CIFAL York & ADERSIM Drone School

About the CIFAL York & ADERSIM Drone School

The CIFAL York & ADERSIM Drone School is a leading professional training centre dedicated to advancing the skills of drone pilots across Canada. Located York University's Keele Campus, we provide comprehensive, hands-on certification courses designed to meet the evolving demands of the commercial drone industry. Our mission is to equip pilots with the advanced skills and safety-focused knowledge needed to excel in their careers.

We believe that true expertise comes from real-world application. Our curriculum goes beyond basic flight certification, offering specialized training in high-growth sectors like multispectral mapping, thermal imaging, and environmental assessment. Every course is built on a foundation of safety, compliance with Transport Canada regulations, and industry-standard data collection practices. You won’t just learn to fly - you’ll learn to become a valuable aerial data professional.

We serve a diverse community of learners, from photographers looking to add a new dimension to their work to environmental scientists gathering critical data. We foster a deep understanding of the entire workflow, from mission planning and safe execution to data processing and final delivery.

Mission

Our mission is to define the national standard for professional drone pilot training by integrating cutting-edge research with practical instruction. Housed within York University and guided by the ADERSIM Research Lab and UN-affiliated CIFAL York Training Centre, we are committed to cultivating a new generation of aviation professionals who embody excellence in skill, safety, and ethical conduct. Our comprehensive curriculum empowers participants to not only meet but exceed industry demands, positioning them as leaders with the competence and vision to shape the future of aerial technology in Canada.

Course Overviews

Basic Drone Pilot Course

Use of drone in industry, government, non-governmental operations, education, research and training is growing. Understanding and ability to operate drones for such purposes is becoming an important skill that everyone can have in its skillset. This one day condensed course is ideal for those who want to acquire essential knowledge of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drone and get the Transport Canada Basic Operations RPAS Certificate and start using drones. The course covers required knowledge that basic certificate holders must have.

A microcredit certificate will be issued to all participants from CIFAL York upon completion of the course.

Multispectral Mapping with Drones Course

This course aims to give participants a thorough understanding of multispectral mapping and its drone applications. Combining classroom instruction, hands-on drone flying, and practical image analysis, it prepares learners to plan and execute multispectral surveys, gather quality data, and analyze multispectral images for real-world uses. By course end, participants will acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills applicable to sectors like agriculture, environmental monitoring, forestry, water resource management, and disaster risk reduction.

A microcredit certificate will be issued to all participants from CIFAL York upon completion of the course.

Search & Rescue Operations with Drones

This intensive professional course, offered by CIFAL York and ADERSIM, is mainly designed for licensed drone pilots seeking to specialize in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Participants will move beyond basic flight skills to master the strategic, technical, and analytical competencies required for effective use of drone for various search and rescue missions. With a practical focus on the powerful DJI Matrice 30T platform, this course integrates established SAR principles with cutting-edge drone technology to prepare you for real-world scenarios.

Advanced Drone Pilot Course

As the use of drones in industry, government, and research becomes more sophisticated, the demand for pilots with advanced capabilities is critical. This course is specifically designed for pilots seeking to elevate their skills and achieve the Transport Canada Advanced Operations RPAS Certificate needed to fly larger drones and complex missions. You will gain an in-depth understanding of complex operational procedures, system airworthiness, and advanced meteorology, preparing you to safely and legally conduct missions in controlled airspace and near people. This is the essential next step for any pilot in Ontario looking to operate commercially or undertake sophisticated research projects.

A microcredit certificate will be issued to all participants from CIFAL York upon completion of the course.

Drone Photography & Videography

This course introduces participants to the artistic, technical, and practical dimensions of drone-based photography and videography. Through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on training, students will gain visual literacy, explore different drone applications, and practice real-world filming techniques.

Water Sampling with Drones Course

Advance beyond aerial imaging and learn to physically interact with the environment using drone technology. Our Water Sampling with Drones Course equips you with the skills to collect precise, repeatable water samples from hard-to-reach aquatic ecosystems. You will receive hands-on training with standardized techniques including remote grab sampling, in-situ temperature and pH measurement, turbidity assessment, and nutrient testing.

This course also delves into the ecological significance of these water quality indicators, exploring how they reflect ecosystem health, biodiversity, and environmental change. A key emphasis is placed on the critical role of consistent data collection in building effective, long-term environmental monitoring programs.

Thermal Mapping with Drones Course

See the invisible and translate heat into actionable data. Our course is designed to transform you from a pilot into a data specialist, capable of uncovering hidden problems and opportunities that the naked eye misses. This intensive, hands-on program focuses on real-world applications. You'll learn to use advanced thermal sensors to pinpoint critical heat loss in commercial buildings, identify faulty cells in solar farms, and detect moisture damage before it becomes a costly issue. You will gain the critical skills to analyze radiometric data, identify thermal anomalies, and generate professional maps. Step up from being a drone pilot to becoming an in-demand professional thermographer.

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