Hi Danny.
To do it legally in Canada, you absolutely must do the training and get a SFOC to fly in restricted air space. The exception is if you join MAAC and fly in their air fields only (which may actually be in restricted airspace). If you’re ok keeping out of restricted airspace, and follow the Transport Canada rules for fun flying, then you don’t need anything special.
I completed this UAV training a couple of months ago:
UAV Training
Pretty good program. Took a full weekend.
With about 10 hours of flight experience, I submitted my first SFOC application a few weeks ago, and after supplying a bit more requested documentation, was approved to fly near a small airport in Central Ontario. Start small, build confidence with Transport Canada, and then try for something more. Don’t try to get your first SFOC to fly near Pearson in Toronto. The next one I apply for might be for a more populated area that’s On the fringe of a more major airport.
The final step, after successfully applying for 4 or 5 SFOCs will be to request a blanket SFOC, then you’re free to fly where you want (within the limits of that SFOC).
I also bought insurance, as well as a 2 way air traffic radio. So far, with the drone (
Mavic 2 Zoom), training, insurance, radio, case, and extras I’ve bought, I’ve invested probably $4k altogether. For me, I’m all for doing it right and legally. There’s no reason to be a maverick and do stupid stuff.
Frankly, doing it by the books isn’t easy to start, but it looks like it will get a lot easier after you’ve done the legwork to show you know what you’re doing.
At the moment, it’s purely for fun and training. With some experience, I hope to start some commercial work next spring.
This is all my opinion. I’m sure there are plenty of OPs out there that don’t care and just fly where they want. That’s great until someone gets hurt or your drone has a flyaway and lands on a highway.
Let me know if I can help in any way.