Important Work Underway During a Very Active Flying Season

August 3, 2026

NPA 2026-005: Where Do We Stand?

On June 8, Transport Canada published Notice of Proposed Amendment NPA 2026-005, which focuses primarily on three subjects:

  • Remote Identification, or Remote ID;
  • the recognition of Community-Based Organizations, or CBOs;
  • the creation of mechanisms related to designated airspace.

It is important to remember that this is currently a proposal, not a new regulation. Nothing changes immediately for MAAC members. We must continue flying in accordance with the current regulations, our flying-site rules and all applicable certificates and operating conditions.

The official consultation period remains open until September 9, 2026. MAAC is preparing a structured response that will first be presented to the Board of Directors and then submitted to Transport Canada.

Since April, our Aeromodelling Strategy Advisory Group, or ASAG, has been analyzing the proposals, attending Transport Canada information sessions and assessing their potential impact on our members, clubs, disciplines and flying sites.

The group is examining:

  • how MAAC could become recognized as a CBO;
  • the benefits such recognition could provide to traditional aeromodellers;
  • the potential implications of Remote ID for our models;
  • the conditions that could apply to fixed flying sites approved by a CBO;
  • MAAC’s possible future responsibilities for training, safety, compliance and oversight;
  • how we can preserve all our disciplines, including airplanes, helicopters, gliders, multirotors, FPV, control line, free flight, rockets and competition activities.

Our objective is clear: to demonstrate that MAAC already has many of the elements needed to become a credible and responsible CBO. We have more than 77 years of experience, a national network of flying sites, training programs, a Safety Code, approval processes, digital tools and a governance structure serving thousands of members across Canada.

We also maintain regular and constructive communication with Transport Canada. This collaboration allows us to ask questions directly, explain the realities of aeromodelling and better understand the intent behind the proposals.

As MAAC President, I have had one or two conversations with Transport Canada each month since February. Some have been formal meetings, while others have been more informal discussions. In every case, the relationship has remained strong, constructive and respectful in both directions.

 

 

An Exceptional Event Season

 

MAAC’s current report lists 172 events registered between May 1 and October 31, 2026. Of these:

  • 154 have been approved;
  • 10 have been cancelled;
  • 8 remain at various stages of the approval process.

As of August 3, 88 approved events had already taken place, one was still underway and another 65 approved events remained on the calendar.

We have already seen fun flies, jet rallies, IMAC competitions, control-line activities, helicopter and glider gatherings, family days, float-flying events, public displays and the Canadian Drone Championships.

Several major events are still to come, including the Kingston Giant Scale Rally, the Canadian Precision Aerobatics Team Trials, the Saskatoon public airshow, the Phoenix Fun Fly in Quebec, the KRCM Warbirds Gathering, Bushplane Days and the international Ringmaster events.

My sincere thanks go to all the clubs, organizers, Zone Directors, volunteers, safety officials and members who make these activities possible.

Why Should Every Organized Activity Be Registered?

I strongly encourage clubs to register all their organized activities on MAAC.ca, even a simple family day, corn roast, interclub flying day, friendly competition, static display or club-members-only activity.

Registering an activity is not only about obtaining a sanction number. It allows us to:

  • maintain a historical record of MAAC activities;
  • produce reliable statistics;
  • demonstrate to Transport Canada and our partners the true level of activity within our clubs;
  • measure participation in each discipline;
  • better support and promote our clubs;
  • communicate site rules and applicable conditions to participants;
  • inform members about activities available in their area;
  • demonstrate MAAC’s value and national reach.

If an activity is organized, has a name, takes place on a specific date or welcomes participants, it should be registered on MAAC.ca.

The MAAC website should become our central source of information. Clubs may then share the official event link by email, on their own websites or through social media. However, the event page on MAAC.ca should remain the primary source for information, rules and updates.

The Event Approval Process

The new electronic process is simplifying the work of clubs and Zone Directors while significantly reducing processing time. In many cases, we have gone from several weeks to less than one business day, provided the application is complete and does not require additional regulatory review.

Once an event is submitted:

  1. The Zone Director verifies the selected flying site, activity type, visibility and applicable obligations.
  2. The Operations Team confirms that the required information and documents have been provided.
  3. Operating conditions and regulatory requirements are reviewed when applicable.
  4. The event is submitted for final approval and then published on MAAC.ca.

