It looks like their might be an issue with doing business with UAVs in the Canada. The following laws prohibit the use of UAVs without a permit for each and every flight. Does anyone have experience flying in Canada.? I guess the permits are free but is it easy to get approved and is the process very fast?
Q: I’m using my UAV for profit or it’s vital to the success of my business, what do I need to know?
A: You need a Special Flight Operations Certificate(SFOC) every time your UAV is in Canadian Airspace, Yes even testing and development outdoors requires an SFOC. Fear not as obtaining an SFOC is common place in Canada, and as of May 17th 2012 it’s free. This is because the law strictly prohibits UAVs without these certificates.
Q: Do I need to get a different SFOC for every day that I fly?
A: No! As it was explained by Transport Canada you can apply for to get an SFOC that indicates a range of dates and times.
Replies
Rant coming...
Yes, it is certainly possible but it's a slightly onerous process to operate commercially in Canada. Wheels are turning to allow it to become easier for people once they have proven themselves, but as it stands each and every 'operation' you conduct (which can be multiple flights at one location, even over a range of dates) requires an SFOC.
The SFOC application process isn't too complex, but it is a hassle, particularly for getting started and gathering demo material for your website and portfolio reel. You read that right: you can't even take a photo and use it on your website without an SFOC, as that is viewed as commercial use (even though no money is changing hands). Also, they don't guarantee turnaround in any less than 20 days, so it puts a big barrier on any time sensitive operations. In practice they do get approved quicker than that, but it's hard to build a business without any guarantee of faster turnaround.
I'm all for regulation in the industry, but it is an overly bureaucratic process at the moment. I'd much rather be able to pass a test and have a permit for arbitrary commercial operations within certain parameters rather than each operation needing its own paperwork and rubber stamp.