NPA 2026-005 What is it

Our position is firm: traditional aeromodelling conducted by trained members at known, documented and properly managed flying sites must be recognized for what it is — a mature, organized and proven form of recreational aviation. It should not be regulated as though every operation presents the same circumstances or risks as an RPAS operating from an unknown or temporary location.

For decades, MAAC members and clubs have demonstrated that aeromodelling can be conducted safely through structured training, established safety standards, responsible club governance and clearly identified flying sites. That experience matters, and it must be reflected in the regulatory framework that comes next.

MAAC is not asking Transport Canada to step away from its regulatory responsibilities. We are proposing a practical partnership in which Transport Canada retains regulatory authority and oversight, while a recognized Community-Based Organization can administer defined activities within clear national standards.

We will also continue to advocate strongly for a regulatory approach to Remote Identification that recognizes the fundamental difference of operations conducted within known and documented CBO flying sites. Applying requirements designed primarily to identify aircraft operating from unknown locations should not create unnecessary cost or complexity where the operator, flying site, operating area and authorized altitude are already known and documented.

Our submission to Transport Canada is therefore more than a response to a consultation. It is MAAC’s proposal for a sustainable regulatory path forward for traditional aeromodelling in Canada.

We have done the work. We have put forward a detailed framework. And now we are prepared to sit at the table with Transport Canada, NAV CANADA and our partners to turn these concepts into workable solutions.

MAAC will remain constructive, but we will also remain firm in representing the interests of Canadian aeromodellers and protecting their ability to safely enjoy this activity for generations to come.

Alain Carpentier
President
Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC)