1.4 General Operating Rules (VLOS, Altitude, Right of Way)

Advanced privileges expand where and how complex you may fly; they do not erase the everyday Part IX operating rules. In fact, general rules such as VLOS, altitude, and right of way are among the most heavily tested items because they apply on nearly every flight. This section walks the core rule numbers you should recognize on the exam and apply in the field.

901.11 — Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS)

CAR 901.11 establishes the baseline: operate the RPA within visual line-of-sight. VLOS means the pilot (and visual observers, when used) can maintain unaided visual contact sufficient to know aircraft location, attitude, and airspace context—not merely a telemetry map pin.

Why VLOS is non-negotiable as a default:

• Detects people, obstacles, and crewed aircraft the camera may miss
• Supports collision avoidance when electronic systems lag or fail
• Keeps the human responsible for see-and-avoid in the loop

First-person view (FPV) goggles and onboard cameras are not automatic substitutes for VLOS. FPV has its own limits under 901.38. Advanced EVLOS concepts, taught later, are structured extensions with procedures and crew—not informal "I can still see the screen."

901.13 — Canadian Domestic Airspace

CAR 901.13 situates RPAS operations in Canadian domestic airspace as the regulatory operating domain for these rules. Practically, you plan and fly inside the Canadian airspace structure, respecting class-based rules, restricted areas, and authorizations. Do not treat provincial borders or private land ownership as substitutes for airspace compliance: landowner permission is separate from aviation legality.

901.16 — Flight Safety

CAR 901.16 captures the overarching duty to conduct the operation safely. Even when every numeric limit is met, a pilot can still violate flight-safety expectations by choosing a site with unmanaged hazards, launching into unsuitable weather, or ignoring obvious risks to people and property. Use 901.16 as the "reasonable pilot" backstop behind specific numeric rules.

901.17 — Right of Way: Give Way to Crewed Aircraft

CAR 901.17 is a classic exam hammer: remotely piloted aircraft give way to all aircraft. In conflict geometry, the RPAS yields. You do not "hold altitude and expect the Cessna to go around because you are on a paid survey."

Operational habits that implement right of way:

• Scan continuously for crewed traffic
• Be ready to descend, land, or displace laterally
• Brief visual observers to call traffic early
• Never climb toward an approaching aircraft to "get the shot"

901.18 — Avoiding Collisions

CAR 901.18 requires the pilot to take action to avoid collisions. Right of way (901.17) tells you who yields; collision avoidance (901.18) tells you that yielding must actually prevent a conflict. Electronic conspicuity, if equipped, assists but does not replace human responsibility.

901.19 — Fitness of Crew

CAR 901.19 requires crew fitness for duty. Impairment from alcohol, drugs, fatigue, illness, or distraction can make an otherwise legal flight unsafe and non-compliant. Advanced professional work often involves early call-outs, heat, cold, and long sensor missions—manage fatigue deliberately. If you are not fit, you do not fly, regardless of client pressure.

901.20 — Visual Observers

CAR 901.20 addresses visual observers. When a visual observer is used, the observer is part of the safety system: scanning for traffic and hazards, communicating clearly, and supporting VLOS. Observers are not silent bystanders holding a radio for show. For EVLOS and complex sites, observer discipline becomes even more important (detailed in human-factors and EVLOS chapters).

901.25 — Maximum Altitude 122 m (400 ft) AGL

CAR 901.25 sets the famous ceiling: do not operate an RPA at an altitude greater than 122 metres (400 feet) above ground level (AGL) unless an exception in the regulations applies.

Exam precision tips:

• Memorize both 122 m and 400 ft—official materials use dual units.
• The limit is AGL, not mean sea level altitude from a barometer set to airport elevation in all cases; know what "above ground level" means over sloping terrain.
• Advanced authorization for controlled airspace does not automatically cancel the 122 m / 400 ft rule unless a specific exception applies.
• Climbing higher "just for a minute" is still a violation.

901.26 — Horizontal Distance Concepts

CAR 901.26 deals with horizontal distance expectations associated with people and operational separation concepts in the RPAS rules. Exact numeric envelopes for near/over people differ by small vs medium and by declared safety level—those figures belong to the Advanced safety-assurance chapters. For this general-rules section, lock the principle: Part IX uses horizontal distance as a primary risk control relative to people, and Advanced privileges change allowable distances only when the corresponding safety conditions are met.

901.38 — FPV Limits

CAR 901.38 constrains first-person view operations. FPV can improve piloting precision for cinematic or inspection tasks, but it narrows peripheral awareness. The regulatory approach pairs FPV with requirements that preserve situational awareness—commonly involving a visual observer or other conditions so that VLOS/safety duties are not abandoned to a video feed alone. On the exam, reject any option that claims FPV alone always satisfies VLOS without meeting the FPV rule’s conditions.

901.39 — Night Lighting

CAR 901.39 addresses night operations and lighting. If you fly at night under permitted conditions, the RPA must display lighting that allows the aircraft to be seen and oriented as required. Night adds depth-perception and traffic-detection challenges; lighting rules exist so the aircraft remains conspicuous to the crew and, where relevant, to others.

901.37 — No Control from a Moving Vehicle

CAR 901.37 prohibits controlling the RPA from a moving vehicle (with the regulatory framing that prevents drive-and-fly operations that destroy situational awareness). The pilot’s attention cannot safely be split between traffic on the road and traffic in the air. Set up a stable control station on the ground (or other permitted fixed posture), not a rolling chase vehicle.

901.36 — Formation

CAR 901.36 addresses formation flight with RPAS. Formation multiplies collision and lost-link complexity. Unless you meet the conditions that allow formation, do not stack multiple aircraft in coordinated flight simply because the software supports swarm modes. Treat multi-aircraft shows and surveys as planned operations with explicit regulatory fit, not casual experiments.

900.06 — Reckless Operation

CAR 900.06 prohibits operating an RPAS in a reckless or negligent manner that endangers or is likely to endanger aviation safety or life/property as framed in the rule. This is the catch-all behind specific numeric limits. Buzzing crowds, threading rotorcraft near moving vehicles for thrills, or ignoring known hazards can engage 900.06 even if you stayed under 122 m / 400 ft.

Integrating the Rules on a Real Flight

A compliant Advanced flight stacks rules rather than picking one:

1. Confirm certificate level, recency, registration, and any authorizations (framework + registration chapters).
2. Confirm site, airspace, and people distances (later chapters).
3. Brief crew on VLOS roles, observer duties, and right-of-way actions (901.11, 901.17, 901.18, 901.20).
4. Set altitude caps in the controller to respect 122 m / 400 ft (901.25).
5. Verify fitness, night lighting if applicable, and control-station posture (901.19, 901.39, 901.37).
6. Fly defensively; land early if safety margins erode (901.16, 900.06).

Exam Drill Patterns

Expect questions that:

• Quote 122 m (400 ft) and ask what rule or limit it represents
• Present a conflict with a crewed aircraft and ask who gives way
• Offer FPV-only operations without observers as if that always meets VLOS
• Suggest controlling from a moving truck to "follow the inspection line"
• Describe reckless low passes near people as acceptable if altitude is legal

Correct answers consistently prioritize see-and-avoid, yield to crewed traffic, altitude discipline, and human fitness/attention.