"There’s great potential to use regulations to support the safe and predictable integration of drones into the broader aviation system while encouraging innovation and development in the drone industry.
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations are the future of drones.
The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers has reported that the use of drone services could benefit industries in Canada that currently contribute over $600 billion to Canada’s national gross domestic product. In the province of Ontario alone, the aerospace industry created over 22 000 jobs in 2019. The Government of Québec also dedicated funding to support the development of a commercial drone cluster in the province’s 2016–2026 aerospace strategy, recognizing the potential and capabilities of the drone industry." - NAV CANADA [source]
CHANGING
AGRICULTURE
TECHNOLOGY IS
BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR
On-farm and on-station research studies assisted by commerce not only creates sustainability, but it also creates a surplus of free, fresh food that can be re-positioned to create food access and security in targeted locations. Collaboration among research institutes to build agri-food production capacities and industry developments can also be designed to address population-wide food insecurity.
A tremendous amount of food can be produced in Ontario by expanding production north. The evaluation of light-density crops and wool-producing livestock could undoubtedly create new economic opportunities. The focus on light-weight commodities is due to the fact that it’s the most efficient use of current technological capabilities, which is a 400-pound maximum payload for PYKA, the electric cargo drone of choice.
New transportation routes for the distribution of agriculture goods to northern and remote regions is required for sustained growth of the agriculture sector. Furthermore, it’s only a matter of time before it’s a requirement for national security. The establishment of electric cargo drone infrastructure to transport light-density commodities creates a whole new corridor for unexplored markets in northern and remote regions where the soil is good and where altitudes are high.
Given that northern Ontario has a tremendous amount of land classified as type two, three or four, it means it can be cultivated for a wide range of crops now, and even more with research and innovation. There could potentially be a doubling of the amount of cropland currently being farmed in the entire province. [source] Furthermore, the rapid onset of climate change’s increased temperature averages could improve agriculture production capabilities more than anticipated due to influences not yet being measured.
Aerial Drone Logistics
Autonomous air transportation provides opportunities for unprecedented economic growth in Canada, as our climate and geography creates expensive logistical challenges with the current modes of cargo and freight transportation of agricultural goods.
The Pelican, an electric cargo plane, offers some first-of-it’s-kind benefits, including the ability to take off and land with very little ground structure, making it well-equipped for remote areas. In this article, the U.S. Air Force’s Master Sgt. Brian Crea, 3rd Wing Director of Innovation called the technology “a game changer” because they could now “fly in contested areas without the loss of life” and that it would also be cheaper than using traditional cargo aircraft. [source]
In no stretch of the imagination can the exact same thing be said about this technology for food insecurity in Canada.
A Potential New Food Trade Economy for The MidWest & The North
Electric cargo planes could change the face of food insecurity within The Great Lakes Basin. Based on the plane’s capacity limit of 400 pounds, its slowest speed of 150 km per hour, and its low cost of $15 an hour to operate, it could transport the following produce types within the basin. Please note, the price of food is constantly changing, but if the following items were sold in Barrie, Ont., in March 2024, 400 pounds of each item would sell for:
Additionally, these planes only take 90 minutes to charge to full, and only require a 400-foot runway to land and take-off from. Furthermore, these are surplus produce items so they are donated and therefore, are 100 per cent free.
If the infrastructure for this logistics platform was in place, it would help small farmers and food businesses gain economic opportunity, increase their sales, and most importantly, break down food access barriers plaguing disadvantaged populations in these regions.
Back when Leah would drive the roads in The Marsh to harvest lettuce, she would dream about putting those freshly harvested lettuce cases on the back of a plane and flying them to Barrie in 14 minutes instead of driving it in 40 minutes, for the same cost as a city bus.
Aerodrome Concept Specifics (so far)
The cargo drone would need to take off right from the field - we really want to focus on getting the harvested food on route as soon as possible because the shelf life of light-density crops is so short.
A Special Flight Operations Certificate for a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System for a specific purpose under special conditions will be required. Additionally, we propose a ‘loading pad’ be created for each field, orchard, vineyard, etc., that will have ‘take-off’ capability. We think a ‘drone landing crossing’ on pre-approved roads bordering fields could work, especially in northern and remote areas. They could be used in the exact same way a ‘railway crossing’ is used for trains that intersect with roads; lights up, flashes, ‘barricade-arms’ come down, etc. The proposed ‘drone landing crossing’ would be blocked off in the same way. At the edge of the road, a ‘pad’ will be carved into the field for the size of the drone so it can park upon landing.
Please keep in mind, when gleaners glean fields, its best to glean them in the early evening when it’s not as hot, and when teenagers are done school. Gleaning fields is an incredibly popular way for high school students to get their 40 community service hours that’s mandatory to graduate high school. Therefore, when the drones are used to transport light-density crops for the purpose of trading (or giving without receiving), they will be used in the evenings only.
That being said, there will indeed be a great demand to use these drones for other agri-food commerce activities, especially during the day. Another area we’d like to explore is the transportation of wool to and from northern, and/or remote, and/or high-altitude locations. There’s no need to transport a commodity like wool in the evening, unless it becomes a regulatory requirement. Further exploration into the governance of the proposed ‘drone landing crossing’ for roads lining proposed ‘certified take-off fields’ is needed.
