FLIGHT SAFETY NOTIFICATION
- krdroneworks
- Jun 5
- 2 min read
By: Colonel (ret) Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks Academy, 05 June 26
SUBJECT: CRITICAL: Transport Canada Class F Airspace Restrictions for FIFA World Cup 2026 (June 12 – July 7)
Attention pilots,
As part of our commitment to keeping your operations audit-ready and legally compliant, we are issuing an urgent safety notification regarding the massive airspace changes taking effect across Canada next week.
To secure the FIFA World Cup 2026, Transport Canada has issued strict temporary airspace restrictions over Toronto and Vancouver from June 12 through July 7, 2026.
This is not standard controlled airspace. This has been designated as Class F Special Use Restricted Airspace under Section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act.
Here is what you need to know to protect your license, your business, and your clean regulatory record:
The "Nav Drone Auto-Approval" Will NOT Work
If you are used to requesting quick smart-approvals through the Nav Drone app for operations in controlled airspace, stop immediately. Because this is a Class F Restricted zone enacted under Section 5.1, standard digital auto-approvals are entirely invalid.
The Restriction Boundaries: RPAS flights are completely prohibited at and below 2,500 feet ASL within the designated zones. In Toronto, this explicitly blankets areas like Exhibition Place/BMO Field & Fort York (1.3 NM radius), Centennial Park (1 NM radius), and Downsview Park (1 NM radius). Vancouver details are similarly locked down around match venues and fan festivals.
The Only Exceptions: Access is strictly limited to military, police, or RPAS operations directly supporting the FIFA tournament.
The Penalty: Flying a drone in this space without explicit authorization from the designated user agency coordinator is a severe federal offence under the Aeronautics Act. Violations carry massive corporate and individual fines, drone confiscation, and potential jail time.
What You Need To Do Right Now
If your organization has an operational necessity to fly anywhere near the GTA or Metro Vancouver during these dates, you must remove the "paperwork barrier" today and begin coordination manually.
Non-participating commercial operators must submit formal, manual flight authorization requests to the specific user agencies (such as the Toronto Police Service or Vancouver police coordinators) as outlined in the active NOTAMs.
Use the authoritative portals below to review the specific coordinates, check the daily active
NOTAM schedule, and file your flight intent:
Nav Canada Flight Planning: plan.navcanada.ca
Nav Drone Portal: portal.navdrone.ca
Collaborative Flight Planning Services (CFPS): cfps.navcanada.ca
Official Transport Canada RPAS Portal: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety
KR Droneworks Advisory: Check your NOTAMs before every single takeoff. If your operational manuals, RPOC suite, or corporate SOPs need immediate updates to account for emergency flight planning procedures during major national events, reach out to our consulting desk immediately.
Fly safe, stay compliant, and keep your logbooks clean.
— The KR Droneworks Flight Safety & Consultancy Team
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