Drone Law Canada - The latest information and developments in drone regulations and the drone industry.

EVENT: Unmanned Canada Conference and Trade Show, October 30 – November 1, 2018 (Vancouver, BC)

Posted on October 22, 2018 By Kathryn McCulloch
Categories: Events

Unmanned Canada presents their 16^th annual conference and trade show, “Unmanned Canada: Innovating Canada by Air, Land & Sea” on October 30 – November 1, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The three day event will bring together industry experts and participants to explore themes and issues critical to the development of the unmanned industry in Canada.

As described by Unmanned Canada:

“This will be Canada’s premiere Unmanned Systems event focusing on sharing new technologies, policies and best practices shaping the aerial, marine and land-based unmanned vehicle sector.

Get the latest updates directly from Transport Canada’s UAS Task Force regarding changes in commercial regulations, pilot qualifications, and compliant equipment requirements.

“Near Miss” Between a Commercial Airliner and a Drone in Vancouver

Posted on September 27, 2018 By Kathryn McCulloch
Categories: Uncategorized

Commercial airline pilots do not anticipate drone traffic in flight or on approach into Canada’s airports. However, drone sightings by commercial aircraft are more and more frequent. On September 21, 2018, a drone was spotted by an Air Canada Jazz crew at approximately 7,000 AGL (above ground level) when the aircraft was on approach into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Though the drone did not make contact with the aircraft and the aircraft was not forced to alter or abort its approach, the presence of drones at altitudes well exceeding the permitted flight ceilings and near airports is cause for grave concern.

It’s all about the copyright – why managing the copyright of creative works captured by drone should be top priority

Posted on June 21, 2018 By Kathryn McCulloch
Categories: Articles, Legislations, Uncategorized

The latest tool in a marketer’s toolbox – footage, stills and sound recordings captured by drone.

While so much time and effort goes into the creative process when shooting stills, sound recordings or action footage for marketing materials and other commercial uses, who owns the copyright to the stills, recordings and footage captured by the drone? While most would assume that it is the customer (the party paying for the work product), Canadian copyright law says otherwise.

In Canada, the general rule is that the drone pilot capturing the work product is the presumptive first owner of the copyright. The circumstances where this general rule governs (and where it does not) are discussed below.

EVENT: Is the drone operator you hired an employee? Seminar on employment law implications for companies hiring drone services operators

Posted on May 17, 2018 By Kathryn McCulloch and Rachel Kattapuram
Categories: Events

Using drones as part of your business is a milestone. From a legal perspective, the classification of drone operators hired by your business matters – are they independent contractors or employees? Generally, a business has greater obligations to an employee than an independent contractor.

On May 25, 2018, we will be presenting at the Dentons’ Labour, Employment and Pensions group seminar on the legal and financial implications of classifying a drone operator as an independent contractor or an employee of your business.

You are invited to join us at this highly-anticipated and complimentary half-day seminar on emerging workplace and human resources issues.

Mining Industry Puts Drones to Work – Legal Considerations for Flying Drones in Mining in Canada and Abroad

Posted on May 8, 2018 By Kathryn McCulloch
Categories: Articles

Mining companies (in Canada and abroad) are incorporating the use of drones into daily operations to perform tasks that are inefficient, impractical, or unsafe for human operators. Common tasks for drones include monitoring environmental and weather conditions, conducting geophysical surveys, identifying hazardous situations and warning against intruders on-site.

Legal Considerations

The legal considerations for Canadian production and exploration mining companies operating in Canada and abroad are numerous. Not only are companies required to adhere to the regulatory requirements to operate within a given jurisdiction (provided that the foreign jurisdiction allows for the use of drones), careful consideration should be paid to export and import controls when taking drones across international borders.

Women and Drones Interviews Kathryn McCulloch – “She’s a Lawyer for Canada’s Developing Drone Industry”

Posted on April 24, 2018 By Carlo Vairo
Categories: Uncategorized

Women and Drones recently interviewed one of our lawyers, Kathryn McCulloch, about her experience as a lawyer for Canada’s drone industry.

A brief excerpt of the interview is as follows:

“Being a pilot meant I had a natural proclivity for aviation law. I had the opportunity to be involved in a number of high profile aviation accident lawsuits early in my career, which solidified by interest in the legal side of flight. In Canada, drones are regulated by the same legislation and regulations as general aviation, the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Getting into the drone industry as a lawyer was a natural combination of my two main interests.

Canadian National Parks are No Place for Your Drone

Posted on April 16, 2018 By Kathryn McCulloch
Categories: Commentary, Regulations

Even though spring will soon be here, packing your drone up with your camping gear or picnic supplies for a trip through one of Canada’s national parks is still a no-go.

Parks Canada prohibits the recreational flight of drones in Canada’s national parks. Drone flight within the parks is cited as a potential source of danger for wildlife and visitors, according to the Parks Canada website.

Non-recreational use is permitted in some circumstances; it requires the advanced permission of the Parks Canada Field Unit Superintendent, as well as adherence to the requirements for drone flight set out in the Canadian Aviation Regulations.