Large Scale Drone Operation: How First Class Drones Executed Canada’s Most Complex Urban Drone Operation
- Misha Herschorn
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
When Canada’s Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada brought together global innovators for the 2025 Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Sandbox in downtown Ottawa, the objective was ambitious.
Test cutting edge drone detection systems in a real city environment.
For First Class Drones, the objective was even more demanding.
Execute the entire Red Team operation at scale.
A Real Urban Environment, Not a Controlled Test Range
This was not a closed range in the middle of nowhere. This was downtown Ottawa. Active streets, dense buildings, unpredictable weather, restricted airspace, and real world constraints.
The Sandbox was designed to challenge detection systems with realistic drone behavior. That meant flying below rooftops, through urban corridors, around infrastructure, and across multiple sites simultaneously.
First Class Drones was responsible for making all of that happen.
As the Red Team, we provided the aircraft, the pilots, the infrastructure, the airspace coordination, and the operational execution that allowed innovators to test their systems against real airborne targets.
Execution at Scale
Over five days, First Class Drones delivered one of the most complex coordinated drone operations conducted in a Canadian urban environment.
12 pilots
6 visual observers
2 dedicated air traffic coordinators
1 full time battery technician
30 drones
518 flights
5 locations
Each location was staffed with two pilots to maintain continuous operations while allowing for rotation and fatigue management during eight hour flight days.
Behind the scenes, the operation functioned like a small air force unit.
Visual observers maintained constant line of sight and airspace awareness. ATC coordinators tracked every aircraft in real time, preventing conflicts and dynamically adjusting flight paths and altitudes based on weather, wind, and innovator requests.
A dedicated battery technician worked overnight to ensure that every aircraft was fully charged and ready for the next day. Without that role, sustained high tempo operations at this scale would not have been possible.
Each site was fully equipped with power, internet connectivity, food, and washroom facilities, allowing crews to operate continuously and safely throughout the day without interruption.
The Aircraft Strategy
The drone fleet was not chosen at random. Every platform served a specific purpose in the testing environment.
The DJI Matrice 350 and DJI Matrice 4D were selected as primary platforms for two key reasons.
First, both systems were equipped with parachutes, which allowed safe flight over people in a dense urban environment.
Second, both platforms are IP55 rated, meaning they are resistant to rain and harsh weather conditions. This capability was critical. It allowed First Class Drones to continue operations in conditions that would normally ground other aircraft, increasing total flight volume and ensuring the innovators received consistent testing opportunities regardless of weather.
The DJI Mini 4 Pro served a completely different purpose.
At under 250 grams, it falls into a different regulatory category, enabling additional flexibility in operations. More importantly, it provided an extremely small aerial target. While it could not be flown in the rain, it introduced a new level of difficulty for detection systems, challenging innovators to track low signature, low visibility drones in a complex urban environment.
Together, these platforms created a layered and realistic target ecosystem.
Months of Preparation, One Week of Precision
The five day Sandbox was the result of months of planning and preparation.
First Class Drones was responsible for developing and testing flight paths, coordinating with government stakeholders, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building a fully trained operational team.
A full training program was conducted in Ottawa prior to the event, covering flight path execution, communication protocols, emergency procedures, system operations, and coordinated multi drone flight scenarios.
Pilots rehearsed the exact routes they would later fly during the Sandbox, building precision, repeatability, and confidence across the entire team.
Operating in Restricted Airspace
This operation took place in one of the most sensitive airspaces in Canada.
First Class Drones received authorization from the Parliamentary Protective Service to operate within restricted airspace surrounding Parliament.
In addition, Transport Canada issued a Special Flight Operations Certificate that enabled advanced operations, including coordinated multi drone flights and operations beyond standard limitations within the defined sandbox environment.
These approvals were not simple checkboxes. They required detailed planning, proven operational capability, and full compliance with regulatory and safety requirements.
Five Locations, One Coordinated Operation
Operations were conducted across five separate sites throughout downtown Ottawa, including rooftops, parking areas, and urban corridors.
Each site had its own launch zones, infrastructure, and sensor placements, all integrated into a single coordinated operational picture.
From these locations, the Red Team executed multiple flight paths designed to challenge detection systems from every angle.
Altitude changes, lateral movement, urban masking, and repeated patterns were all used to create consistent and measurable test conditions.
What This Demonstrates
This project was not just about flying drones.
It demonstrated First Class Drones’ ability to design, staff, and execute large scale, high complexity drone operations in controlled and restricted environments.
It required coordination across multiple teams, continuous flight operations, regulatory navigation, safety management, infrastructure deployment, and real time airspace control.
Most importantly, it required reliability.
Over 518 flights, the operation delivered consistent, repeatable targets that allowed innovators to test, validate, and improve their systems in real conditions.
A Defining Moment for First Class Drones
Being selected as the Red Team for the 2025 CUAS Urban Sandbox was a defining milestone.
It validated First Class Drones as a trusted operator capable of executing complex, high tempo drone operations at scale.
It showed that with the right planning, team structure, and operational discipline, drones can be deployed safely and effectively even in the most challenging urban environments.
