CASA RPA Accreditation cheat sheet

Standard operating conditions in Australia: daylight only, visual line of sight maintained by the remote pilot, no flight above 120 m (400 ft) above ground level, and no flight over people not involved in the operation.

Right of way: give way to all manned aircraft at all times; if a manned aircraft is sighted, descend, move away, and land as soon as safely practicable.

Do not operate in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property; reckless operation is an offence regardless of drone weight.

Keep clear of people not associated with the operation - do not fly closer than 30 m horizontally to them, and never fly directly overhead.

Do not operate over or near areas affecting public safety, such as emergency operations, fire, police, or rescue scenes, unless authorised.

Visual line of sight means seeing the aircraft directly with your own eyes, not via goggles, a screen, or a spotter's eyes alone; FPV flight requires a trained observer.

Do not fly within 5.5 km (3 nautical miles) of an aerodrome or helicopter landing site without the relevant authority's permission, and never in a way that interferes with aircraft movements.

Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue: the remote pilot must be fit for duty; being affected by alcohol or drugs while operating is prohibited.

Pre-flight duties include checking airspace and weather, confirming battery and link status, and inspecting the aircraft and propellers before launch.

Categories by take-off weight: micro (under 250 g), very small (250 g to under 2 kg), small (2 kg to under 25 kg), medium (25 kg to under 150 kg), and large (150 kg and above).

Recreational drones under 250 g: excluded from registration and accreditation requirements when flown for sport or recreation, but standard safety rules still apply.

Recreational drones of 250 g or more: the drone must be registered and the operator must hold a valid operator accreditation.

All drones used for commercial or business purposes must be registered regardless of weight, and the operator must hold an operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence.

Registration is tied to the individual aircraft; a registration number must be displayed or carried as required, and registration must be updated if details change.

Operator accreditation is linked to the operator (person or entity), not to a specific aircraft, and covers all drones flown under that operator's authority.

Weight is measured as maximum take-off weight, including batteries, payload, and any attached equipment.

Registration and accreditation are administered through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and are valid for a set period, requiring renewal before expiry.

Recreational operators of drones 250 g or more must hold an operator accreditation; commercial operators need either accreditation (for excluded-category operations) or a remote pilot licence.

Remote pilot licence (RePL) is held by an individual and is issued after training and assessment with an approved training provider; it is required for operations outside the excluded category.

Remote operator's certificate (ReOC) is held by an organisation and authorises operations beyond the excluded category; it requires an approved chief remote pilot and documented procedures.

Operator accreditation requires completing an online course and knowledge assessment and is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed.

Records to keep include flight logs (date, time, location, pilot, aircraft), maintenance and battery records, and incident or near-miss reports.

Retain records for at least the period specified by the regulator - commonly three years for operational records - and produce them on request during an audit.

Accreditation is non-transferable: if the operator changes, the new operator must obtain its own accreditation or certificate.

Report accidents and serious incidents to the regulator and, where applicable, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and preserve evidence after an occurrence.

Controlled airspace requires an air traffic control clearance or an approved area approval before flight; uncontrolled airspace does not, but standard rules still apply.

Area approvals are granted for a defined location, altitude, and time window, and must be carried or accessible during the operation.

No-fly considerations include aerodromes, helicopter landing sites, prisons, and areas subject to temporary flight restrictions such as bushfire or emergency zones.

Check current aeronautical charts and notices (NOTAMs) plus any drone safety app before each flight; airspace and restrictions change frequently.

Operations beyond visual line of sight, above 120 m, over people, or at night require authorisation beyond the standard operating conditions.

Dropping or releasing items from a drone requires specific approval; it is not permitted under standard operating conditions.

Flying near or over public safety operations, crowds, or critical infrastructure may require permission from the relevant authority in addition to aviation approval.

Foreign operators and drones must meet Australian registration and accreditation requirements when operating in Australian airspace.

Standard operating conditions in Australia: daylight only, visual line of sight maintained by the remote pilot, no flight above 120 m (400 ft) above ground level, and no flight over people not involved in the operation.

Right of way: give way to all manned aircraft at all times; if a manned aircraft is sighted, descend, move away, and land as soon as safely practicable.

Do not operate in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property; reckless operation is an offence regardless of drone weight.

Keep clear of people not associated with the operation - do not fly closer than 30 m horizontally to them, and never fly directly overhead.

Do not operate over or near areas affecting public safety, such as emergency operations, fire, police, or rescue scenes, unless authorised.

Visual line of sight means seeing the aircraft directly with your own eyes, not via goggles, a screen, or a spotter's eyes alone; FPV flight requires a trained observer.

Do not fly within 5.5 km (3 nautical miles) of an aerodrome or helicopter landing site without the relevant authority's permission, and never in a way that interferes with aircraft movements.

Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue: the remote pilot must be fit for duty; being affected by alcohol or drugs while operating is prohibited.

Pre-flight duties include checking airspace and weather, confirming battery and link status, and inspecting the aircraft and propellers before launch.

Categories by take-off weight: micro (under 250 g), very small (250 g to under 2 kg), small (2 kg to under 25 kg), medium (25 kg to under 150 kg), and large (150 kg and above).

