Why Certified Drone Parachutes Are Essential for Legal Flights Over People in Canada
- Josh Dusang
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
As drone services continue to expand in Canada, legal compliance is no longer optional. For drones over 250 g, flying over people, crowds, controlled airspace, or advertised events requires strict adherence to Transport Canada’s regulations. Whether we're flying for aerial photography, real estate drone videography, drone inspection services, sports drone videography or aerial renderings; if there is ANY chance we will fly over people, our team will equip and fly with a Transport Canada approved parachute that is legal for flight over people.
Transport Canada Rules: Flying Over People with Drone Parachutes
Under Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), you need:
A drone over 250 g compliant with CAR 901.39 (Operations over People).
An Advanced RPAS Certificate.
A drone registered with Transport Canada.
Evidence of compliance with recognized safety standards
Particularly ASTM F3322‑18, the benchmark for parachute recovery systems
A valid Safety Assurance Declaration per CAR Standard 922
Check which drones qualify for advanced operations HERE
ASTM F3322 18: The Parachute Standard
ASTM F3322‑18 requires:
Reliable automatic deployment during malfunctions.
Descent rates low enough to reduce impact injury.
Flight termination protocols and redundancy.
Rigorous multi-condition testing and failure
Compliance is mandatory for legal operations over people in Canada.
Certified Parachute Systems Eligible for Over People Operations
Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions or AVSS
Canadian-made and fully ASTM F3322-certified for DJI drones including:
Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal
Matrice 400
Matrice 4 Series (M4D & M4TD)
Matrice 3 Series (M3D & M3TD)
Matrice 300 & 350 (Including RTK model)
Matrice 200/210 (Including V2 & RTK models)
Matrice 30 & Matrice 30T
ParaZero SafeAir
Offers certified systems for the following DJI drones:
Mavic 3, Classic, Cine, Pro, Thermal & Enterprise
Mavic 2 Pro, Zoom & Enterprise
Matrice 600
Matrice 300 & 350 (Including RTK model)
Matrice 30
Matrice 200/210 (Including V2 & RTK models)
Phantom 4 Standard, Advanced & Pro (including V2 model)
Enables safer sports filming, construction monitoring, real estate videography
To maintain compliance, parachute systems must be properly installed, declared per CAR Standard 922, and aligned with CAR 901.39 protocols.
Sub 250 g Drone Laws
Drones under 250 g (like DJI Mini series) don’t require certification but must still follow:
Registration (if over 250 g).
Max altitude: 120 m AGL
VLOS, airspace restrictions, avoid crowds, advertise events & controlled zones.
Rules regarding visual observers, site surveys, and safe operating procedures (CAR 901.20–.40)
Even small drones must avoid risky operations and follow airspace guidelines.
New Drone Regulations
BVLOS
Canada is expanding its drone regulatory framework to include:
Additional RPAS endorsements for urban operations.
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flight certifications.
Evolving SFOC permissions for over-people and controlled airspace operations.
BVLOS flights inherently carry higher risks. Certified parachute systems like AVSS and ParaZero SafeAir:
Provide critical safety redundancies.
Limit impact energy, reducing risk to people and property.
Strengthen SFOC/BVLOS applications by offering proven mitigation under ASTM F3322 standards.
Why This Matters for Drone Businesses
Integrating certified parachute systems offers:
Regulatory Compliance – legally fly over people under advanced rules.
Client Confidence – build trust with real estate, construction, film, and event operators.
Business Expansion – unlock new services like sports videography, BVLOS inspections.
Risk Management – enhance insurance eligibility and reduce liabilities.
Final Thoughts
For drone services in Canada—from aerial photography, drone inspections, real estate videography, to FPV drone filming, parachute-equipped drones are no longer optional. They are essential tools for legal, safe, and advanced operations over people and in complex airspace.
At First Class Drones, our fleet carries AVSS and ParaZero SafeAir systems to ensure maximum compliance and safety for all operations.
Ready to upgrade your drone business? Let us help you navigate regulations, install certified parachutes, and expand into new airspace safely.
If you have any questions about parachutes or our equipment, please contact josh@firstclassdrones.ca
Works Cited
Transport Canada. Advisory Circular AC 922‑001. 2 months ago, https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/reference-centre/advisory-circulars/advisory-circular-ac-no-922-001.
Transport Canada. Advisory Circular AC 901‑001. 2 months ago, https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/reference-centre/advisory-circulars/advisory-circular-ac-no-901-001.
ParaZero. “ParaZero's SafeAir Unlocks Flight Over People in Canada With Popular Phantom and Mavic Drones.” 17 July 2019, https://parazero.com/2019/07/17/parazeros-safeair-unlocks-flight-over-people-in-canada-with-popular-phantom-and-mavic-drones/.
ParaZero. “Expanded Operational Capabilities.” https://parazero.com/products/expanded-operational-capabilities/.
ParaZero (Unmanned Systems Technology). “Drone Safety Solutions: Parachute Systems for UAVs.” https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/parazero-technologies/.
ParaZero. “SafeAir Mavic + Professional Kit.” https://parazero.com/product/safeair-mavic-astm/.
AVSS. “Tried and True: AVSS Completes ASTM F3322 Testing for Drone Parachute for DJI Matrice 4 Series.” May 2025, https://www.avss.co/2025/05/tried-and-true-avss-completes-astm-f3322-testing-for-drone-parachute-for-dji-matrice-4-series/.
Justice Laws. Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96‑433), https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-433/page-112.html.
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