Multi-Purpose Infrastructure
In July 2023, Pyka secured authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial operation of its autonomous electric crop protection aircraft, Pelican Spray, in the the United States. Their focus is on specialty crops. Currently, drones for spraying crops isn’t legal in Canada but that will change in a few years. In the meantime, we need to start planning the infrastructure.
Drone Regulations
This technology, when regulated, will start providing immediate benefits to Barrie's Foodshed if programming is created to support its usage. Additionally, The Muck Crops Research Station could start conducting drone research before regulations permit commercial applications, if approved by NAV CANADA.
The proposed aerial drone logistics platform will be considered BVLOS. Currently, NAV CANADA doesn’t have regulations in place to support BVLOS operations in controlled airspace. There are, however, proposed regulations:
The proposed regulations start to introduce Low Risk BVLOS flights, tentatively scheduled to go into force on April 1, 2025. This will include RPAS of 25kg or less in uncontrolled airspace, over unpopulated or sparsely populated areas. After reaching out to NAV CANADA, one of their representatives said that they did a quick Google search on The Pelican, and said that it appeared to have a maximum take off weight of 635kg, which means that it's significantly above any other projects they've looked at to date.
Electric Drone Transportation of Light-Density Crops Within The Great Lakes Basin
Summary
Establish the infrastructure needed to start transporting light-density crops within the Great Lakes Basin, as well as in northern and remote communities using electric cargo drone transportation. Additionally, electric drones have multiple uses, including spraying crops. The proposed investment’s dual-purpose functions will hopefully increase it’s likelihood of getting funded.
Objective
Create a new food trade economy with farmers in the province of Ontario, Canada, and the states of Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio, USA.
Strategy
Make strategic agriculture investments based on research, evidence and data (this includes soil and plant adaptation to climate change) to grow and strengthen the proposed food trade economy.
Goals
1. Develop the structural governance of the proposed food trade economy, and fund its infrastructure development, beginning in The Holland Marsh, Ontario.
2. Increase the availability of the following light-density crops by using research and innovations to extend their growing seasons and accessibility within the entire Great Lakes Basin, as well as in northern and remote communities all over Canada.
Potential Trade Routes
Since there are a lot of coastal agriculture producers in The Great Lakes Basin, distribution hubs could be placed strategically within the basin along the coastlines. Furthermore, hubs could be cross-matched with produce bioregions, Indigenous reservations, and philanthropic service providers:
Indigenous Reservations
Produce Bioregions within The Great Lakes Basin
Food Access Providers: Proposed First Route to Develop
(in green)
Drone Regulations in Canada
Canadian civil aviation is the responsibility of the Minister of Transport under The Aeronautics Act. In 2019, the GoC published the first set of rules in Canada for drones within VLOS (visual line of sight) that weigh up to and including 25 kg with the creation of Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). Since 2019, TC has carried out pilot projects, collaborated on research and development with the National Research Council, and has issued hundreds of SFOCs. TC has worked with industry on BVLOS pilot projects, trials, and research and development, while also issuing SFOCs for lower-risk BVLOS operations. The new regulations would allow TC to shift resources to issuing SFOCs for more complex operations – e.g.; in urban centres, at higher altitudes and larger aircraft. Once the Regulations come into force, TC would monitor industry developments.
To date, BVLOS operations and flying medium-sized RPAS can only be done through a case-by-case approval process. Regulatory amendments are needed to change this. The proposed amendments are for medium-sized drones, which means PYKA drones will likely still require a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC), which is managed by Transport Canada (TC).
The amendments proposed also include:
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New technical standards for the aircraft and supporting systems,
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New operational procedures, such as increased distances from airports, heliports, and people,
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New requirements for organizations to operate BVLOS,
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New fees for the new services that would be provided to the RPAS sector, which includes increased profits for domestic RPAS manufacturers.
Drone Management Portal (via TC):
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Canadian drone registry,
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Payment for services
SORA: A risk assessment tool that considers things, such as altitude, type of airspace, and ability to detect and avoid other aircraft.
Cargo Drone: If a drone is carrying cargo, the operator is subject to the Canadian Transportation Act (CTA) and must apply for an economic license from the Canadian Transportation Agency.
“Specialty air services” means aerial mapping, aerial surveying, aerial photography, aerial construction, flight training, aerial inspection, and surveillance and aerial spraying services. Non-Canadian operators from countries with whom Canada has a trade agreement in place may obtain authorization to perform specialty air services via an SFOC. This would be required four American partners.
Drone Regulations in the United States
PAS Report 606, Planning for Advanced Air Mobility was funded in part by the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers Program.
The report explores the advancement of air mobility technology and its potential to impact communities' access to air mobility, goods delivery, and emergency services in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Though its still in the early days of development, this emerging transportation sector could result in fundamental changes to the built environment. Communities should be prepared to minimize the potential for adverse impacts and maximize the likelihood of sustainable and equitable outcomes.
The report presents planners and policymakers with the foundational knowledge to understand important considerations for development and potential community impacts. [source]