Recreational drones under 250 g: excluded from registration and accreditation requirements when flown for sport or recreation, but standard safety rules still apply.

Recreational drones of 250 g or more: the drone must be registered and the operator must hold a valid operator accreditation.

All drones used for commercial or business purposes must be registered regardless of weight, and the operator must hold an operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence.

Registration is tied to the individual aircraft; a registration number must be displayed or carried as required, and registration must be updated if details change.

Operator accreditation is linked to the operator (person or entity), not to a specific aircraft, and covers all drones flown under that operator's authority.

Weight is measured as maximum take-off weight, including batteries, payload, and any attached equipment.

Registration and accreditation are administered through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and are valid for a set period, requiring renewal before expiry.

Recreational operators of drones 250 g or more must hold an operator accreditation; commercial operators need either accreditation (for excluded-category operations) or a remote pilot licence.

Remote pilot licence (RePL) is held by an individual and is issued after training and assessment with an approved training provider; it is required for operations outside the excluded category.

Remote operator's certificate (ReOC) is held by an organisation and authorises operations beyond the excluded category; it requires an approved chief remote pilot and documented procedures.

Operator accreditation requires completing an online course and knowledge assessment and is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed.

Records to keep include flight logs (date, time, location, pilot, aircraft), maintenance and battery records, and incident or near-miss reports.

Retain records for at least the period specified by the regulator - commonly three years for operational records - and produce them on request during an audit.

Accreditation is non-transferable: if the operator changes, the new operator must obtain its own accreditation or certificate.

Report accidents and serious incidents to the regulator and, where applicable, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and preserve evidence after an occurrence.

Controlled airspace requires an air traffic control clearance or an approved area approval before flight; uncontrolled airspace does not, but standard rules still apply.

Area approvals are granted for a defined location, altitude, and time window, and must be carried or accessible during the operation.

No-fly considerations include aerodromes, helicopter landing sites, prisons, and areas subject to temporary flight restrictions such as bushfire or emergency zones.

Check current aeronautical charts and notices (NOTAMs) plus any drone safety app before each flight; airspace and restrictions change frequently.

Operations beyond visual line of sight, above 120 m, over people, or at night require authorisation beyond the standard operating conditions.

Dropping or releasing items from a drone requires specific approval; it is not permitted under standard operating conditions.

Flying near or over public safety operations, crowds, or critical infrastructure may require permission from the relevant authority in addition to aviation approval.

Foreign operators and drones must meet Australian registration and accreditation requirements when operating in Australian airspace.

Standard operating conditions in Australia: daylight only, visual line of sight maintained by the remote pilot, no flight above 120 m (400 ft) above ground level, and no flight over people not involved in the operation.

Right of way: give way to all manned aircraft at all times; if a manned aircraft is sighted, descend, move away, and land as soon as safely practicable.

Do not operate in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property; reckless operation is an offence regardless of drone weight.

Keep clear of people not associated with the operation - do not fly closer than 30 m horizontally to them, and never fly directly overhead.

Do not operate over or near areas affecting public safety, such as emergency operations, fire, police, or rescue scenes, unless authorised.

Visual line of sight means seeing the aircraft directly with your own eyes, not via goggles, a screen, or a spotter's eyes alone; FPV flight requires a trained observer.

Do not fly within 5.5 km (3 nautical miles) of an aerodrome or helicopter landing site without the relevant authority's permission, and never in a way that interferes with aircraft movements.

Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue: the remote pilot must be fit for duty; being affected by alcohol or drugs while operating is prohibited.

Pre-flight duties include checking airspace and weather, confirming battery and link status, and inspecting the aircraft and propellers before launch.

Categories by take-off weight: micro (under 250 g), very small (250 g to under 2 kg), small (2 kg to under 25 kg), medium (25 kg to under 150 kg), and large (150 kg and above).

Recreational drones under 250 g: excluded from registration and accreditation requirements when flown for sport or recreation, but standard safety rules still apply.

Recreational drones of 250 g or more: the drone must be registered and the operator must hold a valid operator accreditation.

All drones used for commercial or business purposes must be registered regardless of weight, and the operator must hold an operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence.

Registration is tied to the individual aircraft; a registration number must be displayed or carried as required, and registration must be updated if details change.

Operator accreditation is linked to the operator (person or entity), not to a specific aircraft, and covers all drones flown under that operator's authority.

Weight is measured as maximum take-off weight, including batteries, payload, and any attached equipment.

Registration and accreditation are administered through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and are valid for a set period, requiring renewal before expiry.

Recreational operators of drones 250 g or more must hold an operator accreditation; commercial operators need either accreditation (for excluded-category operations) or a remote pilot licence.

Remote pilot licence (RePL) is held by an individual and is issued after training and assessment with an approved training provider; it is required for operations outside the excluded category.

Remote operator's certificate (ReOC) is held by an organisation and authorises operations beyond the excluded category; it requires an approved chief remote pilot and documented procedures.

Operator accreditation requires completing an online course and knowledge assessment and is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed.

