Canadian SFOC process for an advertised event

[DarR-T]

I have submitted three recent SFOC applications all TC approved.
For small and sub 250g RPA's:
As of 2025, you are advised to submit six (6) documents to TC for a low risk SFOC at an advertised event.
These include:
1) A SIGNED SFOC APPLICATION 26-0835_2504-10 .pdf
2) A SIGNED COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST for SFOC-RPAS_at an advertised_event copy .docx
3) MISSION PROCEDURES- (SOP)
4) SFOC SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION (link attached thanks to Don Joyce)
5) RPAS FLIGHT PLAN
6) FLIGHT GEOGRAPHY highlighting The Operational Volume, The Contingency Volume and The Ground Risk Buffer. (Google Earth works well for this)

SFOC Application Template for Sub250g Drones at Advertised Events

This is a free download to help you get started applying for an SFOC (Special Flight Operations Certificate) when you are planning to fly a sub250g drone at an advertised event in Canada. (updated Jul 14, 2025 to reflect recent tips from TC)

www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com

 

[PINEBARON]

I have an SFOC-RPAS for a non-resident in May this year, obviously not what you are referring to for an advertised event. Took a while to get it but I did since I frequently travel to BC which is like five minutes away from where we are.

 

[Ralph thompson]

You might find it easier to just follow the AIM, obtaining an SFOC is a time consuming process (done it many times before 2019) and you won’t get permission to fly over the event anyway with a standard micro drone and unless you’re taking very special precautions, they’ll simply require you to stay 100’ away from people as per the AIM.
“ 3.2.29.2 Advertised Events
An SFOC RPAS for an advertised event is needed when a pilot
is operating an RPAS less than 100 ft away of the boundaries
of an advertised event (CAR 901.41 and 903.01 f). For reference,
see also in this chapter: 3.4.5 Operations Near People,
3.4.6 Operations Over People, and 3.8 Special Flight Operations
– RPAS.
The boundaries of an advertised event (outdoor event including
a concert, performance, festival, market, or sporting event, etc.)
are limited by perimeter fences and at the gates where people
are restricted by the event personnel, volunteers, and security
or peace officers.
Where no such perimeter is defined for outdoor advertised
events like marathons, triathlons, cycling, swimming, skiing,
fishing derbies, sailing, cruise ships, fireworks, and so on, it is
expected that the boundaries of the advertised event be at least
100 ft from people participating in the advertised event and
100 ft from the track of the sporting event for all categories of
RPA pilot certificates and models of RPAs."

 

[DarR-T]

@Ralph thompson
CAR 903.01 (f) has been replaced (see attached). Notwithstanding, an SFOC for an advertised event is now required for both Basic (or none) and Advanced pilot certificate holders. However, the proximity to people distance is different.
Basic: 30m (100ft)
Advanced: 5M (15ft)

 

[Dronecation]

I have submitted three recent SFOC applications all TC approved.
For small and sub 250g RPA's:
As of 2025, you are advised to submit six (6) documents to TC for a low risk SFOC at an advertised event.
These include:
1) A SIGNED SFOC APPLICATION 26-0835_2504-10 .pdf
2) A SIGNED COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST for SFOC-RPAS_at an advertised_event copy .docx
3) MISSION PROCEDURES- (SOP)
4) SFOC SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION (link attached thanks to Don Joyce)
5) RPAS FLIGHT PLAN
6) FLIGHT GEOGRAPHY highlighting The Operational Volume, The Contingency Volume and The Ground Risk Buffer. (Google Earth works well for this)

SFOC Application Template for Sub250g Drones at Advertised Events

This is a free download to help you get started applying for an SFOC (Special Flight Operations Certificate) when you are planning to fly a sub250g drone at an advertised event in Canada. (updated Jul 14, 2025 to reflect recent tips from TC)

www.pocketwatchpurveyor.com

There is going to be costs involved in the near future. Probably why this stupid change in rules has come about.
These new changes are totally unnecessary.

 

[DarR-T]

There is going to be costs involved in the near future. Probably why this stupid change in rules has come about.
These new changes are totally unnecessary.

While I wholeheartedly agree that necessitating an SFOC for using a sub 250g drone at an advertised event and having to pay $75 for the privileged is overkill. DPAC would agree. However, it is what it is. However, you can minimize the cost with a Standing SFOC once you have had three approved SFOC under your belt. Then the cost is $75 only once for the year.

 

[Ralph thompson]

My point was that you don’t need an SFOC as long as you remain 100’ away from the public event (the perimeter fence or whatever delimits the event) its perfectly legal (provide all else is legal). And if you apply for an SFOC they’ll almost certainly require you to be 100’ away from people anyway, so whats the point of an SFOC unless you’re going to fly over people in which case you need an approved drone and advanced pilot certificate. I have SFOC’s for public events (pre 2019) and they’ve always required that there is 100’ secured between the drone and the people.

 

[DarR-T]

My point was that you don’t need an SFOC as long as you remain 100’ away from the public event (the perimeter fence or whatever delimits the event) its perfectly legal (provide all else is legal). And if you apply for an SFOC they’ll almost certainly require you to be 100’ away from people anyway, so whats the point of an SFOC unless you’re going to fly over people in which case you need an approved drone and advanced pilot certificate. I have SFOC’s for public events (pre 2019) and they’ve always required that there is 100’ secured between the drone and the people.

