Site Surveys in Under a Minute: How Automated Compliance Works

What Is a Site Survey?

A site survey is the pre-flight assessment that every responsible drone operator conducts before launching. It covers the airspace classification at your intended flight location, any controlled or restricted zones nearby, active NOTAMs, current weather conditions, proximity to aerodromes and helipads, known obstacles, and the regulatory requirements that apply to your specific operation. In short, it answers the question: "Can I legally and safely fly here, right now?"

Under Transport Canada's regulations, pilots are expected to verify these factors before every flight. For commercial operators, maintaining records of pre-flight assessments is not just best practice — it's a compliance requirement that may be audited. A thorough site survey is the foundation of safe, lawful drone operations in Canada.

The Old Way: Manual Research Across Multiple Sources

Before automated tools, conducting a proper site survey meant visiting multiple websites and cross-referencing data from several sources. You would check NAV CANADA's NOTAM system, review VFR Navigation Charts or the Canada Flight Supplement for airspace classification, look up weather on aviation weather services, consult the Canadian Drone Regulatory Tool for basic airspace guidance, and check for temporary flight restrictions or advisories. Depending on the location and complexity, this process could easily take 30 to 60 minutes — or longer if the site was near controlled airspace or required special authorizations.

The manual approach is not only time-consuming but error-prone. Airspace boundaries, NOTAMs, and weather conditions change frequently. A restriction that wasn't active when you checked yesterday morning could be in effect by the time you arrive at the site. Relying on static charts or outdated information creates real risk — both to safety and to your operating certificate.

How RPAS WILCO Automates It

With RPAS WILCO, the entire site survey process takes under a minute. Enter your intended flight location — by dropping a pin, typing an address, or using your current GPS coordinates — and the platform instantly analyses every factor that affects your operation. You receive a comprehensive assessment that includes airspace classification and any overlapping zones, proximity to controlled airspace and aerodromes, active NOTAMs with plain-language summaries, current weather conditions pulled from the nearest reporting station, known obstacles in the vicinity, and a clear compliance status indicating whether you can fly, need authorization, or should avoid the area entirely.

This isn't powered by crowd-sourced or open-source data. RPAS WILCO is the only drone platform authorised to distribute NAV CANADA aeronautical data — the same authoritative source used by manned aviation, air traffic control, and Transport Canada. When our platform tells you an airspace boundary is in a specific location, you can trust it.

What the Survey Output Includes

The site survey generates a structured report that serves multiple purposes. At a glance, you get a compliance status with colour-coded indicators, any required authorizations flagged with links to relevant procedures, a risk assessment based on current conditions, and a weather overlay showing winds, visibility, ceiling, and precipitation. For documentation, the survey is exportable as a professional PDF — complete with your flight details, the compliance analysis, and a timestamped record of conditions at the time of planning.

Commercial operators use these PDF reports to demonstrate due diligence to clients, satisfy insurance requirements, and maintain audit-ready records for Transport Canada. The report becomes part of your operational documentation without any additional effort.

Who Benefits Most

Over 30,000 pilots across Canada already rely on RPAS WILCO's site survey feature. Commercial operators use it to streamline pre-flight planning and impress clients with professional compliance reports delivered before the first site visit. Flight schools integrate it into their training curriculum, teaching students how to properly assess a flight location using authoritative data — building habits that will serve them throughout their careers. Enterprise teams use it to standardise preflight procedures across multiple pilots and crews, ensuring that every operator follows the same rigorous assessment process regardless of experience level.

Whether you're a solo operator flying inspections or an enterprise managing dozens of pilots, the site survey transforms compliance from a burden into a competitive advantage. It's faster, more accurate, and more professional than manual research — and it's available on every RPAS WILCO account, including the free tier.