Zone Directors must still complete a proper Zone Review and confirm that the approved flying site allows the proposed activities.

A new action log has also been added. It allows us to see who requested an action, what was requested and when it occurred. Changes made throughout the approval process are also recorded, creating a clear and traceable history for each application.

A complete application submitted well in advance is normally much easier to process. Public events, complex flying sites and certain specialized operations may require additional analysis and processing time.

CLUB, GUEST, MAAC or PUBLIC?

Selecting the correct event visibility is important. It determines who may participate in or attend the activity, as well as the organizer’s responsibilities.

  • CLUB: An activity restricted to members of the host club and individuals authorized by the club.
  • GUEST: A club activity to which specific guests have been invited. It is not open to all MAAC members and is not advertised to the general public.
  • MAAC: An activity open to current MAAC members, subject to the conditions established by the organizer, but closed to the general public.
  • PUBLIC: An activity to which the general public is invited or that is advertised as a public event.

A public event carries additional responsibilities. These may include compliance with Transport Canada requirements applicable to aviation events and the appointment of the required safety officials.

The event description, advertising and actual operation must always match the selected visibility. If there is any uncertainty, the club should consult its Zone Director before submitting the application.

Automatic Notifications for Event Organizers 

Another improvement has recently been introduced to assist clubs and event organizers.

Regardless of its visibility, every event involves certain required checks and actions. MAAC.ca now automatically sends organizers a checklist, along with links to the documents and resources they may need.

These notifications are intended to help organizers meet all requirements applicable to their event. It remains important to read these messages carefully and complete the requested actions within the specified timeframes.

Update on SOCs and Site Operating Conditions

The review and issuance of Site Operating Certificates, or SOCs, continues.

These documents bring together the conditions specific to each flying site and help members clearly understand where, how and within what limits they may fly. They are prepared using information provided by the club, along with an analysis of the site, surrounding airspace, nearby aerodromes and applicable regulatory requirements.

Some files are relatively straightforward, while others require considerably more analysis-particularly when a site is near an aerodrome, within controlled airspace or requires a more complex risk assessment.

Clubs and members must always consult the latest versions of the site rules, Site Survey and SOC published on the official flying-site page on MAAC.ca.

Site Surveys produced by RPAS Wilco are now updated on a 56-day cycle or on a date requested by Transport Canada. It is important to consult the current version and keep a copy readily available at the flying site. Site surveys are accessible within each Airfield profile and visible to any members when they open a session on maac.ca

To reach a specific airfield, you can access your club and look for the airfield or, from the main page under

This automatic update does not remove the pilot’s responsibility to check all applicable NOTAMs before each day of flying.

Thank you to everyone contributing to this demanding work, particularly our Operations Team, airspace specialists and club representatives.

The AZMs Are Approaching

Annual Zone Meetings, or AZMs, will take place between September 1 and October 31.

AZMs allow members to:

  • receive updates from their Zone;
  • discuss matters affecting them;
  • submit recommendations and resolutions;
  • nominate candidates for positions such as Zone Director and Deputy Zone Director;
  • participate in elections when required;
  • contribute directly to MAAC’s future direction.

I encourage you to watch for communications from your Zone Director, confirm that your email address is current in your MAAC profile and, most importantly, participate in your Zone meeting.

Electronic AZM-to-AGM Project

For several months, we have been developing an integrated electronic process that could eventually support every stage from the AZMs through to the Annual General Meeting:

  • notices and registrations;
  • nominations;
  • resolutions and recommendations;
  • documentation;
  • proxies;
  • electronic voting;
  • results and the transfer of decisions to the AGM;
  • retention of an official and verifiable record.

The project has proven more complex than anticipated and is now experiencing some delays. Our priorities remain the integrity of the democratic process, the protection of information and the accuracy of the results.

Full implementation may therefore be postponed until 2027. We will not put a system into service until it has been properly tested and validated. Clear instructions will be provided to the Zones and members once a final decision has been made for the 2026 cycle.

Moving Forward Together

Whether on our flying sites, at our events, through our discussions with Transport Canada or in the modernization of our processes, MAAC continues to move forward.

The success of our association depends on the people who organize activities, maintain flying sites, teach new pilots, attend meetings, submit ideas or simply volunteer some of their time.

Thank you to all our members, clubs, volunteers and directors for your commitment and passion for aeromodelling.

Alain Carpentier
President
Model Aeronautics Association of Canada