And it proved that when governments and innovators need real world testing, First Class Drones can deliver it.
Contact us to discuss your next super complex drone operation!
This blog was written by:
Misha Herschorn
Owner and Head Pilot at First Class Drones
Bio:
Since 2016, Misha has been operating drones professionally, delivering drone services for large television productions, residential and commercial developments, energy and utilities and many more! His work combines technical precision with a strong creative eye, always prioritizing safety, legality, and quality.
Misha has extensive experience in aerial cinematography, drone mapping and custom drone design helping First Class Drones delivers professional results tailored to each project.
Frequently Asked Questions About Large Scale Drone Operations and the CUAS Sandbox
What is a CUAS Sandbox and how does drone testing work in urban environments?
A Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox is a real-world testing environment where companies evaluate drone detection technologies against live aerial targets. In this case, testing took place in downtown Ottawa, allowing innovators to assess how their systems perform in complex urban conditions such as dense buildings, signal interference, and obstructed sightlines.
First Class Drones supported this by operating real drones along pre-planned flight paths, creating realistic scenarios for detection systems to track and analyze.
What does a drone “Red Team” do in large scale drone operations?
In large-scale drone operations, a Red Team is responsible for flying drones that act as targets for testing or training purposes.
At the CUAS Sandbox, First Class Drones served as the Red Team, executing hundreds of coordinated drone flights so innovators could test their tracking and detection technologies in real time. This required precise flight execution, repeatable paths, and continuous coordination across multiple locations.
How many drones can be operated at once in an urban drone operation?
The number of drones that can be operated simultaneously depends on regulatory approvals, airspace coordination, and operational planning.
In this project, First Class Drones managed a fleet of 30 drones and executed 518 flights over five days across multiple sites. Operations were coordinated through dedicated air traffic control personnel and structured communication protocols to ensure safe and efficient multi-drone deployment in a dense urban environment.
How do drone companies safely operate drones over people in cities?
Operating drones over people requires advanced safety systems, regulatory approval, and experienced operators.
For this project, drones such as the DJI Matrice 350 and Matrice 4D were equipped with parachute systems, allowing safe flight over people. Operations were conducted under Transport Canada approvals, with continuous monitoring by air traffic coordinators and visual observers to maintain situational awareness and prevent conflicts.
Can drones fly in the rain during professional drone operations?
Yes, but only certain drones are designed for it.
In this operation, the DJI Matrice 350 and Matrice 4D were selected because they are IP55 rated, meaning they are resistant to rain and harsh weather. This allowed First Class Drones to continue flying in conditions that would normally ground standard drones, increasing total flight time and improving testing outcomes.
Smaller drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro cannot fly in the rain, but they still played an important role as low-visibility targets.
Why use multiple types of drones in drone testing and detection scenarios?
Using multiple drone types creates more realistic and challenging testing conditions.
Larger drones such as the M350 and M4D provide stable, trackable targets, while smaller drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro, which weighs under 250 grams, present a much smaller and harder-to-detect profile. This combination helps evaluate how well detection systems perform across different sizes, speeds, and visibility levels.
What is required to execute a large scale drone operation in Canada?
Executing a large-scale drone operation in Canada requires a combination of regulatory approvals, trained personnel, and operational infrastructure.
This includes Transport Canada certifications such as a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC), airspace authorization, advanced certified pilots, safety procedures, and real-time coordination systems. First Class Drones also deployed visual observers, air traffic coordinators, and on-site infrastructure such as power, internet, food, and washroom facilities to maintain continuous operations.
What is BVLOS and was it used in this drone operation?
BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight, which allows drones to operate beyond the direct line of sight of the pilot under specific regulatory approvals.
For this project, First Class Drones obtained the necessary approvals to conduct advanced operations within a controlled environment. While visual observers were still deployed for safety, the operation demonstrated the level of coordination and structure required for complex drone missions that approach BVLOS-type environments.
How do drone companies manage batteries during high volume flight operations?
Battery management is one of the most critical parts of large-scale drone operations.
In this case, a dedicated battery technician was responsible for charging, maintaining, and rotating batteries overnight. This ensured that all drones were fully operational each day and allowed the team to sustain a high volume of flights without downtime.
What kind of team is required for large scale drone deployment?
Large-scale drone deployment requires a multidisciplinary team.
For this project, the team included 12 pilots, 6 visual observers, 2 air traffic coordinators, and a dedicated battery technician. Each role is essential for maintaining safety, efficiency, and continuous operations, especially in complex urban environments.
What infrastructure is needed for multi day drone operations?
Professional drone operations require more than just aircraft and pilots.
Each site was equipped with power, internet connectivity, food, and washroom facilities to support crews working full eight-hour days. This infrastructure ensures operational continuity, crew safety, and consistent performance over multiple days.
Can First Class Drones support large scale drone operations for government or enterprise clients?
Yes. First Class Drones specializes in complex drone operations, including urban deployments, multi-drone coordination, testing environments, and government or enterprise projects. We provide end-to-end execution, from planning and regulatory approvals to full operational delivery in the field.
Comments