RPAS flight reviews, done properly
The written exam gets you halfway. The flight review is where Transport Canada checks that you can actually operate safely — and it's where plenty of otherwise-competent pilots come unstuck.
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Not certified yet? The flight review comes last. Start with the exam — our complete Basic RPAS course is free, and the Advanced guide covers the harder syllabus.
Start the free courseWhat is an RPAS flight review?
An RPAS flight review is an in-person practical assessment conducted by a Transport Canada-recognized flight reviewer. It is mandatory for the Advanced RPAS pilot certificate — passing the written exam alone does not grant Advanced privileges. The reviewer assesses your pre-flight preparation, in-flight handling, regulatory knowledge, and post-flight procedures. Because we review your pre-flight documentation in advance, the review itself takes about an hour.
You must have passed the Small Advanced Operations exam before you can book a review. Your aircraft must be registered with Transport Canada if it weighs 250 grams or more, and you must be able to produce the documentation for it.
What the reviewer is actually looking for
The review is not a flying test in the sense of demonstrating impressive manoeuvres. It is an assessment of whether you operate like a pilot — whether you plan, brief, assess risk, and handle the unexpected in a structured way.
| Phase | What's assessed |
|---|---|
| Pre-flight briefing | Site survey, airspace research, weather interpretation, NOTAM review, risk assessment, and your ability to explain the regulatory basis for the operation you're proposing. |
| Aircraft & documents | Registration, marking, condition of the aircraft, battery state, and the documents you're required to have on hand. |
| In-flight | Control of the aircraft, maintaining visual line of sight, airspace awareness, adherence to the limits you briefed, and response to a simulated abnormal situation. |
| Post-flight | Securing the aircraft, battery handling, logging, and your debrief of how the flight went. |
Walk in prepared. Our Site Survey & Authorization Kit is a fillable record built on the eight factors of CARs 901.27 — complete it for your review location and you've done the single thing reviewers most want to see. CA$29.
The most common reason for a re-attempt is not stick skills — it's an incomplete or unconvincing pre-flight briefing. Candidates who can't articulate why the operation is legal, or who haven't genuinely researched the airspace, struggle before the drone leaves the ground. Here are ten ways candidates fail, written from the reviewer's side of the clipboard.
How we run it
The review assesses one thing: whether you can operate safely. There are no trick questions and nothing is set up to catch you out — you'll be asked what any careful pilot should be able to answer about the site, the aircraft and the airspace you're working in, and you'll be told plainly how you did.
The review itself follows the standard structure above. Afterwards you get a full debrief — what met standard, what was marginal, and what to work on regardless of the outcome.
Book a flight review
One booking, and the preparation guide comes with it at no extra charge.
Advanced Flight Review
The full in-person Advanced RPAS flight review — pre-flight briefing, flight assessment, and an honest post-flight debrief — conducted by a Transport Canada-recognized reviewer. The review runs from Guelph, where the airspace is open and largely unrestricted. You must hold a passing grade on the Advanced written exam to book.
Book a reviewPreparation Guide
Book a review and the preparation guide comes with it — no separate charge. It covers exactly what the reviewer will ask, how to build a site survey that stands up to scrutiny, and how to brief an operation properly, so you walk in knowing what's coming.
Book to receive itReviews run from Guelph. If you would rather we came to you, tell us where you are and we'll quote the travel before you commit.
Request a date.
Five questions. They are the same ones we'd ask by email, and answering them up front means the first reply can contain real dates rather than another round of questions.
Where the review happens
Almost every review runs from Guelph. The airspace here is mostly uncontrolled and the ground is open, which is what lets the hour be about your flying rather than about the site — and it is why candidates come from across the region rather than the other way round. If you would rather we came to you, we will, quoted up front before you commit. The city guides below cover the local airspace where you fly day to day, which is what the briefing will actually test you on.
Within about an hour of Guelph
Further afield
Not on the list? Email us where you are — and if there is a reviewer closer to you, we'll say so rather than waste your time. Before you pick a site, it's worth reading where you're actually allowed to fly and the Ontario municipal rules, since land permission and airspace are separate questions and both get assessed.
What candidates say
★★★★★
Chris was an excellent flight reviewer, the booking process was simple and he was communicative all the way through. Would recommend if you are looking to book a drone flight test!Weldon
★★★★★
I'd highly recommend them for flight review. Chris was very thorough and facilitated the whole procedure very efficiently. Gave me good feedback points for drone ops after I passed my advanced exam.Ahmed Saeed Mirza
★★★★★
Great experience with Drone's View for my Advanced Operations drone flight review. Would definitely recommend!Steve Glogiewicz
Unedited reviews from candidates we've assessed. Read all 18 on Google.
Flight review questions
Do I need to pass the written exam first?
Yes. You must hold a passing grade on the Transport Canada Small Advanced Operations exam before booking a flight review. The exam is 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes with an 80% pass mark, written online through the Drone Management Portal. You must be 16 or older to sit it.
How long does the review take?
We review your pre-flight documentation in advance, so on the day the review itself is quick — about an hour including the briefing and debrief. There's no fixed time limit, but you won't need to set aside more than that.
Whose drone do I use?
Your own. The review assesses you operating the aircraft you actually fly, which means it needs to be registered with Transport Canada and in airworthy condition, with the registration number correctly marked.
What if I fail?
You get a debrief identifying what didn't meet standard and you can re-attempt after further preparation. There's no cap on attempts, though each is a separate booking. Plenty of capable pilots need a second attempt. It isn't a mark against you.
How should I prepare?
Know the regulations cold, and be able to explain the legal basis for the operation you're proposing. Practise building a real site survey. Our RPAS Operations Guide covers the knowledge side, and the site survey and operational risk assessment chapters map directly onto what the reviewer will ask you.
Still studying for the written exam?
Our 48-page operations guide covers the full Advanced syllabus for CA$49.
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