I totally agree with your first sentence. That's a very valid recommendation.
If you're satisfied with filming at a 30m (100ft) distance from the crowd which may be a further distance away of the action, then, by all means, save yourself the task of filing an application with TC.
However, an Advanced pilot closer to the subject especially with a larger aircraft equipped with a better camera would be best served with an SFOC.

The horizontal proximity rule from bystanders at an advertised event is no different than for a regular flight.
Basic Pilot Certification (or no certification): 30m (~100 ft)
Advanced Pilot Certification : 5m (16.4 ft)

 

[Dronecation]

While I wholeheartedly agree that necessitating an SFOC for using a sub 250g drone at an advertised event and having to pay $75 for the privileged is overkill. DPAC would agree. However, it is what it is. However, you can minimize the cost with a Standing SFOC once you have had three approved SFOC under your belt. Then the cost is $75 only once for the year.

Some bits and bobs that might interest you, but then, you seem well informed.

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[DarR-T]

Some bits and bobs that might interest you, but then, you seem well informed.

Thank you for posting that. Yes, Don does a great job for us and the gentleman on the left is Andrew Lesik, Civil Aviation Safety Inspector for Ontario who signed-off my SFOC's. His Quebec counterpart is Louis Desrochers, Inspecteur de la sécurité de l’aviation civile and there's most likely a counterpart for each province.These gentlemen are extremely experienced pilots and viewing their resume on LinkedIn or other is humbling.

Since you're reading this thread, I have to assume you're interested in filming advertised events.
Filing your first SFOC request, if you haven't already, may be daunting and complicated at first.
However, it's pretty straight forward. Your second one will be really quick as you will be recycling the plurality of the documents submitted in your first successful attempt.

1) A SIGNED SFOC APPLICATION 26-0835_2504-10 (TC document .pdf)
2) A SIGNED COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST for SFOC-RPAS_at an advertised_event copy (TC document.docx)
3) SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION ( Don Joyce's answers to the checklist above in sequence) using his free template.
4) MISSION PROCEDURES- (SOP) All included in the Drone Pilot of Canada App. (same as you would use for a flight review and consolidated in one .docx or .pdf file)
5) RPAS FLIGHT PLAN (Drone Pilot of Canada App does it for you)
6) FLIGHT GEOGRAPHY (highlight the flight geography in Google Earth using three colours and use the icons to mark the PIC, T-off/L and your VO's).

 

[Dronecation]

Thank you for posting that. Yes, Don does a great job for us and the gentleman on the left is Andrew Lesik, Civil Aviation Safety Inspector for Ontario who signed-off my SFOC's. His Quebec counterpart is Louis Desrochers, Inspecteur de la sécurité de l’aviation civile and there's most likely a counterpart for each province.These gentlemen are extremely experienced pilots and viewing their resume on LinkedIn or other is humbling.

Since you're reading this thread, I have to assume you're interested in filming advertised events.
Filing your first SFOC request, if you haven't already, may be daunting and complicated at first.
However, it's pretty straight forward. Your second one will be really quick as you will be recycling the plurality of the documents submitted in your first successful attempt.

1) A SIGNED SFOC APPLICATION 26-0835_2504-10 (TC document .pdf)
2) A SIGNED COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST for SFOC-RPAS_at an advertised_event copy (TC document.docx)
3) SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION ( Don Joyce's answers to the checklist above in sequence) using his free template.
4) MISSION PROCEDURES- (SOP) All included in the Drone Pilot of Canada App. (same as you would use for a flight review and consolidated in one .docx or .pdf file)
5) RPAS FLIGHT PLAN (Drone Pilot of Canada App does it for you)
6) FLIGHT GEOGRAPHY (highlight the flight geography in Google Earth using three colours and use the icons to mark the PIC, T-off/L and your VO's).

Thanks for posting. I do not do video at all. Still photography is what I do with the drone. To avoid all the red tape palaver is the main reason I purchased a sub 250gram drone. Spontaneous shooting and droning in the city is one of the benefits of a micro drone. This new SFOC nonsense should only apply to drones above the 250 gram weight, but we all know common sense flies out the window when the Gov't wants to overregulate something to death and ruin the enjoyment for many. I will just keep the distance required from any advertised event.
I'm surprised those gentlemen you hold in high regard, with their aviation credentials, even support this ruling for sub 250g drones. If they were really that knowledgeable, they would oppose, not support this ugly regulation.
I say this as an ex-commercial pilot as well...

 

[DarR-T]

@Dronecation
As I've mentioned in post #6 above, I think the new SFOC rule for micro drones at advertised events is nonsense as well. But it is what it is. I support DPAC who objected strongly but to no avail. As for the inspectors, they are employees and I can only assume that they are following orders whether they like it or not. IMHO, the rule changes come from higher up and most likely political.
My posts are simply to help those wishing to apply for an SFOC where they have a need for it.
Anyone with personal questions can DM me.