By Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks Academy, 26 April 26 I In the high-stakes world of aviation—whether you are piloting a commercial jet or operating a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) under Level 1 Complex requirements—technical skill is only half the battle. The other half is managing the human element. The "Dirty Dozen" refers to twelve specific human factors identified by Transport Canada and the FAA that are responsible for the vast majority of flight

By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks Academy, 11 Apr 26 In the critical minutes following a missing person report, a drone in the sky is a powerful asset—but only if the pilot knows how to "interrogate" the data. The KR Droneworks GSAR RPAS Pilot Specialist Program is a high-tier technical course engineered to transition advanced pilots into specialized Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) technicians. Unlike industrial thermography, which focuses on temperature measure

By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks Academy, 4 April 26 (Inspired by a article from Paul van der Wal -UAS Consultant at Drone Flight Company, 31 March 26 The landscape of Canadian drone operations has undergone its most significant transformation since 2019. As of April 2026, Transport Canada (TC) has officially transitioned to the JARUS SORA 2.5 (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) methodology. For the professional drone community, this isn't just a nomenclature

By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks Academy, 4 April 26 Inspired by: The work of Dr. Robert Baron regarding Human Factors (HF) in aircraft maintenance The rapid professionalization of the Canadian drone industry marks a turning point where technical skill—while necessary—is no longer sufficient to guarantee safety or operational success. As Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) integrate into complex environments like urban centers and shared industrial airspac

By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks Academy, 10 March 26 In the high-stakes world of Search and Rescue (SAR), the difference between a successful recovery and a tragic "near-miss" often comes down to a matter of centimeters and seconds. For Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) pilots, the ability to fly is only the baseline; the ability to perform under pressure, navigate complex environments, and extract actionable intelligence from a sensor is what saves live

By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks, 31 January 2026 The landscape of Canadian drone operations has shifted dramatically over the last year. With the full implementation of the 2025 RPAS Amendments (which came into force on November 4, 2025), we are operating in a new era of regulatory maturity. One of the most significant yet overlooked changes in this framework is the professionalization of the Visual Observer (VO). Gone are the days when a VO was simply a "frie

By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks, 17 Jan 26 After the high-adrenaline moment of a drone crash, your first instinct might be to pack up and leave before anyone notices. Resist that urge. In Canada, how you handle the minutes and hours following a crash can be the difference between a minor repair bill and a massive fine or even criminal charges. Here is a guide on navigating the aftermath of a drone crash, tailored to Canadian regulations as of 2026. Scenario 1: