This
post is partly speculative in nature, since unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs,
colloquially known as “drones”) have yet to really proliferate in the business
world. But at the very least, the evident trend toward employing drones for
commercial purposes is one we all should keep an eye on. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos even announced in 2013
that his company would contemplate using drones for deliveries. Given the
relative novelty of the technology from a commercial standpoint, entrepreneurs
and managers have a great opportunity right now to position themselves ahead of
the curve.
Commercial
drones probably won’t fill the sky tomorrow. Rules around drone use are
evolving, and have yet to catch up to the real potential of drones to become
ubiquitous denizens of our airspace. Regulators must strike a reasonable
balance between legitimate concerns over privacy and public safety, and the
obvious advantages of UAVs for undertakings like police investigations, search
and rescue, and various business activities.
Consider
the following issues as you mull the drone question.
What use
might you have for a drone right now?
Amazon’s
vision of drone deliveries is still in its embryonic phase, but many commercial
enterprises in North America are making use of drones already. Camera-mounted
UAVs have proven useful for land surveying, recording flyovers of golf courses,
taking photos from perspectives that might otherwise be inaccessible, and
filming short snippets for television advertisements. Cable news outlets have
assigned drones to cover perilous or hard-to-reach locations at a comparatively
low cost, and without endangering camera crews.
UAV
technology is rapidly improving, with features like extended battery life,
greater cargo capacity, and solar panels. We can expect further technological
change to enhance the versatility of drones in the years to come.
There are
several conditions you must meet in order to fly a drone in Canada.
As in
many other countries, recreational drone users are generally entitled to fly
light UAVs (2 kilograms or less) in Canada without seeking certification from
government regulators, provided they fulfill certain safety obligations—like
yielding the right of way to manned aircraft, and keeping their distance from
airports and restricted airspace. However, a more stringent set of rules
applies to drone operators who intend to use mid-size UAVs for work or research
purposes, and for users of drones heavier than 25 kilograms.
The
key take-away here is, do your research before acquiring a UAV, let alone
launching it. Make sure you have fulfilled all the conditions required for an
exemption from Transport Canada’s certification process. Otherwise, you’ll need
to apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC).
Steer
clear of animals.
When
human beings introduce new, synthetic elements into the natural environment,
animals often react by associating the novel entity with a concept they already
know and understand—sometimes with decidedly negative results. One reason why
sharks occasionally attack surfers, is because the shape of a surfboard
resembles the familiar, corpulent physique of a seal. An owl in Oregon achieved
notoriety recently for swooping out of trees to steal joggers' hats.
Likewise,
UAVs can face considerable perils once they enter into a complex ecosystem. For
instance, eagles tend to be highly territorial during nesting season, and will
vigorously defend their local airspace against any perceived threat. (A drone-mounted camera in Australia recently
filmed a midair encounter between the UAV and a wedge-tailed eagle. Let’s just
say the eagle won.)
Other
creatures—including alligators, primates, bees, and dogs—have also reacted
adversely to drones and attempted to bring them down. Thus, it’s probably wise
to give animals a wide berth whenever possible.
