Why NAV CANADA Aeronautical Data Matters for Drone Pilots

Not All Airspace Data Is Created Equal

If you've used multiple drone flight planning apps, you may have noticed that airspace boundaries, restrictions, and advisories can look different from one app to the next. That's because many platforms rely on open-source or crowd-sourced airspace data that may be incomplete, outdated, or simply incorrect. When you're making safety-critical decisions about where and how to fly, "close enough" isn't good enough.

RPAS WILCO is an official NAV CANADA data distributor. This means the airspace data in our platform comes directly from the same authoritative source used by manned aviation — airlines, air traffic control, and Transport Canada. It's the gold standard for Canadian aeronautical information.

What Authoritative Data Includes

Our NAV CANADA data feed provides several critical datasets that power the RPAS WILCO platform:

• Airspace Structure — Precise boundaries for controlled airspace (Classes A through F), restricted areas, danger zones, and advisory areas. Updated on the standard 56-day AIRAC cycle.
• NOTAMs — Notices to Air Missions published by NAV CANADA, including temporary flight restrictions, airspace activations, and hazard warnings. Updated in real time.
• Aerodrome Information — Runway locations, frequencies, operating hours, and procedures for every registered aerodrome in Canada.
• Navigation Aids — Locations and operational status of navaids, which help define airspace sectors and instrument procedures.
• Obstacles — Charted obstacles including towers, antennas, and power lines that pose hazards to low-altitude operations.

Why It Matters for Your Operations

Consider a common scenario: you're planning a flight near a regional airport. With inaccurate airspace data, you might believe you're outside the control zone when you're actually inside it — leading to an airspace violation, potential enforcement action, and a dangerous conflict with manned aircraft. With authoritative NAV CANADA data, you know exactly where the boundaries are, every time.

The same applies to NOTAMs. A temporary flight restriction for a forest fire, a military exercise, or a VIP movement could make your planned flight illegal and dangerous. Our real-time NOTAM feed ensures you see these restrictions before you launch, not after.

The RPAS WILCO Difference

Being an official data distributor isn't just about having access — it's about responsibility. We maintain strict data handling procedures, update cycles, and quality assurance processes to ensure that what you see on your screen is accurate and current. Our platform automatically alerts you when airspace data affecting your saved flight plans changes, so you're never caught off guard.

When you plan a flight with RPAS WILCO, you're planning with the same data that keeps Canadian airspace safe for everyone.