Continuing Education Course Outline: Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Advance AME 7003

Program Description

The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Advance Continuing Education Course is the second of two courses designed to qualify students for Advance RPAS operations (RPAS with a weight of 250g – 25kg) under Transport Canada regulations, including operations in controlled spaces. This five-day course, delivered by Hub City Radio Control Club, provides both theoretical instruction and hands-on training led by an experienced instructor. Students will learn Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), air traffic rules, meteorology, navigation, RPAS flight operations, as well as commercial operations, while gaining practical experience operating a remotely piloted aircraft. Students will complete the Small Advance RPAS Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) exam and the Radio Operator Certificate, both administered by Transport Canada. Students will also complete practical components A, B, C and a flight review conducted by a qualified instructor.

Admission Requirements

Acceptance Policy

Strong preference is given to applicants who are Status First Nations, but SIIT programs are open to anyone.

English Language Benchmark

SIIT is not currently legislated to accept International Students. You must be a Canadian/ Permanent Resident to apply.

To be admitted into this program you must be able to understand and communicate in English (Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment of six – CLB6).

Courses

Tuition, Fees, and Funding

Funding

Depending on your status, different forms of financial assistance are available to you. Please click here to explore options for funding. If you require assistance finding funding, please contact supportservices@siit.ca.

What to Expect

Length of Program

The length of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft system (RPAS) Advance Course is 1-week full time/5 days (37 hours).

Delivery Method

The 5-day Advance course will be conducted by a third-party and will consist of in-class instruction and hands-on learning. Students will explore the theory of RPAS operations and receive further hands-on learning from an experienced instructor/pilot. Students will have the opportunity to explore the commercial applications of RPAS, including advanced flight operations, regulatory compliance, risk management, and specialized industry use cases.

Academic Policy

Students attending must adhere to SIIT Academic & Student policies, which are available on the student dashboard on the SIIT website.

Attendance Policy

• Students are required to attend instructor-led theory and practical sessions and must maintain a minimum of 100% attendance throughout the program.

Evaluation

Students will complete the Small Advance RPAS Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) exam conducted online by Transport Canada. The exam will consist of 50 multiple choice questions to be completed within 60 minutes. Students must achieve 80% to successfully pass the exam. If a student does not successfully pass the exam, a second attempt may be made after 24 hours.
Students will also complete the practical component A, B, and C, which will be conducted and assessed by the instructor/pilot. Students will undergo a flight review, during which they must answer 27 questions, achieving a minimum of 20 correct responses to pass.
Students must successfully complete the Small Advance RPAS Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS), the practical components A, B, and C, and the flight review in order to successfully complete the course. After successful completion of all assessments, students will be responsible for applying for a Pilot Certificate – Advanced operations from Transport Canada.

Graduation Requirements and Credential

Successful students will receive a Radio Operator Certificate from Transport Canada. Students may apply for a “Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations” from Transport Canada. Students are responsible for covering the application fees, and instructors may provide assistance with the application process if Document Version: 4.0 Pub Date: 17 February 2025 needed. The certificate must be renewed every 24 months. For more details, visit 2024-2025 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot Recency Requirements – Self-Paced Study Program.

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Students may find employment in the following: Survey Mapping, Mining, Exploration, Water Management, Photography, Photogrammetry, Pipeline Inspection, Building/Bridge Inspection, Precision Agriculture Wildlife Monitoring, Forestry Management, Security, Search and Rescue.

Further Education

Students may pursue other certifications offered by Transport Canada, such as the Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) Certificate, or the Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC-RPAS) in order to operate an RPAS over 25kg.