Transport Canada Pre-Validates CUAVs Sparrowhawk Ground-Based Detect-and-Avoid Radar
Canadian UAVs (CUAVs) has received a Pre-Validated Declaration (PVD) from Transport Canada for its Sparrowhawk ground-based Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) radar under the RPAS Safety Assurance Framework. Backed by a decade of development and over 50,000 operational hours, Sparrowhawk is now the only configurable DAA component on Transport Canada's qualified equipment list, streamlining BVLOS operations in complex airspace.
Highlights
- CUAVs' Sparrowhawk ground-based DAA radar has received a Pre-Validated Declaration (PVD) from Transport Canada under the RPAS Safety Assurance Framework.
- Sparrowhawk is the only configurable DAA component on Transport Canada's publicly available qualified equipment list.
- The system has accumulated over 50,000 hours of real-world operational validation across more than a decade of development.
- PVD status allows drone operators to reference CUAVs' pre-accepted compliance evidence, bypassing the need to create independent DAA documentation for BVLOS operations.
- Sparrowhawk's ground-based design means it is platform-agnostic, supporting multiple drone types without requiring separate compliance certification per airframe.
Canadian UAVs (CUAVs) has announced that its Sparrowhawk ground-based Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) radar has received a Pre-Validated Declaration (PVD) under Transport Canada's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Safety Assurance Framework. The milestone follows a decade of development and more than 50,000 hours of real-world operational validation.
Streamlining BVLOS Regulatory Compliance
The PVD status allows drone operators to directly reference CUAVs' already-accepted compliance evidence rather than building their own DAA compliance documentation from scratch. This significantly lowers the barrier to conducting Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations in congested and complex airspace.
Meets Canadian Aviation Regulations Standards
The PVD confirms that Sparrowhawk satisfies requirements under Standard 922 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), specifically:
- 922.10: Detect, Alert, and Avoid Systems
- 922.12: Demonstrated Environmental Envelope
According to CUAVs, Sparrowhawk is currently the only configurable DAA component on Transport Canada's publicly available qualified equipment list, and has also been included as a configurable component in the Safety Assurance Declaration (SAD) equipment list.
Key Differences Between PVD and SAD
CUAVs has clarified an important distinction between the two frameworks:
"Under the SAD framework alone, a manufacturer self-declares compliance and Transport Canada may audit after the fact. Under the PVD framework, Transport Canada proactively reviews and formally accepts the manufacturer's Means of Compliance plan before any declaration is made."
This means a PVD represents a higher level of pre-emptive scrutiny and formal government acceptance, offering operators stronger regulatory assurance.
Cross-Platform Flexibility
Sparrowhawk is suited for both defence and civil applications. A key differentiator is its ground-based deployment model — the system is not mounted on a specific airframe, meaning it is not tied to a single drone platform. Operators can pair it with different aircraft types to meet mission requirements, with DAA compliance certification applying across configurations, significantly enhancing operational flexibility.
For more information, visit the Canadian UAVs official website
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