Licensing and safety
Three layers: aviation (CASA), chemicals (APVMA) and state use licensing.
CASA
CASA says a ReOC lets a person or business operate as a drone service provider for hire or reward, and pilots flying under a ReOC need a remote pilot licence (RePL). CASA lists aerial distribution or spraying among complex operations that need a RePL and a ReOC (or working under someone who holds one) plus the relevant approvals.
A landholder can fly a 25 to 150 kg drone over their own land without a ReOC if they hold a RePL for that type, stay within standard operating conditions and take no payment. That does not cover contract spraying.
APVMA
The APVMA treats pesticide application by RPAS as aerial application under its spray drift policy, so all aerial label directions apply, including buffer zones, spray quality, water volume and release height.
Queensland
Business Queensland says all aircraft, including UAVs, used for aerial distribution must be under the control of a pilot holding a pilot chemical rating licence, and that the pilot can only work under a licensed aerial distribution contractor. For UAV only pilots, the qualification can be AHCCHM307 and AHCCHM304 or Spraysafe accreditation.
New South Wales
The NSW EPA requires an RPA business licence and an RPA pilot licence to aerially apply pesticides by drone in NSW, and explains how to read labels for rotary RPA.
Licence numbers for this business (ReOC, RePL, Queensland and NSW licences, insurance) are placeholders and are not shown until verified.
Sources
- CASA, Get your ReOC
- CASA, Get your remote pilot licence
- CASA, Drones taking agriculture sky high
- APVMA, Emerging technologies (RPAS pesticide application)
- Business Queensland, Pilot chemical rating licence
- Business Queensland, Licensing arrangements for aerial distribution of agricultural chemicals
- NSW EPA, Aerially applying pesticides