Flight reviews in Barrie
Lake Simcoe, a regional airport, and military airspace to the west that catches out pilots who only checked for civilian aerodromes.
CA$275 + light mileage · Prep guide free
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The Advanced RPAS flight review is the in-person practical assessment that completes your Advanced certificate — you must already hold a passing grade on the written exam. It runs about an hour: pre-flight briefing, aircraft and document check, a short flight on your own aircraft, and an honest debrief. Here's the full walkthrough of what to expect.
The airspace around Barrie
Barrie has an airspace feature most of southern Ontario doesn't: CFB Borden lies to the west, and military airspace does not behave like the civilian structure pilots are used to reasoning about. Lake Simcoe Regional Airport sits north-east of the city as the main civilian field. A pilot who checks for airports, finds the regional field, and stops there has missed the more consequential item.
None of this is checked from memory on the day. You're expected to have researched your specific site — on NAV Drone or an equivalent current source — and to be able to explain what you found and why it does or doesn't constrain the operation you've briefed. Unverified airspace claims are one of the most common ways candidates fail.
Picking a site in Barrie
The Lake Simcoe shoreline and the waterfront parks are the scenic draw and, in summer, some of the busiest public space in the region — poor assessment territory. Away from the water, Simcoe County gives open agricultural ground and straightforward sites, and the country south toward Innisfil and west toward Essa is easy flying.
Barrie is also the point where a candidate should genuinely weigh whether to look for a reviewer closer to home. I'll come — but I'd rather say plainly that a hundred and ten kilometres each way is reflected in the mileage, and that there are recognised reviewers nearer to you. If you'd still like me to do it, I'm glad to.
CA$275, plus a small mileage charge. Barrie sits beyond the fifty-kilometre band around Guelph where travel is included, so there's a modest mileage addition — quoted up front, before you commit to anything. The preparation guide is included free when you book, and if the briefing makes clear you're not ready, I'd rather reschedule than take your money.
What you need to bring
- Your own aircraft, registered with Transport Canada and marked with its registration number.
- Proof of your Advanced exam pass.
- Your site survey and briefing material for the operation you intend to fly.
- Anything your briefing claims you hold — landowner permission, an airspace authorisation, insurance if you're relying on it.
The Canadian RPAS Operations Guide covers the underlying knowledge, and the Site Survey & Authorization Kit is the record I most often wish candidates had filled in beforehand. Neither is required to book — the preparation guide that comes free with every review is enough to walk in ready.
Questions from Barrie candidates
Does CFB Borden affect where I can fly?
It can, and it's the item most commonly missed around Barrie because pilots search for civilian aerodromes and stop when they find the regional airport. Check NAV Drone properly for your site, and be able to explain what you found.
Is it worth having you come to Barrie?
Honestly, weigh it. It's about a hundred and ten kilometres from Guelph and the mileage reflects that. There are recognised reviewers closer to you, and I'd rather say so than pretend otherwise. If you'd like me to come anyway, I will — plenty of candidates prefer a reviewer they've read and can predict.
Can we meet partway?
Often the best answer. Candidates from the Barrie area sometimes meet around Guelph, Milton or the Halton countryside, which removes most of the mileage and gives us easier ground to work on.
Whose drone do I fly?
Your own. The review assesses you on the aircraft you actually fly — it must be registered with Transport Canada, marked with its registration number, and airworthy.
How soon can I book?
Email with your exam pass and your location and I'll come back with dates — usually within a couple of weeks, weather depending. Booking sooner after your written exam is better; the knowledge is fresh.
What happens if I'm not ready?
I'd rather reschedule than take your money. If the briefing makes clear you aren't ready, we'll stop, I'll tell you exactly what to work on, and we'll book another date. A review you fail costs you more than a review you postpone.
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
★★★★★
Although I was nervous for my flight review, Chris handled all correspondence, preflight and flight details in a positive…H. H.
Unedited reviews from candidates I've assessed. Read all 18 on Google.
Nearby
I review across southern Ontario. The nearest guides to Barrie:
Book a review in Barrie Everything about the review
Reviews conducted by Chris Jones, a Transport Canada recognised RPAS flight reviewer. Last reviewed 26 July 2026.
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