Records to keep include flight logs (date, time, location, pilot, aircraft), maintenance and battery records, and incident or near-miss reports.

Retain records for at least the period specified by the regulator - commonly three years for operational records - and produce them on request during an audit.

Accreditation is non-transferable: if the operator changes, the new operator must obtain its own accreditation or certificate.

Report accidents and serious incidents to the regulator and, where applicable, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and preserve evidence after an occurrence.

Controlled airspace requires an air traffic control clearance or an approved area approval before flight; uncontrolled airspace does not, but standard rules still apply.

Area approvals are granted for a defined location, altitude, and time window, and must be carried or accessible during the operation.

No-fly considerations include aerodromes, helicopter landing sites, prisons, and areas subject to temporary flight restrictions such as bushfire or emergency zones.

Check current aeronautical charts and notices (NOTAMs) plus any drone safety app before each flight; airspace and restrictions change frequently.

Operations beyond visual line of sight, above 120 m, over people, or at night require authorisation beyond the standard operating conditions.

Dropping or releasing items from a drone requires specific approval; it is not permitted under standard operating conditions.

Flying near or over public safety operations, crowds, or critical infrastructure may require permission from the relevant authority in addition to aviation approval.

Foreign operators and drones must meet Australian registration and accreditation requirements when operating in Australian airspace.

Standard operating conditions in Australia: daylight only, visual line of sight maintained by the remote pilot, no flight above 120 m (400 ft) above ground level, and no flight over people not involved in the operation.

Right of way: give way to all manned aircraft at all times; if a manned aircraft is sighted, descend, move away, and land as soon as safely practicable.

Do not operate in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property; reckless operation is an offence regardless of drone weight.

Keep clear of people not associated with the operation - do not fly closer than 30 m horizontally to them, and never fly directly overhead.

Do not operate over or near areas affecting public safety, such as emergency operations, fire, police, or rescue scenes, unless authorised.

Visual line of sight means seeing the aircraft directly with your own eyes, not via goggles, a screen, or a spotter's eyes alone; FPV flight requires a trained observer.

Do not fly within 5.5 km (3 nautical miles) of an aerodrome or helicopter landing site without the relevant authority's permission, and never in a way that interferes with aircraft movements.

Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue: the remote pilot must be fit for duty; being affected by alcohol or drugs while operating is prohibited.

Pre-flight duties include checking airspace and weather, confirming battery and link status, and inspecting the aircraft and propellers before launch.

Categories by take-off weight: micro (under 250 g), very small (250 g to under 2 kg), small (2 kg to under 25 kg), medium (25 kg to under 150 kg), and large (150 kg and above).

Recreational drones under 250 g: excluded from registration and accreditation requirements when flown for sport or recreation, but standard safety rules still apply.

Recreational drones of 250 g or more: the drone must be registered and the operator must hold a valid operator accreditation.

All drones used for commercial or business purposes must be registered regardless of weight, and the operator must hold an operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence.

Registration is tied to the individual aircraft; a registration number must be displayed or carried as required, and registration must be updated if details change.

Operator accreditation is linked to the operator (person or entity), not to a specific aircraft, and covers all drones flown under that operator's authority.

Weight is measured as maximum take-off weight, including batteries, payload, and any attached equipment.

Registration and accreditation are administered through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and are valid for a set period, requiring renewal before expiry.

Recreational operators of drones 250 g or more must hold an operator accreditation; commercial operators need either accreditation (for excluded-category operations) or a remote pilot licence.

Remote pilot licence (RePL) is held by an individual and is issued after training and assessment with an approved training provider; it is required for operations outside the excluded category.

Remote operator's certificate (ReOC) is held by an organisation and authorises operations beyond the excluded category; it requires an approved chief remote pilot and documented procedures.

Operator accreditation requires completing an online course and knowledge assessment and is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed.

Records to keep include flight logs (date, time, location, pilot, aircraft), maintenance and battery records, and incident or near-miss reports.

Retain records for at least the period specified by the regulator - commonly three years for operational records - and produce them on request during an audit.

Accreditation is non-transferable: if the operator changes, the new operator must obtain its own accreditation or certificate.

Report accidents and serious incidents to the regulator and, where applicable, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and preserve evidence after an occurrence.

Controlled airspace requires an air traffic control clearance or an approved area approval before flight; uncontrolled airspace does not, but standard rules still apply.

Area approvals are granted for a defined location, altitude, and time window, and must be carried or accessible during the operation.

No-fly considerations include aerodromes, helicopter landing sites, prisons, and areas subject to temporary flight restrictions such as bushfire or emergency zones.

Check current aeronautical charts and notices (NOTAMs) plus any drone safety app before each flight; airspace and restrictions change frequently.

Operations beyond visual line of sight, above 120 m, over people, or at night require authorisation beyond the standard operating conditions.

Dropping or releasing items from a drone requires specific approval; it is not permitted under standard operating conditions.

Flying near or over public safety operations, crowds, or critical infrastructure may require permission from the relevant authority in addition to aviation approval.

Foreign operators and drones must meet Australian registration and accreditation requirements when operating in Australian airspace.