In the early 2000’s, there really weren’t any regulations on drone operations. At that time, drones were expensive military tools not available to the public. Non-military drones were part of DIY build kits found next to model airplanes in hobby stores. By 2010, hobby drones were slowly becoming more popular while some researchers began to recognize the benefit of using drones scientifically. The first drone boom happened between 2013 and 2016 when personal drone use increased and commercial enterprises began using them for routine tasks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took notice and had to start imposing regulations on how drones could be used to keep shared airspace and people safe. Over the last few years, drones have become one of the fastest growing enterprises.

By 2018, in the United States alone, the FAA had issued more than 1 million drone registrations. The industry is expected to bring in billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of employment opportunities. The data supporting the growth of the drone industry was often disregarded by the public, but all that changed over the last year and a half. Since the outbreak of a global pandemic, the drone industry has experienced another massive boom. In a world dealing with the spread of COVID-19, drones have been key in keeping businesses operational, delivering essential supplies to people in isolation, sanitizing public spaces, enforcing social distancing, assisting in emergencies, gathering critical disease data, keeping people connected, and so much more. One thing that has been made abundantly clear, is that our post pandemic world will be greatly supported by drone based technologies.

There is one major caveat, however. Drone technology and expectations in many cases are exceeding the necessary regulations that govern their safe use. Regulatory agencies around the world, like the FAA and the Department of Transportation, have been working tirelessly on integrating drones for mainstream use. Their goal isn’t to limit drone possibilities but to come up with plans that will allow drones to reach their full potential. The drone regulation industry is growing nearly as quickly as the drone industry itself. In March of 2021, Transport Canada published the country’s strategy for ensuring the safe and total integration of drones within Canadian airspace by the year 2025.

Transport Canada is the federal organization responsible for ensuring all modes of transportation within the country are safe, secure, and environmentally responsible. This includes transportation on roadways, railways, marine, and aviation. One of the first things you see on Transport Canada’s homepage is a section of links for most requested issues. One of the main links takes you directly to information on drone safety, a testament to the country’s commitment to be upfront in embracing drone culture.

In the paper titled Transport Canada’s Drone Strategy to 2025, they state how since 2015, the country has been working with industry insiders to develop a successful nationwide drone integration program. “Our vision,” the paper explains, “is for drone operations to be safely and securely integrated into Canadian skies as part of a modern national civil aviation system.” The paper goes on to outline 5 priorities for bringing this vision to fruition. The top priority listed is Supporting Innovation Through Safety Regulations. This would ensure that drone operators and manufacturers are held to the highest degree of safety. In conjunction with safety regulations is the plan’s second priority, Managing Drone Traffic.

Drone transportation needs to be monitored the same way any manned aerial vehicle is managed. Air traffic control is a complex undertaking, but one that has proven to be effective. Transport Canada plans to develop strategies to manage drone traffic much like how planes and helicopters are managed. As the paper outlines, “This includes exploring options to remotely identify drones to ensure accountability of drone operators.” The next logical undertaking for the plan will be Understanding and Addressing Drone Security Risks, an issue that ties in closely with how drones are safely integrated into shared airspace.

The last two issues addressed in Transport Canada’s plan are Supporting Economic Growth and Increasing Public Trust in Drones. With increased drone regulations, their applications will also increase. Supporting the drone industry can be a huge financial boost for Canada’s economy. But to see all of these concerns met, people must understand the benefits of drones. There are still people who are unsure of how safe drones are, and Transport Canada’s plan aims to assuage these uncertainties, positioning Canada to become world leaders in drone regulation and implementations.

Transport Canada points out that there are now thousands of more drones than manned aircraft vying for Canadian airspace. It is Transport Canada’s responsibility to make sure that these drones, and those to come in the future have a safe place to operate. “Drones are part of a broader digital technology ecosystem that is dynamic and ever-changing and requires flexibility in how Transport Canada responds to these changes,” the paper states. “We are modernizing how we regulate this new technology, deliver services to the public, collaborate with stakeholders, and communicate with Canadians.” Drones have changed how the world operates, and Canada is showing that they are ready to move forward with these changes.

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