Very small, excluded category RPA

You can fly a very small drone or RPA that weighs 2 KG or less for business or as part of your job if it is flown for specific business-related tasks.

This includes;

• Photographers and filmmakers
• Real estate agents
• Researchers
• Construction works and tradespeople
• Government and community service providers. 

1. You must first get an ARN (you may require an organisation ARN)
2. Get an RPA operator’s accreditation
3. Register your drone
4. Only fly your drone within the standard operating conditions.

 Small, excluded category RPA

You can fly a small drone or RPA that weighs less than 2 KG but not more than 25 KG over your own land for business or as part of your job, provided you do not accept any type of payment for your services. Examples of types of operations you can do under this excluded category include:

• Aerial spotting
• Crop, livestock or equipment inspections
• Land surveying
• Agricultural operations
• Carrying cargo

1. You must first get an ARN (you may require an organisation ARN)
2. Get an RPA operator’s accreditation
3. Register your drone
4. Only fly your drone within the standard operating conditions
5. Keep the required operational records
6. Do not accept payment for the service you provide

Medium, excluded category RPA

You can fly a medium drone or RPA that weighs more than 25 KG but not more than 150 KG over your own land for business or as part of your job, provided you do not accept any type of payment for the services.

You must get a RePL for the type and model of drone you want to fly.

Links to Plain English Guide https://www.casa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/part-101-micro-excluded-rpa-operations-plain-english-guide.pdf

1. Get an aviation reference number
2. Find a certified RePL training provider
3. Pass the required theory component
4. Pass the practical skills component
   (If you want to fly in controlled airspace, you’ll need an aeronautical radio operator’s licence (AROC.) You can get prior recognition for your aviation experience if you have either passed:
   Passed the theory part of any Part 61 flight crew licence (PPL, CPL, ATPL or RPL)
   An equivalent military qualification or air traffic control licence.
   Your RePL will show the type (for example, these are: Aeroplane, Helicopter, Single-Rotor, Multi-rotor, Powered-lift and RPA with a liquid-fuel system) and weight category of drone you can fly. This includes:
   less than 7 kg
   less than 25 kg
   less than 150 kg (type-specific ratings only)
   more than 150 kg (type-specific ratings only).
   A RePL does not expire. There is no minimum age to get a RePL.

CASA has released an instrument to assist RPA operators with night operations It is available here and is called ‘CASA 01/17 Approval — operation of RPA at night’ This instrument applies to the operation of an RPA, other than a large RPA Amendments must be made to your operations manual to include N-VLOS, and ensuring the RPA meets the night equipment requirements is crucial. Furthermore, knowing where to look for first and last light calculations is essential. This information can either be found in NAIPS or calculated manually in the GEN section of the AIP. There will be a training event involved in this approval, which will be done by your CRP.

Operating above 400ft AGL is only possible for ReOC holders who are approved to conduct these operations by CASA via an Area Approval. Where an operation occurs exclusively in A-typical Airspace, ReOC holders may obtain an Australia-wide approval. For all other operations above 400ft AGL, the operator must apply for each area they intend to operate within.

When applying to CASA, an operator must provide:

• Updated procedures manual
• A risk assessment for above 400ft operations (on the first application)
• A risk assessment specific to risks in the area (for each area).

With the new exemption released on August 6 CASA has streamlined the process to be able to get approval to fly Over Or Near People (OONP). CASA has released a Temporary Management Instrument which covers how to apply for an exemption to fly closer than 30m or people. It covers weight limits, consent requirements and much more. HoverUAV has written procedures that cover the content of the TMI and can help you get this exemption.

We’ve successfully helped clients gain OONP approvals for diverse use cases, including major public events, construction sites, industrial inspections, and media production.

We’ve successfully helped many clients gain OONP approvals for diverse use cases, including major public events, construction sites, industrial inspections, and media production.

Planning an operation that may involve flying over or near people? Get in touch with Hover UAV to ensure it’s done safely, legally, and with regulatory approval.

Extended Visual Line Of Sight (EVLOS) – A type of beyond visual line of sight operation that utilises observers for situational awareness of air and ground risks to allow the Remote Pilot (RP) to not have constant VLOS with the RPA during all stages of flight. Comprises either EVLOS operation Class 1 or Class 2.

Whether you’re looking to extend your operational range safely or use EVLOS as a stepping stone to full BVLOS approvals, Hover UAV ensures your EVLOS operations are well-documented, regulator-ready, and fully compliant.

BVLOS unlocks powerful capabilities—but only if done safely, legally, and with precision. Whether you’re exploring the possibility or ready to apply, Hover UAV is your expert partner for BVLOS success.

Thinking beyond the line of sight? Hover UAV has helped countless organisations in Australia and New Zealand gain BVLOS approvals—and we’re ready to help you too. Let’s get your BVLOS journey off the ground.

BVLOS – “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” is considered the frontier of the drone industry in today’s current climate. It means that drones fly beyond the visual line of sight of the operator, which for most commercial drone operators is a foreign concept due to regulatory requirements and operational constraints, in particular reliability of equipment. The advantages of BVLOS operations are that they enable service providers to introduce more complex operations and capabilities such as drone delivery or long-range inspections.

Hover UAV specialises in BVLOS applications and operations, so should you require assistance with your BVLOS journey, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Enclosed BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) refers to drone operations conducted beyond the pilot’s direct visual range within a physically enclosed environment. For approval to fly Enclosed BVLOS, you or your operator will require permission to conduct such operations and procedures in place for BVLOS Enclosed operations. Additionally, the supervising pilot will need to be located at a place where the remote pilot is operating, readily accessible to the remote pilot, and immediately available to advise and direct them

Hover UAV can provide you with services in being able to fly enclosed BVLOS operations.

Whether you’re conducting automated inventory checks in a warehouse or industrial inspections inside a tunnel, Hover UAV ensures your Enclosed BVLOS operation is safe, efficient, and compliant.

Not sure if your operation qualifies as Enclosed BVLOS? Contact Hover UAV to find out.