CASA Licensing for Commercial Drones: RePL and ReOC Explained
Every commercial drone operation in Australia requires two CASA credentials: a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) for the pilot and a Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC) for the company. Operating without these is illegal and voids insurance cover.
Remote Pilot Licence (RePL)
The RePL is held by the individual pilot. It certifies that the pilot has completed approved training, passed theory and practical assessments, and understands aviation law, airspace, meteorology, and drone systems.
RePL training takes 5 to 10 days at an approved training provider and costs $2,000 to $4,000. The licence is valid indefinitely but requires currency (recent flying hours) and ongoing competency checks.
RePL Categories
The RePL is endorsed for specific drone weight categories:
- Sub-2kg: drones under 2 kilograms (e.g., DJI Mini series, some inspection drones)
- Sub-7kg: drones under 7 kilograms (e.g., DJI Matrice 30, Mavic 3 Enterprise)
- Sub-25kg: drones under 25 kilograms (e.g., DJI Matrice 350, large mapping drones)
- 25kg+: heavy-lift and specialised drones (agricultural sprayers, cargo drones)
Pilots must hold the endorsement for the weight category they intend to fly. Additional endorsements can be added with supplementary training.
Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC)
The ReOC is held by the company or organisation conducting the drone operation. It certifies that the company has documented procedures, safety management systems, maintenance programmes, and competent personnel.
A ReOC application includes an operations manual, a safety management system, pilot records, and aircraft maintenance records. CASA assesses the application and may conduct an audit before issuing the certificate.
Annual fees apply. ReOC holders must report safety incidents to CASA and maintain their operations manual.
Excluded Category (Sub-2kg)
CASA allows some commercial operations with sub-2kg drones without a ReOC, under the "excluded category" provisions. The pilot still needs a RePL, but the company does not need a separate ReOC. However, the excluded category has strict limitations:
- Drone must weigh under 2kg
- Fly only in visual line of sight
- Stay below 120m (400ft)
- Not within 5.5km of a controlled aerodrome
- Not over populated areas
- At least 30m from people
For most commercial inspection work in urban areas, these restrictions mean a full ReOC is required.
How to Verify an Operator
Ask the operator for their RePL number and ReOC certificate number. You can verify these with CASA directly. Legitimate operators will provide this information readily.
Also ask for proof of public liability insurance. The minimum for commercial work should be $10 million, and $20 million is standard for government and infrastructure clients.
Why It Matters
Using an unlicensed operator creates three problems:
- Legal liability: the property owner or manager may be held responsible for facilitating an unlicensed operation
- Insurance void: if the drone causes property damage or injury, the operator's insurance (if any) will not cover an unlicensed operation
- Data quality: unlicensed operators typically lack the training and equipment to produce reliable inspection data
CASA fines for operating without a licence start at $1,565 per offence and can reach $15,650 for serious or repeated breaches. For the operator, not the client. But the client gets an unusable report and potential legal exposure.