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last mo.

RCMP Activates Drone Corridor for Canada–U.S. Border Security Trial

Now operational from ground to 500 feet across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the corridor is undergoing a joint RCMP/Transport Canada review to determine its detection effectiveness, cost and community effects.

Drones will patrol the Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba borders in what the RCMP says is a trial period that began Monday.
Const. Luke Frampton of Wood Buffalo RCMP holds a drone outside the Timberlea detachment on July 16, 2024.
A drone flown by an RCMP officer in Windsor, Ont., hovers over the Detroit River, on Friday, March 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Overview

  • The corridor officially began trial operations at 9 p.m. on the day of publication, covering advisory airspace up to 500 feet and one nautical mile north of the border in the three Prairie provinces.
  • Intelligence-driven drone patrols will focus on unauthorised crossings, human smuggling and cross-border drug trafficking between official ports of entry.
  • Transport Canada has designated the zone as advisory airspace to ensure compatibility with existing safety regulations for both remotely piloted and manned aircraft.
  • Civilian pilots, agricultural operators and recreational aviators may continue flights within the corridor but are asked to notify the RCMP in advance via ADS-B Out or email to minimise mid-air risks.
  • Collected data on operational performance, expenses and local community impact will inform the RCMP’s decision on whether to expand the formalised corridor model to other border sectors.