Drone Policy at UTM

Flying a commercial Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV or Drone) at UTM

The University of Toronto Mississauga is an urban environment (a built-up area with significant pedestrian and vehicular traffic) located within nine kilometres (five nautical miles) of an aerodrome (the heliport at Credit Valley Hospital). As such, it is considered a “No Drone Zone” where you cannot fly a drone without special permission from Transport Canada (a Special Flight Operations Certificate, or SFOC).

Should you receive an SFOC from Transport Canada to operate a drone at UTM:

• The operator is responsible for following the most current guidelines and rules
• from Transport Canada regarding the operation of drones
• The operator must carry $5 million in valid third-party liability insurance*
• The operator must provide a copy of the SFOC to the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, and receive permission from the Office of the CAO (or, in their absence,
• the Office of Communications) prior to the use of the drone on campus
• The operator must inform Campus Safety prior to the use of the drone on campus
• The operator must receive prior written permission from any persons whose recognizable image is captured by camera or video equipment on the drone
• Hobby and recreational use of drones is strictly prohibited
• The use of a drone inside a UTM building is strictly prohibited

*The Operator hereby agrees that the University shall not be liable for any injury or damage (including death) to the Operator or to any employee, officer, servant, agent or other personnel thereof, or for the loss of or damage to the property of the Operator or that of any employee, officer, servant, agent or other personnel thereof in any manner based upon, arising during, occasioned by, resulting from, or in any way attributable to the UAV activity permitted hereunder.

The Operator shall at all times indemnify and save harmless the University, its employees, officers, servants and agents from every claim, demand, cost, loss, expense, damage, action, suit and proceeding of any kind in respect of any injury, loss or damage (including death) in any manner based upon, arising during, occasioned by, resulting from, or in any way attributable to the UAV activity permitted hereunder.

Without limiting the scope or effectiveness of the indemnity set out above, the Operator shall maintain a policy of Comprehensive General Liability insurance against bodily injury (including death) and property damage in an amount of not less than $5,000,000. The Governing Council of the University of Toronto shall be shown as an additional named insured for the scope and duration of the UAV operation activity permitted hereunder and a certificate of insurance evidencing the above shall be provided prior to the commencement of any UAV activity.