Volatus Aerospace secures drone operating approvals across Canada

Volatus Aerospace, a leader in aerial intelligence and logistics solutions, has announced a significant regulatory milestone with the issuance of expanded Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOC) by Transport Canada. These approvals dramatically enhance the Company’s operational flexibility and enable broader deployment of its commercial drone services across the country.

The newly amended SFOC grants Canada-wide beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operating authority for small drones (250g to 25kg), during both day and night, in uncontrolled airspace and outside aerodrome environments. This builds on Volatus’ previously announced BVLOS night operations approval and further expands its reach into critical applications such as infrastructure inspection, remote surveillance, and environmental monitoring.

“This is a major step forward for our mission to bring safe, efficient, and scalable drone operations to all regions of Canada,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “These new permissions not only validate the capabilities of our Operations Control Center in Vaughan, ON, but also unlock new potential for advanced automated and remotely managed drone missions.”

Key Expanded Operating Authorities Include:

Nationwide BVLOS Flight (Day and Night): Authorisation to operate drones beyond visual line-of-sight across Canada in uncontrolled airspace.

Proximity Operations Near Infrastructure: Clearance to fly within close range of structures like towers, buildings, rail lines, and power lines without visual observers.

Access to Controlled and Restricted Airspace: Permission to conduct drone missions in Class F and NOTAM-defined zones for high-stakes and dynamically managed operations.

Northern Domestic Airspace Missions: Approval for BVLOS flights up to 400 feet AGL in high-latitude regions for cargo, inspection, and community support services.

Observer-Free BVLOS Operations: Use of detect-and-avoid systems and protocols allows for pilot-free visual contact during missions.

Automated Drone Systems Integration: Enables use of drone-in-a-box systems and other autonomous technologies under SORA-compliant risk frameworks.

These new regulatory capabilities are expected to significantly enhance Volatus’ ability to deliver advanced drone-based solutions for industries such as energy, transportation, security, and environmental monitoring.

“With these national authorisations, we can now deploy scalable, autonomous operations in remote, urban, and industrial settings alike,” added Lynch. “It marks a critical leap toward commercial viability and nationwide service delivery.”