Learn more about CASA Drone Training
Drone flying can be a fun hobby. Taking photographs and videos, or if you are taking that leap into professional drone services for your business. However, Australia has rules and regulations that have been put in place when it comes to drone flying to keep you and the public safe. One of those regulations is the need for certification.
Most hobbyists won’t need certified training, but they will need to fly within standard operating conditions.
Some important rules to remember as a hobbyist are:
- No flying at an altitude greater than 120 meters.
- Remaining at least 30 meters away from individuals who are not involved in the operation of your drone.
- You must not fly at night.
- Do not fly in overpopulated areas.
But if you are considering using your drone for commercial services, such as for business, hire, or profit, you may be required to hold a CASA remote pilot’s Licence.
There are two categories of drones that are affected by this safety legislation.
Drones Under 2kg
It is recommended that small drones (weighing less than 2kg) for commercial operations be operated by CASA-certified drone pilots. However, there are some circumstances where you may not be required to hold a drone pilot licence.
These types of circumstances are a part of CASA’s ‘excluded categories’.
To fly commercially without a drone pilots Licence, and you meet the requirements for the excluded categories, you must complete these steps –
- Get an aviation reference number (ARN).
- Get an RPA operator accreditation.
- Register your drone.
- Only fly your drone within the drone safety rules.
Drones Over 2kg
To fly drones that weigh over 2kg, you are required to hold a couple of CASA certificates. These can depend on whether you are operating the drone for yourself, someone else, or a company.
First, you will need to register for an Aviation Reference Number (ARN) for both yourself and your drone.
As a pilot you are expected to hold a Remote Pilots Licence (RePL) and depending on whether you have prior aviation experience, you will need to take a CASA-approved drone pilot training course with a company like Global Drone Solutions.
The majority of this training covers the theory behind the rules and regulations, to ensure you will always be flying safely and with the rules and regulations, but also includes a practical component. Allowing you to brush up on the drone flying skills you may already have and learn new ones that can benefit your business.
Once you have obtained your RePL you won’t have to renew it as it has no expiry date, and now you will be able to fly your drone commercially and in compliance with CASA rules and regulations. If you are flying for a company they must, however, hold an RPAS Operator’s Certificate (ReOC) for you to be able to fly for them.
The ReOC does require a more substantial amount of RPAS paperwork submitted for your drone operation. You will also be required to attend a formal interview and a chief pilot flight assessment with a CASA inspector.
Once obtained, a ReOC is only valid for 12 months and must be renewed after this period has lapsed.
Commercial drone flying can be an incredible addition to many businesses and taking part in approved CASA drone training is important to not only ensure you are meeting the legal requirements but to also expand and grow your drone flying knowledge.
We here at Global Drone Solutions are ready to help you on your journey to grow your business and give you the skills you need to be a CASA certified drone pilot.
Make a course enquiry online or call us on (08) 9355 0687 to see how we can help you.
See our related blog post on Drone Licence FAQs
