For Canadian Armed Forces Veterans

The Next
Mission

Your next mission starts here — and this time, we come to you. A 5-day program that takes you from zero to a completed Transport Canada Advanced RPAS Certificate, taught by a 25-year CAF veteran, hosted at your local Royal Canadian Legion. Fully fundable through Veterans Affairs Canada.

Reserve Your Seat How VAC Funding Works
Fall 2026 National Tour

Coming to Your City

CityDatesVenue
Toronto, ONSeptember 14–18, 2026Local Royal Canadian Legion
Halifax, NSOctober 5–9, 2026Local Royal Canadian Legion
Calgary, ABNovember 2–6, 2026Local Royal Canadian Legion
Victoria, BCNovember 30 – December 4, 2026Local Royal Canadian Legion

We’re bringing this to four cities because veterans shouldn’t have to fly across the country to start over.

The Program

Five Days. Complete Certificate.

You served. Now the drone industry needs what you already have: discipline, mission planning instincts, and calm under pressure. This program includes a full mission planning day built the way you already think — objective, terrain, airspace, risk, execution. You leave with your Transport Canada Advanced RPAS Certificate complete: exam passed, flight review done. No chasing a flight reviewer afterward.

Days 1–2

Advanced Ground School

CARs Part IX, airspace, weather, RPAS systems, human factors — full preparation for the TC Advanced exam.

Day 3

Exam & First Flights

TC Advanced online exam written on site in a proctored setting, then straight into flight training blocks.

Day 4

Mission Planning

Site survey, risk assessment, airspace coordination, operational documentation — the same curriculum we deliver to government and military clients.

Day 5

Flight Training & Flight Review

Flight training to standard, then your individual TC flight review — completed before you leave.

What You Leave With

More Than a Certificate

  • TC Advanced RPAS Pilot Certificate — complete. Exam written on site, flight review done the same week.
  • Real mission planning skills — the same curriculum we deliver to government, military, and law enforcement clients.
  • One year of FlightOps Pro — flight logging, aviation weather, flight planning, and IMSAFE fitness checks. The same operational tool you’ll train with, in your pocket after graduation.
  • A pathway forward — step one toward Level 1 Complex BVLOS, the highest drone credential in Canada, taught by Clarion.
Veterans Affairs Canada Funding

VAC Can Cover Every Dollar

$5,000 + tax — fully fundable through the VAC Education and Training Benefit

This program is priced within the ETB Short Course funding stream, which pays the exact invoiced cost of the course — including tax. If you have 6+ years of CAF service and were honourably released on or after April 1, 2006, you may qualify. Funding is available up to 10 years after release.

Check that you qualify

6+ years (2,191 paid days) of CAF service, Regular Force or Reserve. Honourably released on or after April 1, 2006. Within 10 years of release.

Apply through My VAC Account

Form VAC 1537 establishes your ETB eligibility, then form VAC 1549 submits your course plan. We provide the enrollment confirmation and invoice VAC requires — sent the same day you reserve a seat.

VAC pays you, you pay us

Approved funding is paid directly to you before the course starts. Applications must be in before day one — no retroactive funding — so start early. We’ll walk you through every step, free.

Get the Full Funding Guide

Guidance based on published VAC processing times; funding decisions rest with Veterans Affairs Canada and are made case by case. Veterans participating in VAC’s Rehabilitation and Vocational Assistance program or receiving Canadian Forces Income Support cannot use the ETB at the same time — contact us about alternative routes.

Your Instructor

Trained by One of Your Own

David MacDonald, Master Instructor — 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. Every hour of instruction and every flight review on this tour is delivered by David, from the school that trains Canada’s government, military, and law enforcement drone programs. Clarion has trained 50+ organizations across Canada and internationally since 2014, with BVLOS operational experience since 2018.

Your Next Mission Starts Here

Email or call — I’ll personally send you the funding guide and walk you through the next steps.

Bruce McPherson

Founder & CEO, Clarion Drone Academy

bruce@clariondrones.com

519-498-5259