number has gone from 20 to 1,038 this year.
Hahn says his store has already sold 120 drones in December alone, adding that while the government is looking to increase safety measures, the industry is also starting to self-regulate.
“A lot of higher-end drones have no-fly zones built into them, so they won’t fly in areas where there are risks, like near an airport for example,” Hahn said.
The government introduced a new feature Wednesday where residents can report a drone incident to Transport Canada online.
Ontario hasn’t seen too many fines, but with the new changes coming, and the ability for people to police drone users, violators could see stricter regulations coming their way.
Canadians will be given an opportunity to add their feedback prior to the new rules coming into effect in 2017.
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