MOOSE JAW — With a 25-year career in the Canadian Air Force as an air traffic controller, Allan Gall is setting his sights on the skies in a new way — by launching the Prairie Drone Academy to help residents obtain their drone pilot licenses.
The Moose Jaw-based academy is already operational and offers training for both basic and advanced drone operator certifications.
“Our main focus is on training people to get their drone pilot licences, and providing extra training in the ‘beyond visual line of sight’ flying of drones,” Gall said.
“Normally, when you fly a drone, you have to keep it in sight the whole time, but the ‘beyond visual line of sight’ licence, especially in search and rescue operations, means that it can go out of sight and continue searching.”
Prairie Drone Academy offers two levels of certification: the basic licence that allows pilots to fly in uncontrolled airspace, and the advanced licence that permits drone operation in controlled areas such as cities and near airports.
Training includes both theoretical instruction and practical experience, including hands-on drone operation. Students do not need to bring their own drones, as the academy provides a range of drones — including first-person view (FPV) models equipped with goggles for immersive flying.
“We have four different drones in varying sizes, and also one of the FPV ones…,” he said, confirming that all of these models can be test-flown during training.
Given Moose Jaw’s proximity to 15 Wing and other restricted areas, such as the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport, drone pilots must be aware of strict regulations.
“You’re not allowed to operate drones over 400 feet (121.9 metres) above the ground,” Gall explained. “You’re also not allowed to operate them within three miles (approximately 4.8 kilometres) of an aerodrome… and you have to stay one mile (approximately 1.6 kilometres) away from a heliport.”
It’s important to note that the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital has an on-site helipad, and these restrictions also apply to airspace around Moose Jaw’s hospital.
Gall’s extensive experience in aviation — both as an air traffic controller and as a private pilot — naturally led him to explore emerging drone technology.
“I had an interest in drones, so I went and got the licence…,” he said. “Then, I started teaching people to get their licence… and working with the Civil Aviation Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). I work with them as a drone pilot, as a pilot of my own plane as well, and as a navigator for searches with CASARA.”
Gall’s work has given him firsthand experience in how drones can assist emergency responders.
“During the search for (Glen (Archie) Bell in 2024)… I was out with the CASARA drone assisting with that search,” he said. “We assisted the Moose Jaw Police Service by using the drones to search around the (Moose Jaw) River to see if we could locate the gentleman.”
In future, Gall hopes to expand his involvement in similar search and rescue operations.
Upcoming Prairie Drone Academy courses
Prairie Drone Academy is currently offering weekend courses in both Moose Jaw and Regina.
“It’s a weekend course, so it’s all day Saturday and all day Sunday,” Gall said. “You write the exam, and then you would be able to print out your licence and start flying, according to regulations.”
A basic licence course costs $350, while the advanced licence course — which includes a two-day program and a flight review — costs $750 per person. Classes will be held at the Cosmo Centre, located at 235 Third Avenue Northeast.
For a schedule of all upcoming courses, visit PrairieDroneAcademy.com or follow ‘Prairie Drone Academy’ on Facebook.
