M3 Drone Training Zone's team is comprised of highly skilled, educated, trained, and experienced RPAS pilots, all holders of Transport Canada Pilot Certificates.
Safety
M3 believes in and promotes safe flying habits. It starts in the classroom to ensure it's applied in the field.
CRM
We believe in reducing human errors by applying crew resource management principles.
Professionalism
We pride ourselves by leading by example. Professionalism starts within our team and we hope to spread this with everyone we come in contact with.
Our Advanced RPAS Ground School programs are offered all across Canada.
Our home office is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but we prefer to stay on the move! We have held courses in all the following cities, and counting:
Vancouver | Yellowknife | London |
Whitehorse | Iqaluit | Fredericton |
Edmonston | Medicine Hat | Moncton |
Calgary | Grande Prairie | Charlottetown |
Saskatoon | Regina | Halifax |
Lethbridge | Brandon | Quebec City |
Winnipeg | Kingston | Sydney |
Kenora | Ottawa | St. John’s |
Thunder Bay | Montreal | Goose Bay |

We currently hold $5MM aviation RPAS liability insurance.
We believe in flying safely and insurance helps to make sure that no matter the situation, we are covered. This insurance is available to clients upon request. Contact us now for more details!

M3 Aerial Productions will provide specialized aerial imaging services, and RPAS Pilot Ground School Training that is considered to be of the highest standards in Canada. Our program will educate pilots to be responsible and proficient RPAS operators and prepare them to write the Transport Canada RPAS Pilot Exams. We will deliver affordable services to help our customers integrate aerial data collection in their operations.

Matthew Johnson, President of M3 Aerial Productions Inc. is a former member on the board of directors for the Manitoba GIS User Group; a community of dedicated GIS professionals looking towards increased understanding and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization.
We are members of Unmanned Systems Canada, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting public awareness, education and appreciation for the Canadian unmanned vehicle systems community to itself, to Canadians and worldwide.
We are members of CARAC (Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council), helping to assess and recommend potential regulatory changes through cooperative rule-making activities in conjunction with Transport Canada.
We are members of Prince’s Trust Canada, Operation Entrepreneur. Thank you for supporting veteran-owned businesses! Follow Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur @POEMilitary


The M3 story starts in 2015, after Matt Johnson, President & CEO, discovers the drone industry and falls in love. In 5 years, M3 has transformed itself from a drone imagery service provider to the industry leader for all things RPAS.
Since the first course, M3 has succesfully trained countless RPAS pilots. On September 22nd, 2019, the first milestone was achieved: 1000 students.
- January 23, 2015
Discovery of Drones
Discovery of drones during video editing seminar. Instantly hooked by amazing perspectives.
- August 1, 2015
First Drone
Purchase of DJI Phantom 3 Pro – first drone. The beginning.
- August 7, 2015
First Drone Flight
First drone flight, first picture ever taken from a drone.
- September 2, 2015
UAV Ground School
Graduated from UAV Ground School.
- September 4, 2015
Business Name
Register business name M3 Aerial Productions at companies office.
- October 30, 2015
First Tweet
First Tweet. Beginning of social media presence.
- December 30, 2015
The Fleet Expands
Purchase AgEagle fixed-wing agricultural drone and DJI Inspire 1.
- January 30, 2016
First Winter Flight
First winter flight
- March 3, 2016
First SFOC
Issued first Special Flight Operations Certificate from Transport Canada.
- May 19, 2016
Interview with CBC
Interview with Caroline Barghout from CBC about Drones revolutionizing Manitoba farming.
- June 2, 2016
First International Media Recognition
First international media recognition by the Commercial UAV News (USA) about using Drones in Precision Agriculture.
- September 23, 2016
Recognized by Transport Canada
Formally recognized by Transport Canada as TP 15263-compliant RPAS Ground School.
- September 27, 2016
- October 20, 2016
Drone in Education
First use of a drone in education, grade 9 mathematics at Elmwood High School.
- November 22, 2016
Elmwood High School Drone Club
First meeting of the Elmwood High School Drone Club.
- January 18, 2017
First Speaking Opportunity
First speaking opportunity, Ag Days 2017 in Brandon, Manitoba
- February 4, 2017
First Public Course
First public RPAS Ground School course offered through M3 Aerial Productions, held at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. 22 Students!
- February 5, 2017
First Student
First student graduates from the M3 Aerial Productions UAV Ground School.
- June 30, 2017
Last Day as a High School Teacher
Last day as a High School teacher, at Elmwood High School.
- September 6, 2017
M3 at Brandon University
M3 RPAS Ground School is offered as a post-secondary level course, at Brandon University, in Manitoba.
- January 14, 2018
100th Student Trained
100th student trained through RPAS Ground School (Joshua McCallum).
- May 24, 2018
Issued First National Standing Special Flight Operations
Issued First National Standing Special Flight Operations Certificate from Transport Canada.
- July 18, 2018
Matthew Johnson Named Drone Visionary!
Matthew Johnson is named as one of the Top 7 Drone Visionaries in Precision Agriculture by the Commercial UAV News.
- August 4, 2018
M3 in a Guinness World Record
M3 is part of Guinness World Record-setting crop harvest, Children’s Camps International Harvest 4 Kids.
- November 21, 2018
Matthew Johnson Presents as Plenary Speaker
Matthew Johnson presents as Plenary Speaker at Drones Synergies conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- February 4, 2019
First Full-Time Employee
Hire first full-time employee, Lt. Col Jovanny Sanchez (Ret.).
- February 24, 2019
500th Student Trained
500th student trained through RPAS Ground School (Bernie Kozan).
- March 30, 2019
50th RPAS Ground School Course
50th RPAS Ground School course, held at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- May 3, 2019
Western Drone Show Conference
Hosted the first Western Drone Show Conference, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- September 22, 2019
1000th Student Trained
1000th student trained through RPAS Ground School (Darryl Fraser).
- October 18, 2019
First Video Featured on TV
First time M3’s drone video content was featured on American national network television (NBC’ Dateline).
- November 16, 2019
First Spanish RPAS Course
First Spanish RPAS Ground School offered internationally, across North and South American countries via webinar.
- December 24, 2019
First Successful Deployment of the ParaZero
First successful deployment of the ParaZero SafeAir parachute system on a DJI Phantom 4 Professional.
- January 1, 2020
M3 & Volatus Aerospace
M3 partners with Volatus Aerospace.
- January 21, 2020
Arden Shibley Solo-Instructs
Arden Shibley solo-instructs his first Advanced RPAS Ground School course (without Matthew).