Just like many parts of the drone industry the agricultural side is growing fast, and yes going off the title I’m talking about “Spraying drones”. it’s been a long and expensive road to get qualified to fly these big flying robots and it is not an industry to be entered into lightly. One of the common questions I get asked is, so what’s involved in getting qualified to legally fly a spraying drone in Australia?
A Recreational Pilots licence or RePL is the starting point of your commercial drone pilot’s journey and is a CASA requirement. The RePL course normally goes for 5 days and includes theory also Practical assessment, plus an Aerial Radio Operator Certificate (AROC) which is key if you need to talk to other pilots in the area using the “phonetic alphabet” (you know like “Alpha” “Bravo” “Charley”). The standard RePL License only covers you up to a 7kg multi-copter and doesn’t give you the certification to operate as a commercial drone business. However, you could operate drones up to 7kg under someone else’s ReOC (but not spraying drones).
A Recreational Operators Certificate or ReOC is required to “Operate” as a commercial drone business, this can only be attained once you have a RePL and requires you to do a fictitious scenario within 72hrs and to sit a telephone interview with a CASA Delegate who drills you with technical questions over a couple of hours. This is to determine that you know what you are talking about. once you pass you need to create 2 operational documents for your business i.e., the “Operational library” and the “Operational Manual” (I know exciting isn’t it LOL!). These 2 documents need to be reviewed and approved by a CASA inspector before you are issued with a ReOC Certificate.
Now with few spraying drones having a Maximum Take Of Weight (MTOW) of less than 25kg such as the DJI Agras T10 or the discontinued XAG P20 and even a modified M600 you could just do what is called a “Sub 25kg type endorsement” which is the next step up from the standard 7kg category. The 25 kg category allows you to fly any CASA approved multirotor up to 25kg which is a multitude of different UAV’s. The sub 150kg category however is a completely different thing!
If you wish to fly a spraying drone over 25kg MTOW you are required to do what is called a “Sub 150kg type endorsement” and this does not mean you can fly a drone up to 150kg’s. This is where a bit of planning and careful consideration is required in which drone system you want to invest in, because the training and license is specific to the spraying drone you choose. For instance if you get a sub 150kg license for a DJI Agras T40, that’s the only machine you can legally fly, If you get trained and licensed to fly a XAG V40 well your only licensed to fly a V40 and if you have both licenses well you can legally fly both (not at the same time though LOL! That’s a swarm/multi-aircraft license).
Once you are licensed with the RePL Showing the new weight classes, you are than required to update you Operational docs I mentioned earlier with the manufacturers safety procedures and how you are going to be using the spraying drones (ahh fun!) this is so CASA can update the weight class on the ReOC.
But wait there’s more! Depending on which state you want to operate in (me NSW) you are required to create a procedural document known as “Appendix 11” in how you are going to apply chemical with the drone, which you also need to add into the operational docs.
All these changes once again are to be submitted to CASA For review and approval. The last step (in NSW) is applying for an “Aerial applicators license” through the EPA, and you need all the previously mentioned docs to be approved by CASA before you can apply for the Applicators license.
And now you can legally fly a spraying drone! Ohh wait wait, don’t forget Insurance for “Civil liability” also “Hull” for the drone and “chemical liability!”
As I said it’s been a long also expensive road getting qualified and it’s not to be entered into lightly, but it’s my passion for the industry that has kept me going and I take it very seriously.
If you are thinking of flying spraying drones I wish you luck, and maybe we might work together one day.
But if you don’t want to go through all the trouble or expense, I would be glad to do aerial drone spraying for you and if you’re interested right now you can contact me or request a quote.
I look forward to flying with you soon!