Courses & Pricing
Clarion Drone Academy delivers specialized training for organizations conducting professional RPAS operations in Canada and internationally. Our programs are built around Transport Canada’s regulatory framework and taught by instructors with real-world BVLOS operational experience dating back to 2018.
Every course listed below is available for corporate, government, military, and law enforcement clients. Pricing reflects starting rates for individual enrollment. Group rates, on-site delivery, and custom program development are available on request.
For personalized quotes or group enrollments, contact us at bruce@clariondrones.com.
Level 1 BVLOS Complex RPAS Ground School
Starting at $2,499
5 Days In-Class | 40 Sessions | Maximum 12 Students
This is Clarion’s flagship program and the most comprehensive BVLOS ground school available in Canada. Over five intensive days and 40 structured sessions, students work through the complete regulatory, technical, and operational knowledge required to plan and execute Level 1 Complex BVLOS operations under Canadian Aviation Regulations.
This is not a lecture series. Students build real mission plans, decode live aviation weather, calculate radio link budgets, design operational and contingency volumes, and work through SORA risk assessments using actual scenarios. By the end of the week, graduates have the knowledge foundation to write the Transport Canada Level 1 Complex BVLOS examination and begin building their RPOC application.
What You’ll Learn
- Canadian Aviation Regulations Part IX (CARs 900-series) as they apply to RPAS operations
- TP 15530E requirements for Level 1 Complex BVLOS operations
- JARUS SORA v2.5 risk assessment methodology including ConOps development, Ground Risk Class, Air Risk Class, and SAIL determination
- Operational Safety Objectives (OSOs) and how to demonstrate compliance
- Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems, technologies, and regulatory requirements
- Aviation weather interpretation: METAR, TAF, GFA, ceiling determination, and go/no-go decision frameworks
- Radio communications for BVLOS operations including CTAF procedures and RIC-21 certification preparation
- Waypoint planning, route design, geofencing, and Google Earth mission planning tools
- Flight envelope and contingency envelope design
- Emergency procedures, lost link protocols, and flight termination systems
- Radio link budget calculations including Fresnel zone clearance and free-space path loss
- Density altitude, performance degradation, and environmental factors affecting UAS operations
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for pilots and organizations preparing for BVLOS operations in Canada. Typical students include government agencies planning surveillance or mapping missions, military units building drone programs, law enforcement expanding tactical capabilities, utility and energy companies conducting infrastructure inspection, and environmental organizations running remote monitoring operations.
Prerequisites
Students should hold a Transport Canada Advanced Pilot Certificate or equivalent international credential. No prior BVLOS experience is required — we start from the regulatory foundation and build up.
What You’ll Receive
- Five days of intensive, instructor-led ground school training
- Comprehensive student handbook and reference materials
- Preparation for the Transport Canada Level 1 Complex BVLOS examination
- RIC-21 Radio Operator’s Certificate examination (included)
- Digital certificate of completion
- Lifetime access to the Clarion Professional Network and alumni resources
Flexible scheduling available for government and corporate clients. Contact us at bruce@clariondrones.com to discuss training dates for your team.
RPOC Documentation & Compliance
Starting at $1,599
2 Days In-Class
Any organization planning to conduct Level 1 Complex BVLOS operations in Canada must hold a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator Certificate (RPOC) issued by Transport Canada. The RPOC application requires a complete suite of operational manuals demonstrating that your organization has the policies, procedures, and safety systems in place to operate safely.
This two-day course walks you through the entire RPOC documentation package: what Transport Canada expects, how to structure each manual, and what content is required. Students leave with a working understanding of all 12 required manuals and a clear path to completing their RPOC application. The course covers Standard Operating Procedures, Safety Management Systems, Training Plans, Maintenance Programs, Emergency Response Plans, Visual Observer Training, Radio Communications, Compliance Audit Programs, and more.
No other training provider in Canada offers a standalone RPOC documentation course. The alternative is hiring a consultant at $200–$400 per hour to write these manuals for you.
Who Should Attend
Operations managers, safety officers, and chief pilots responsible for building or maintaining RPOC compliance documentation. Ideal for organizations in the early stages of their BVLOS program development.
JARUS SORA v2.5 Practitioner
Starting at $1,799
3 Days In-Class | 24 Sessions
The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) is the internationally recognized methodology that Transport Canada uses to evaluate BVLOS operational risk. If you’re applying for authorization to fly beyond visual line of sight in Canada, you need to understand SORA — not just at a conceptual level, but well enough to produce a compliant risk assessment that Transport Canada will accept.
This three-day course takes students through the complete SORA v2.5 framework from start to finish. You’ll develop a real Concept of Operations (ConOps), determine Ground Risk Class and Air Risk Class, assign a SAIL level, and map out the Operational Safety Objectives your operation must meet. Students work through SORA Annexes A through F with practical exercises and leave with a completed risk assessment they can use as the foundation for their own operations.
Clarion is the only standalone SORA training provider in Canada. Other programs touch on SORA as a single topic within a broader course. We dedicate three full days to it because that’s what it takes to do it properly.
