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SAFETY

We Take it Seriously

PROCESS

Safety from Beginning to End

Every one of our flights begins with a thorough site inspection.  These can sometimes be completed without visiting the actual site, utilizing satellite imagery and other resources.  For our site inspections, we are mandated, at minimum, to check weather conditions, hazards, obstacles, and air space we are conducting operations in. IFR goes the extra mile to ensure that this data is the most current and up to date for every mission we fly. We may request to come to the site prior to the mission in order to make sure the data is truly complete. Once we start the mission, we follow a very strict standard operating procedure to ensure we don't miss a beat with safety.  This includes strict checklists, vigorous scanning of our mission area, and sometimes the inclusion of trained observers to aid the pilot in their duties, from take off to landing.

LICENSING

Certified Pilots

IFR Pilots are advanced RPAS pilots.  That means that they have the knowledge and skills to operate in complicated air space sitautions, and have the skills to avoid and control the risks associated with flying drones.  The advanced licence requires the pilot to not only take a knowledge requirements exam from Transport Canada, but also a mandated flight review from a Transport Canada approved flight reviewer.  What does this mean to you? It means you are hiring somebody who is capable of flying the drone in any airspace safely and in compliance with the law.

REGISTRATION

Using the Right Equipment

Transport Canada mandates that all drones are registered and marked for flight in Canada. Registered drones are classified in terms of their capabilities.  These capabilities inform us of the proximity that these drones can fly to people not involved in the operation, and whether or not the drone can fly in controlled airspace.  It is imperative that all drones in Canada are registered and marked with their associated registration number.

Covering the Job

IFR carries a significant amount of liability insurance to ensure that we are covered while on your jobsite.  You can be assured when that from the moment we are on site to the receipt of your data that we are covered for all of our operations.  Don't get stuck with an un-insured drone pilot.

OBSERVERS

Another Eye on Safety

On occasion, it may be necessary to include observers in our operations.  These observers are trained crew members of the flight operation, and are deemed necessary for the safety of the operation.  Observers are critical for scan and detect of other aircraft in the area, obstacle avoidance, security of persons on the ground, overall site safety, and maintaining visual line of site.

INSURANCE

EQUIPMENT

Top in Class Equipment for safe operations

By employing the latest in technology in our drone operations, we arrive with the most capable drones, employing the latest in flight awareness systems.  Our drones can also operate in weather conditions in which many drones cannot, meaning that we can conduct safe operations through a larger range of conditions and temperatures.  Through the use of standard operating procedures, our operators employ local wind monitoring meters, and monitor aeronautical radio channels for the safest and most aware operations possible.  Visit our equipment page for information on our advanced drone systems.

TRANSPORT CANADA REGULATION

The Goods on the Laws

The laws as related to drones changed significantly in June of 2019.  IFR has kept up with the changes in laws, and as such, we maintain full compliance with the regulations.  A couple of regulations of note that need to be adhered to for any drone operation:

- All UAVS must remain within Visual Line of Sight of the pilot or observers, unless an SFOC is aquired to fly beyond line of sight

- If the drone is in line of sight of the observers and not the pilot, constant communication must be kept with the pilot

- Drones are always mandated to give way to manned aircraft

- All drone pilots in Canada MUST have at minimum a basic licence in order to operate a drone over 250g

More information can be viewed on the Transport Canada Drone safety site on the links page.

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