Licensing and safety

Aviation, chemical and state rules, from the agencies themselves.

Spray drone working over a green crop with scrubby hills behind — Photo: Magda Ehlers, Pexels, Pexels License

CASA

A ReOC allows a person or business to operate as a drone service provider for hire or reward, and pilots under a ReOC need a RePL. CASA lists aerial distribution or spraying among complex operations requiring a RePL, a ReOC (or working under one) and relevant approvals. Flying more than one drone at a time needs approval.

APVMA

Pesticide application by RPAS is treated as aerial application under the APVMA spray drift policy, so all aerial label directions apply.

Victoria

Agriculture Victoria requires an AAOL for the operator of an RPA that undertakes aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals and a PCRL for the RPA pilot. A person who both operates and pilots must hold both.

Western Australia

ABLIS lists the WA requirements: a relevant qualification, records kept for at least 3 years and CASA compliance, under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Aerial Application) Regulations 2018.

South Australia

Check current requirements with PIRSA before any aerial chemical application in SA.

Licence numbers for this business (ReOC, RePL, AAOL, PCRL, WA and SA qualifications, insurance) are placeholders and are not shown until verified.