Volatus Aerospace Announces Broad National Expansion of Drone Operating Authorities Across Canada, Unlocking Scalable, High-Value Aerial Operations

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TORONTO, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV: FLT; OTCQX: TAKOF; Frankfurt: A2JEQU) (“Volatus”, or the “Company”), a leading provider of innovative aerial intelligence and logistics solutions, is proud to announce that Transport Canada has granted the Company additional nationwide Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOC) that dramatically expand the scope and flexibility of Volatus’ commercial drone operations and allows for expanded use of the Company’s Operations Control Center (OCC) in Vaughan, ON.

Expanded Nationwide Drone Operating Authorities

Transport Canada has issued Volatus a newly amended SFOC unlocking a powerful suite of expanded drone operating privileges across Canada. These new authorities encompass operating procedure permissions that include:

• Canada-Wide BVLOS Authorization for Drone Operations Day and Night
  To conduct beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations using small drones (250g to 25kg) across the country, both day and night in uncontrolled airspace, outside of aerodrome environments, expanding the previously announced authority for nation-wide BVLOS authority at night.

• Proximity Flight Near Infrastructure
  Permission to operate an RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) beyond visual line-of-sight without a pilot or visual observer maintaining visual contact within 100 feet vertically and 200 feet horizontally of structures such as buildings, towers, powerlines, and rail corridors, opening the door to close-proximity and long-range inspections, surveillance, and security patrols.
• Access to Restricted and Controlled Airspace
  Approval to operate within Class F restricted airspace and NOTAM-defined zones, enabling missions in complex or dynamically managed environments.
• Operations in Northern Domestic Airspace
  Clearance for BVLOS drone flight operations at altitudes up to 400 feet AGL in Canada’s Northern Domestic Airspace, supporting high-latitude missions for environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, cargo delivery and Indigenous community services.
• BVLOS Operations Without Visual Observers
  Specific authorization to operate RPAS beyond visual line-of-sight without the pilot or observer maintaining direct visual contact, leveraging Transport Canada-accepted detect-and-avoid technologies and operational protocols.
• Support for Remote and Automated Systems
  This enables integration with automated and remote drone operations, including nested (drone-in-a-box) solutions through accepted SORA-based risk mitigation and oversight.
  

These regulatory advancements set the stage for scalable, automated, and commercially viable drone operations from coast to coast.

Why It Matters: Regulatory Momentum with Commercial Impact

• Canada-Wide BVLOS, Day or Night – Using Transport Canada-accepted detect-and-avoid systems and safety protocols, Volatus is now authorized to fly drones across the country beyond visual line-of-sight, including at night. 
• Heavy-Lift & High-Altitude Capability - The ability to fly certain drones over 25kg and above standard altitude ceilings unlocking extended operations in sectors such as cargo logistics, energy transmission line monitoring, search and rescue operations, and telecommunications tower inspections.
• Wildfire Response & Restricted Airspace Access - Volatus can operate in wildfire restricted airspace during active wildfire events—supporting government and firefighting agencies with aerial intelligence, hotspot detection, and real-time situational awareness.
  

“With these approvals, Volatus can more significantly and on a wider basis, provide clients with nationwide BVLOS drone services at scale for clients in energy, telecom, transportation, agriculture, mining, and public safety,” said Rob Walker, Chief Commercial Officer for Volatus. “We can deploy heavier, longer-range drones capable of carrying larger payloads or extended sensors and we can commercialize our Operations Control Centre (OCC) offering a managed service for enterprise clients and partners—offering real-time drone oversight, mission management, and data collection including large scale deployment of drone-in-a-box solutions, nationwide with regulatory compliance.”

Building on a Growing Portfolio of Regulatory Approvals

These new authorizations build on the national nighttime BVLOS authority announced in March 2025, which permits drone operations beyond visual line-of-sight during legal night in uncontrolled airspace. In addition, Volatus holds a suite of existing and renewed Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs) that collectively enable:

• Fixed-Corridor BVLOS for Medical Drone Deliveries approving operations beyond visual line-of-sight flights between hospitals, enabling medical cargo deliveries over an urban-adjacent environment with regulatory oversight and OCC-managed safety protocols, with ground-based radar serving as the detect-and-avoid (DAA) mitigation.
• High-payload operations with certain drones that exceed 25kg, supporting missions such as cargo transport, wildfire response, and infrastructure inspection.
• Operations in restricted wildfire airspace for forest fire support missions, including BVLOS flights above 400 feet AGL under agreements with provincial fire authorities.
• Altitude waivers for flights above standard ceiling limits in support of long-range and terrain-following missions.
• Use of Foreign Operators and Pilots, recognition of foreign operator and pilot credentials allows Volatus to deploy its multinational pilot workforce seamlessly across operations. With certified pilots based in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, this flexibility enables rapid mobilization, efficient cross-border coordination, and global service delivery under a unified operational framework.
  

Together, these approvals represent one of the most robust regulatory frameworks granted to any drone operator in Canada, positioning Volatus at the forefront of scalable, compliant, and high-impact drone services.

“These regulatory approvals don’t just reflect our technical readiness, they position us at the forefront of Canada’s evolving drone economy,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus. “With the ability to fly further, higher, heavier—at any time and in many location scenarios—we’re opening up a new scale of possibility for aerial intelligence and logistics.”

Positioned for Leadership

Volatus is among a select group of operators in Canada authorized to fly missions that meet Transport Canada’s highest accepted safety assurance level for complex drone operations – SAIL 4. “This means we’ve demonstrated that our technology, procedures, and risk mitigation strategies meet stringent safety standards required for higher-risk environments, including beyond visual line-of-sight flights in urban-adjacent areas. Operating at this level enables us to serve critical sectors, such as healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety—with safe, reliable, and compliant drone services at scale,” remarked Greg Colacitti, Chief Operating Officer for Volatus.

“These authorizations build upon one another to create an ecosystem where we can operate with flexibility, scale, and commercial viability,” Colacitti added. “They give us a distinct operational advantage and make us the partner of choice for organizations seeking scalable, safe, and high-performance drone operations in Canada and beyond.

About Volatus Aerospace:

Volatus Aerospace is a leader in innovative global aerial solutions for intelligence and cargo. With a strong foundation of over 100 years of combined institutional knowledge in aviation, Volatus provides comprehensive solutions using both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). We serve industries such as oil and gas, utilities, healthcare, and public safety. Our mission is to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability through cutting-edge, real-world solutions.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information about the Shares-for-Debt Transaction, including information regarding the receipt of regulatory approvals, the conversion of the Debentures, the timing and anticipated benefits thereof, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs of management as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include but are not limited to: the anticipated benefits of the conversion of the Debentures; TSXV approval of the Shares-for-Debt Transaction; and including, but not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company’s annual and quarterly management’s discussion and analysis filed on www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Contact Information:
Rob Walker, CFO
rob.walker@volatusaerospace.com
+1-833-865-2887

www.volatusaerospace.com