OTTAWA DRONE PILOTS

[omid B]

Hi everyone. Has anyone flew in the ottawa area, particularly around the parliament hill area..if so did you encounter any issues with police or any other law enforcements. I wanna do some shots of the hill area but don't want to be fined.. thanks in advance.

 

[Erised]

Parliament hill is a NFZ. The Ottawa river must be really good to video these days.

 

[omid B]

How about behind the hill over the ottawa river ..how can anyone do anything with these ridicules laws. Very frustrating!!

 

[Erised]

I would stay clear of the hill, the RCMP are present all over the place and as nice as they may be I would not try to test them.

 

[omid B]

Thanks for the advice

 

[Erised]

Over parliament buildings the NFZ is for all aircraft, not just drones. The same goes for most countries.

 

[omid B]

How can I get a list of NFZ for ottawa?

 

[jwmcgrath]

Useful apps:

AirMap
Hover
NoFlyZone

Google
Bing

Drone Safety - Transport Canada

Transport Minister is HIGHLY focussed on drone restrictions. Not a great idea to test flying around the federal government buildings with any drone you want back.

 

[jwmcgrath]

Parliament hill is a NFZ. The Ottawa river must be really good to video these days.

There is great footage.

But:

 

[Erised]

There is great footage.

But:

That's good advice, I would stay clear of built up area and I bet you could find some pretty nasty rapids going west. Check google earth and there is some nice ones around Renfrew. I did some white water rafting many years ago at Wilderness tours, in the days a 4mp camera was a big one and my water proof camera was a disposable Kodak. lol

 

[omid B]

Ok cool thanks for the help

 

[jwmcgrath]

I did some white water rafting many years ago at Wilderness tours, in the days a 4mp camera was a big one and my water proof camera was a disposable Kodak. lol

I did the same trip with the same camera and the same waterproof capability!

I was just talking with people the other day... sure, the running joke these days is people take gazillions of pics with phones but never look at or print/display them, but at least you have and can find them if you want them.

You think I can find those pics of the whitewater tour?

 

[jwmcgrath]

AirMap:

The dark blue dot in the middle is "Parliament Hill - Special Use Airspace"

The yellow circles are Rockliffe Airport and Civic Hospital.

Zoomed out:

The dark circle at Parliament Hill is in the "Ott" of Ottawa.

I certainly wouldn't risk it and especially not right now.

 

[jwmcgrath]

If you want a better idea the includes heliports, hospitals, regionals, etc...

Parliament Hill is dead center.

 

[jwmcgrath]

Here's how much of the river behind the hill is covered by "Special Air Space":

 

[jwmcgrath]

IMHO putting a drone in the air at, near, or within LOS of Parliament Hill right now, with the Transport Minister's current interim order in effect and a month before new legislation is expected, and a day after the Minister made a special statement regarding drones, is drone suicide and could irreparably alter the hobby as a whole.

As an Ottawa resident already struggling with the tight new restrictions, I truly hope you don't.

 

[omid B]

Don't worry I'm not one of those idiots who ruins it for the rest of us.
Once again ridicules rules!!

 

[RDHMMR]

Flying anywhere in that area is tricky even in the Renfrew, Arnprior and Pembroke area as there are aerodromes and helipads at all the small town hospitals that fit into the new regulations. I haven't flown since the new regulations as I would have to drive substantially out of town to the middle of nowhere ville just to do so. I will wait and see if the restrictions ease up. I personally am hoping for licenses and testing that would allow common sense in fringe areas such as my home town area. We have a helipad that is used by aircraft within 5 km, aircraft keep to 500 ft till in the vicinity.

 

[nic.rgc_photos]

How can I get a list of NFZ for ottawa?

Check out NAV Drones app. It'll give you a detailed map of where the NFZ are and you can adjust the settings to your flight plan to see where you can/can't fly