GUIDE · DRONE GUIDES & RESOURCES
GUIDE · DRONE GUIDES & RESOURCES
Drones have transformed property marketing, venue tours, and event cinematography. But Australia's aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), maintains a comprehensive regulatory framework that every commercial operator must follow.
This guide covers the regulatory landscape so you can brief confidently, ask the right questions, and choose a compliant operator.
Commercial drone operations in Australia are governed by Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) Part 101 — Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets. Key provisions:
| Regulation | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| 101.055 | Hazardous operation prohibited (general unsafe-operation offence) |
| 101.070 | Operation in controlled airspace above 400 ft AGL |
| 101.072 | Operation in controlled airspace—requirements prescribed by the Part 101 MOS |
| 101.075 | Operation near aerodromes |
| 101.238 | Meaning of standard RPA operating conditions |
| 101.245 | Operation near people |
| 101.250 | Where very small, small and medium RPA may be operated |
| 101.280 | RPA not to be operated over populous areas |
| 101.371–101.374 | Division 101.F.5 — operation of certain RPA for hire or reward |
Accuracy note (corrected Sep 2026): Regulation numbers verified against the current Part 101 compilation on legislation.gov.au (Series F1998B00220) and CASA's Part 101 guidance. Note that legislating for hire or reward uses a notification/approval model (Division 101.F.5), not a single prohibition in 101.075 — operations over or near people are captured by regs 101.245 and 101.280, which CASA's TMI 2024-01 confirms. This regulatory landscape changed in the 2021 reorganisation of Part 101; older guides citing different numbers refer to the superseded structure.
CASA publishes a Manual of Standards Part 101 that specifies the detailed operational requirements—equipment standards, pilot qualifications, maintenance schedules, and safety management systems.
CASA also publishes Advisory Circulars (AC 101-01, AC 101-10) that provide guidance on how to achieve compliance. While not legally binding, they represent CASA's interpretation of the regulations and are generally followed by the industry.
- Issued to: The business entity
- Purpose: Authorises commercial drone operations
- Requirements: Documented safety management system, operational manual, maintenance schedule
- Oversight: Annual returns to CASA, compliance audits
- Issued to: The individual pilot
- Purpose: Authorises the pilot to operate a specific drone class for commercial purposes
- Requirements: CASA-approved training course, theory and practical examination
- Renewal: Subject to recency requirements
- Issued to: Both operators and pilots
- Purpose: Identifies the individual/entity in CASA's database
- Required for: ReOC and RePL applications
Under standard commercial operations:
- The drone must remain within visual line of sight at all times
- Maximum altitude: 120m (400ft) AGL
- No operations within 30m of people not involved in the flight
- No operations over populous areas (beaches, sporting events, crowded spaces)
- Daylight operations only (unless night ops approved)
- The drone must not be operated in a way that creates a hazard
Extended Visual Line of Sight applies when:
- The pilot uses FPV goggles (cannot see the drone directly)
- An observer maintains visual contact with the drone
- The flight is confined to a defined operating volume
- The observer can communicate instantly with the pilot to abort if necessary
EVLOS approval is required for outdoor commercial FPV cinematography and is granted by CASA as a specific approval under the ReOC.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight covers long-range flights where neither pilot nor observer can see the drone. BVLOS requires a comprehensive safety case, detailed risk assessment, and is generally limited to specialised applications like linear infrastructure inspection.
Recent CASA reforms have created a tiered system for operations near people based on risk:
| Category | Examples | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| **No persons** | Farmland, remote industrial sites | Standard ReOC |
| **Some persons** | Residential areas, parks | ReOC + operational risk assessment |
| **Over populous areas** | Beaches, events, crowds | Specific CASA approval required |
Major airports and some regional airports have controlled airspace extending up to a certain altitude:
| Airport | Airspace Type | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane (BNE) | Class C/D | 5km radius restricted. Requires airspace access approval |
| Sunshine Coast (MCY) | Class D | Controlled airspace. CASA approval required |
| Gold Coast (OOL) | Class C | Near airport. Heliport traffic. Strict restrictions |
| Hervey Bay (HVB) | Non-controlled (CTAF) | CTAF aerodrome — check airspace and traffic before flying |
| Bundaberg (BDB) | Non-controlled (Class G) | Regional CTAF aerodrome; check airspace requirements |
Operators must check airspace before every flight using apps like CASA's OpenSky or Airservices Australia's NAIPS.
Military training areas, defence facilities, and some government sites have restricted or danger areas where drone operations are prohibited without specific approval.
CASA does not legally require insurance for commercial drone operations. However:
✅ Best practice: Public Liability Insurance minimum $10M — required by most venue contracts and event organisers
✅ Industry standard: Most professional operators carry $10M–$20M public liability
✅ Client requirement: Many commercial contracts (data centres, venues, developers) mandate insurance proof
- Public liability for third-party property damage and injury
- Specific coverage for drone operations (not general business insurance)
- Cover during all phases of flight (takeoff, flight, landing)
CASA takes drone compliance seriously. CASA's published enforcement figures (as at July 2026):
- Infringement notices — fines of up to $1,820 per offence
- Court-imposed fines — up to $18,200 (corporations can face higher penalties)
- Serious offences — including interfering with a drone or creating a hazard to aircraft, can result in prosecution and up to 2 years' imprisonment
Enforcement actions can include:
- Verbal warnings and education
- Formal cautions
- Infringement notices (fines)
- Court prosecution
- License suspension or revocation
CASA updated its FPV guidance page to explicitly state that EVLOS/BVLOS approval is required for commercial outdoor FPV. This removed any ambiguity in interpretation.
- Stronger client-side accountability — regulators and insurers increasingly expect clients to verify operator credentials
- Digital compliance tools — CASA's ReOC register and OpenSky app make verification easier
- Privacy considerations — drone cinematography near residential areas triggers privacy law considerations beyond CASA rules
| Requirement | For FPV | For Standard Aerials |
|---|---|---|
| ReOC | ✅ Required | ✅ Required |
| EVLOS/BVLOS | ✅ Required | ❌ (VLOS is sufficient) |
| Insurance | ✅ Strongly recommended | ✅ Strongly recommended |
| Risk assessment | ✅ Required (ReOC SMS) | ✅ Required (ReOC SMS) |
| Airspace check | ✅ Before every flight | ✅ Before every flight |
This guide reflects regulations current as of August 2026. CASA regulations change. Always verify with casa.gov.au for the most current information.
Reignland Media — CASA ReOC · EVLOS-approved for commercial FPV · Fully insured · 9 years of compliant Queensland operations
More guides: What Is EVLOS? · Client Liability Guide · FPV vs Standard Drone · Choosing a Licensed FPV Operator · ReOC Explained
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