The Electronic Conspicuity (EC) Working Group is a Transport Canada-led, multi-stakeholder effort to reduce mid-air and near-miss risk by improving how aircraft and drones are electronically licensed.

It brings together regulators, air navigation providers, manufacturers, operators, and pilot associations to assess current and emerging EC options such as ADS-B, FLARM, NemoScout and other portable receivers/transceivers. The WG will review data on conflicts and near misses, and recommend practical deployment paths.

The group focuses on interoperability of the ADS-B Spectrums 1090MHz and 978MHz, and other spectrum and regulatory constraints, as well as human-factors and cockpit workload, installation and power requirements, privacy, and cost-benefit. The aim is for solutions that actually get adopted, not just certified on paper.

The Working Group effort is expected to take 24-months before a final report will be submitted to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) for consideration.

The Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada (UPAC) is actively involved in this Working Group because ultralights operate where EC can have the biggest payoff and the toughest constraints: low altitude, in and around busy training circuits and uncontrolled aerodromes, often without certified electrical systems or transponders, and with tight weight, power, and cost budgets.

UPAC represents these realities so the Working Group doesn’t default to one-size fits-all mandates that exclude consideration for ultralights. UPAC can contribute operational insight, pilot survey data, and test venues through clubs and schools, and help evaluate lightweight, low-power, battery-friendly solutions and portable devices that fit ultralight use.

UPAC’s involvement ensures any national EC roadmap remains affordable, interoperable, and actually usable by the ultralight community- improving safety without grounding aircraft.