BVLOS Regulations in Canada, One Month Later and What's Next

Understanding BVLOS Flight and Its Significance to our Industry

Transport Canada recently updated its regulations for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, marking an important step for the country’s drone industry. BVLOS refers to flights where drones operate beyond the pilot’s direct line of sight, allowing them to service larger areas, creating a bigger impact. This capability is particularly valuable for infrastructure inspections, agricultural monitoring, surveying, and emergency response, where traditional drone operations are limited by the visual range of the pilot. By enabling BVLOS drone operations, and investing in making the drone sector more accessible, Canada is opening up new possibilities for businesses across multiple sectors.

Safer and Streamlined BVLOS Drone Operations

The new regulations reduce red tape for low-risk BVLOS missions, making it easier for organizations to plan and execute these types of flights. While approvals are now more accessible, drones still remain highly regulated with strict airspace rules similar to those for airplanes. Operators still need to respect no-fly zones and other restrictions to ensure public safety is maintained. These updates provide a balance between accessibility and safety, allowing responsible companies to scale BVLOS drone operations with confidence.

Heavy-lift drones like the FlyCart 30 reach their full potential with BVLOS capability. Photo by: AeroVision Canada

Expanding Opportunities for Drones Across Industries

BVLOS drone operations have the capacity to become a practical tool for a wide range of industries. Utilities can perform long-range asset inspections, construction teams can monitor large sites efficiently, and environmental organizations can gather detailed data from remote areas. These regulations enable projects that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and create opportunities for innovation. BVLOS drone operations are no longer limited to specialized use cases and will become an essential part of modern operations.

Looking Ahead

BVLOS is just the first step in unlocking the full potential of drones in many highly functional roles. As these operations become more widespread, future regulations will likely focus on drone traffic management to ensure the safe and efficient integration of drones into national airspace. While public perception can sometimes limit this sector’s growth, it is important to remember that professional drone service companies operate with the highest standards of safety and responsibility. Canada’s new BVLOS framework lays the groundwork for a future where drones are not just tools for specialized tasks but part of everyday operations, enabling industries to work smarter and more efficiently.

About AeroVision Canada

Since 2013, AeroVision has delivered advanced aviation and unmanned systems solutions across Canada and the United States. Our team combines over 100 years of aviation experience across fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and combat aircraft, with a disciplined safety record and extensive operational expertise. With a diverse team of military veterans, aerospace professionals, first responders, and engineers, we specialize in BVLOS drone operations, asset inspections, disaster response, and complex mission planning. Our focus is on delivering critical data safely, reliably, and efficiently, supporting organizations that require actionable intelligence at scale.