SkyFlow Drone School
Basic Operations
You should keep legal compliance in mind. This course is complementary with Ag Drone and Enterprise Drone purchases, plus Drone Insurance. It builds the foundation that keeps your team safe, legal, and efficient.
$39.99
Sign up What you’ll cover
Core safety principles and pre-flight checks
Airspace awareness and legal flight planning
Basic operations workflows for enterprise teams
Responsible payload handling and battery care
Course overview
RPAS Basic Operations Ground School (Canada) prepares learners to operate legally and safely under Basic Operations and to sit the Transport Canada Small Basic Exam. The exam is based on TP 15263 knowledge requirements, and Transport Canada notes TP 15263 is not a study guide.
Recommended length
12 to 16 hours total
Ground school: 10 to 12 hours
Practical flight lab: 2 to 4 hours (recommended)
Delivery format
Instructor-led, self-paced, or blended
Ground school plus supervised field session
Transport Canada recommends a drone flight school before the exam
Operational envelope
Basic Ops requires VLOS, uncontrolled airspace, and separation from bystanders
If you do not meet basic conditions, you are in advanced or complex operations
Who this course is for
Learners who intend to fly a small RPAS (250 g to 25 kg) under Basic Operations, for recreation or work.
Prerequisites
- Basic computer literacy for online exam and digital materials
- Recommended: access to a small drone for practice (not required for ground school)
- Exam eligibility details are published by Transport Canada on the Small Basic exam page
Learning outcomes
- Classify a proposed flight as basic versus not basic using Transport Canada criteria
- Plan a compliant Basic Operations mission: airspace checks, aerodrome screening, bystander separation
- Explain TP 15263 knowledge areas and apply them to practical scenarios
- Demonstrate safe operating practices using checklists and contingency planning
Required materials
- Computer with internet for course materials and exam planning
- Notebook or digital note tool
Recommended materials
- TP 15263, Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of RPAS (Transport Canada)
- Transport Canada RPAS study resources page (TC AIM and other references)
Course modules and time plan
Module 0: Orientation and compliance basics (0.5 h)
Module 1: Air law and operational rules (2.0 h)
Module 2: RPAS systems and limitations (1.5 h)
Module 3: Human factors and decision making (1.0 h)
Module 4: Meteorology for drone ops (1.5 h)
Module 5: Navigation and airspace literacy (1.5 h)
Module 6: Flight operations and risk management (2.0 h)
Module 7: Theory of flight and performance basics (1.0 h)
Module 8: Communications fundamentals (0.75 h)
Module 9: Exam readiness and practice test (1.25 h)
Optional Module 10: Practical flight lab (2 to 4 h, recommended)
Assessments and completion
Formative
- End-of-module quizzes (8 total), target 80 percent per quiz
- Scenario worksheets and flight plan compliance checks
Summative
- Timed mock exam with review session
- Optional practical evaluation with checklist-based sign-off
Completion criteria (recommended): complete all modules, score 80 percent or higher on the mock exam, and submit an acceptable flight plan and risk assessment template.
Schedule options
Option A: Two-day intensive
Day 1 (6 to 7 hours): Modules 0 to 4
Day 2 (6 to 7 hours): Modules 5 to 9 + mock exam
Optional field session: add 2 to 4 hours on a third day
Option B: Four-week evenings
Week 1: Modules 0 to 2
Week 2: Modules 3 to 4
Week 3: Modules 5 to 6
Week 4: Modules 7 to 9 + mock exam
Optional weekend field session
Safety and conduct policies
- Follow all site safety instructions during practical sessions
- No unsafe flights or flights that intentionally violate rules
- Emphasis on compliance, risk management, and conservative decision making