Prerequisites
Transport Canada Advanced Pilot Certificate holders. Completion of the BVLOS Level 1 Complex Ground School is recommended but not required.
CDA-VO-100: Visual Observer — In-Person + Radio
Starting at $899
1 Day In-Class
Under the November 2025 regulatory changes, Visual Observers supporting EVLOS and BVLOS operations now require at minimum a Transport Canada Basic Pilot Certificate. Trained, certified crew members are a regulatory requirement, not a nice-to-have.
This one-day course combines Visual Observer fundamentals with radio communications training. Students learn VO responsibilities within the BVLOS crew structure, scan techniques, communication protocols with the pilot-in-command, hazard identification, and proper use of aviation radios including CTAF procedures. The combined format means your crew members are trained and operationally ready in a single day rather than attending two separate courses.
No other Canadian training provider offers a combined VO and radio communications course in a single day.
Who Should Attend
Crew members designated as Visual Observers for EVLOS or BVLOS operations. Also suitable for safety officers and operations managers who want to understand VO requirements firsthand.
CDA-VO-100: Visual Observer — Online
Starting at $499
Self-Paced Online
The online version of the CDA-VO-100 Visual Observer course covers the same core VO knowledge as the in-person program: crew responsibilities, scan techniques, communication protocols, hazard identification, and regulatory requirements under CARs Part IX. Delivered through the Clarion Professional Network portal, students complete the course at their own pace.
This is the scalable option for organizations that need to train multiple Visual Observers. Rather than bringing your entire crew to a one-day session, you can enroll team members individually as your operations expand. Volume pricing is available for teams of three or more.
Who Should Attend
Same audience as the in-person course: designated Visual Observers for EVLOS or BVLOS operations. Best suited for teams that need flexibility in scheduling or have crew members in multiple locations.
Level 1 Complex Flight Review
Starting at $499
In-Person | Conducted by Certified Flight Reviewers
The Level 1 Complex Flight Review is the final practical step toward obtaining your Level 1 Complex RPAS Certificate. As required by TP 15530E, this in-person assessment is conducted by a Transport Canada–certified Flight Reviewer and evaluates your ability to plan and execute a BVLOS mission safely and competently.
The review covers mission planning, pre-flight procedures, flight execution using a Visual Observer, emergency response procedures, and post-flight documentation. This is not a training session — it’s a formal assessment. Students should have completed the Level 1 Complex BVLOS examination before booking their flight review.
Clarion’s Chief Pilot, Darren Clarke, holds both the Level 1 Complex BVLOS certification and the Flight Review rating, meaning your review is conducted by one of the most credentialed flight reviewers in the country.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of the Transport Canada Level 1 Complex (L1C) BVLOS examination.
Preparing for TC RPAS Flight Review
Starting at $249
Online | Self-Paced
This preparatory course helps pilots understand what to expect during their Transport Canada RPAS Flight Review and how to prepare for it. The course covers the review format, assessment criteria, common areas where pilots struggle, and practical tips for demonstrating competence during the evaluation.
Think of this as your study guide and briefing before the actual review. It won’t replace seat time or flight experience, but it will ensure you show up prepared and confident in what’s being assessed.
Who Should Attend
Any pilot preparing for a Transport Canada RPAS Flight Review at the Advanced or Level 1 Complex level. Particularly useful for pilots who have not completed a flight review before and want to understand the process.
Advanced RPAS Online Exam Prep
Starting at $249
Online | Self-Paced | 94 Lessons across 11 Sections
Clarion’s Advanced RPAS exam preparation course covers the complete knowledge requirements defined in Transport Canada’s TP 15263E for pilots seeking the Advanced RPAS Pilot Certificate. This is the certificate required to fly drones over 250 grams in controlled and uncontrolled airspace across Canada.
The course includes 94 lessons organized across 11 sections, covering airspace classification, weather theory, navigation, regulations, flight planning, human factors, and emergency procedures. Content is aligned with the actual Transport Canada online examination so students are studying exactly what they’ll be tested on.
This is the most comprehensive Advanced exam prep course available in Canada at this price point. Competitors charge $250–$599 for less content. Delivered through the Clarion Professional Network portal with progress tracking and self-paced access.
Who Should Attend
Anyone preparing to write the Transport Canada Advanced RPAS Pilot Certificate examination. Suitable for new pilots, pilots upgrading from Basic, and experienced operators who want structured exam preparation.
Note: Transport Canada RPAS examinations are currently only available to Canadian residents. International pilots should contact us to discuss alternative pathways.
Custom Training Programs
Clarion develops custom training programs for organizations with specialized operational requirements. We have delivered tailored programs for military units, law enforcement agencies, Indigenous communities, environmental research teams, and industrial clients across Canada and internationally.
If your organization has training needs that go beyond our standard course catalog — whether that’s tactical ISR, FPV operations, sector-specific applications, or multi-week programs — contact us to discuss a custom solution.
bruce@clariondrones.com | 519-498-5259