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Do you need a drone flight log in Canada?

By Wayne Bryant, 12,000-hour captain and TC Advanced RPAS pilot · Updated October 2026

The short answerYes. Section 901.48 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations requires every drone owner to keep two records: a flight record (who flew, with which crew, and when) and a maintenance record (every repair, modification and mandatory action, who did it and when). Flight records must be kept for 12 months and maintenance records for 24 months, and both must be available to Transport Canada on request.

What the rule actually requires

The requirement sits in CAR 901.48 and is written for the drone's owner. It isn't limited to Advanced pilots, which is a common misunderstanding.

Record	What it must contain	Keep for
Flight record	The names of the pilot and any other crew members (such as a visual observer) involved in each flight, and the time of each flight or series of flights.	12 months
Maintenance record	Every mandatory action and any maintenance, modification or repair, including who performed it, when, and any instructions used to complete the work.	24 months

Both records must be available to the Minister of Transport on request. If you sell your drone, you must give the new owner the maintenance records at the time of the sale.

Does my DJI app's flight history count?

Your controller app records flight times automatically, which helps. But on its own it usually falls short of the rule:

It doesn't record your visual observer or other crew.
It doesn't record maintenance, repairs or modifications, or who did the work.
App histories can be lost when you clear the app, change devices or reset the controller, and you need 12 to 24 months of records.

The simplest approach is to keep a separate log and, if you like, use the app data to fill in times.

What to record for each flight

Date and location
Pilot-in-command name
Visual observer and any other crew
Aircraft (by registration or a consistent name)
Takeoff and landing times, and total flight time
Battery used (helpful for tracking battery health)
Notes on anything unusual: warnings, incidents, near misses

What to record for maintenance

Date of the work
Aircraft
What was found or reported
What was done: repair, part replaced, firmware update or modification
Who did the work
Any manufacturer instructions or service bulletins followed

Good practice from aviation
Log the flight as soon as you land, never erase old entries (correct mistakes openly instead), and keep a dated backup. A complete logbook also adds value when you sell your drone.

A logbook built around the rule

My Drone Flight Logbook covers both parts of CAR 901.48: flights with pilot and crew, and maintenance with who did the work. It totals your flight time and battery cycles automatically.

Drone Flight Logbook (Excel)2,500 flight rows and a maintenance log built around CAR 901.48, with automatic totals.$15 CAD · Buy now →

DJI Mini 5 Pro Operations Manual95-page field manual with Canadian and US operations, checklists and emergency cards.$49 CAD · Buy now →

General Drone Operations Field ManualA professional operating system for any drone you fly. 105 pages.$39 CAD · Buy now →

Frequently asked questions

Is a drone flight log mandatory in Canada?

Yes. CAR 901.48 requires drone owners to keep flight records (pilot and crew names and flight times) for 12 months and maintenance records for 24 months, available to Transport Canada on request.

Does the flight log rule only apply to Advanced pilots?

No. The rule is written for every owner of a remotely piloted aircraft system, not only Advanced certificate holders.

Is my DJI Fly app history enough?

Usually not on its own. App histories record times but not crew or maintenance, and they can be lost when you clear the app or change devices.

How long do I have to keep drone records?

Flight records for 12 months after they are created, and maintenance records for 24 months.

Current as of October 2026. Independent educational information, not legal advice. Mission Ready Aviation is not affiliated with Transport Canada, the FAA or any drone manufacturer. Always confirm the current rules with the official sources before you fly.