Drone Record Keeping in Canada: Logbooks, Maintenance and How Long to Keep Them

Record keeping is one of the least glamorous parts of flying — and one of the most important when something goes wrong. Section 901.48 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations sets out what drone owners must keep, and other sections add requirements after incidents.

What owners must record

The regulations require records in two broad groups:

Check the current wording of the regulation on the Justice Laws website before setting up your system.

A practical flight log

Your log can be a spreadsheet, a paper notebook or an app. For each flight, record:

• date, start and end time;
• pilot (and visual observer, if any);
• drone and registration number;
• location and category of operation (basic, advanced, etc.);
• authorizations used (NAV CANADA, SFOC);
• weather notes;
• battery used and remaining charge at landing;
• any defects, warnings or incidents.

A practical maintenance log

• date and description of each inspection;
• parts replaced (propellers, motors, arms, gimbal);
• firmware updates;
• repairs and who did them;
• manufacturer bulletins or mandatory actions completed.

Other records you should keep

• Site surveys for advanced operations — see site survey guide.
• Incident analyses, kept 12 months — see incident reporting.
• Recency activities proving you’re current — see recency requirements.
• Battery logs: cycles and health — see battery care.

Why it matters beyond compliance

1. Insurers often ask for logs after a claim.
2. Clients may require proof of experience and maintenance.
3. Patterns in your logs reveal problems before they cause crashes.
4. Records are essential if you apply for an SFOC or an RPAS Operator Certificate.