Licences for aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals

In Victoria, an agricultural aircraft operator licence (AAOL) is required by:

• the operator of aircraft (the owner, leaseholder, borrower of the aircraft) that undertakes aerial spraying in Victoria
• the operator of aircraft that employs pilots to carry out aerial spraying in Victoria
• aircraft operators that apply pest animal baits via aircraft (PCRL holders who apply pest animal baits via aircraft are also required to have completed the 1080 and PAPP user course).

A pilot (chemical rating) licence (PCRL) is required by pilots who:

• conduct agricultural chemical spraying in Victoria
• apply pest animal baits via aircraft (PCRL holders who apply pest animal baits via aircraft are also required to have completed the 1080 and PAPP user course.

If an agricultural aircraft operator is also a pilot, then both an AAOL and a PCRL are required. The combined fee for both licences as at 1 July 2024 is $1,045.10 (64 fee units as per the Monetary Units Act 2004), which is GST exempt

Agricultural aircraft operator licence (AAOL)

To qualify for an agricultural aircraft operator licence (AAOL) an applicant must:

• hold current Spraysafe accreditation from the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia, or
• be assessed by Agriculture Victoria within the last 3 years as operating to an equivalent standard.

The applicant must also provide information on any previous convictions under any of the following Acts:

• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
• Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
• Dangerous Goods Act 1985
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
• Environment Protection Act 2017
• Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Interstate AAOLs are not recognised in Victoria. Any person wishing to operate aircraft for aerial spraying in Victoria requires an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Licence issued by Agriculture Victoria.

The AAOL application fee as at 1 July 2024 is $914.45 and the licence is valid for 3 years.

AAOL conditions for use

• The licensed person must comply with all the provisions of the Act and all Regulations and Orders made under the Act.
• The licensed person must operate to the standard of Operation SpraySafe or an equivalent standard.

Pilot (chemical rating) licence (PCRL)

To qualify for a pilot (chemical rating) licence (PCRL), an applicant must:

• hold a current commercial pilot (aeroplane or helicopter) licence, or
• hold a current air transport pilot (aeroplane or helicopter) licence endorsed with an agricultural pilot (aeroplane or helicopter) rating Grade 1 or 2 under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 of the Commonwealth of Australia

and

• have either Pilot SpraySafe accreditation, or
• have passed the appropriate examination required by Agriculture Victoria.

The applicant must also provide information on any previous convictions in the previous 10 years under any of the following Acts:

• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
• Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
• Dangerous Goods Act 1985
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
• Environment Protection Act 2017
• Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Interstate PCRLs from participating state and territories are recognised in Victoria. For more information visit the automatic mutual recognition and chemical use licensing page.

The PCRL application fee as at 1 July 2024 is $367.40 and the licence is valid for 3 years.

PCRL holders who apply pest animal baits via aircraft are also required to have completed the 1080 and PAPP user course. For more information visit the 1080 and PAPP training licences and permits page.

PCRL conditions for use

• The pilot must comply with all the provisions of the Act, Regulations and Orders made under the Act.
• The pilot must operate to the standard of Operation SpraySafe or an equivalent standard.
• Aerial spraying must not be undertaken from remotely piloted aircraft.

Pilot responsibilities

When applying agricultural chemicals by air, a pilot is legally responsible for ensuring that:

• specified chemical use records are made and kept
• spray drift doesn't injuriously affect any plants or stock outside the target area
• spray drift doesn't injuriously affect any land outside the target area so that growing plants or keeping stock on that land can be reasonably expected to result in contaminated plants or stock derived from that land
• each spray nozzle used in the aerial spraying equipment is fitted with an operating leak-proof cut-off valve
• notification requirements are complied with.

One or more of the following methods must be used immediately before and during aerial spraying to provide the pilot with an accurate indication of the weather conditions at the target area:

• a smoke-generating device used at ground level at or near the point of spraying
• a smoke-generating device fitted to the aircraft
• a windsock operating and is clearly visible to the pilot at ground level at or near the point of spraying
• an automatic weather station located at or near the point of spraying, and information about the wind speed and direction is available to the pilot
• a ground-based person located near the point of spraying who uses equipment to measure the wind speed and direction and who has continuous radio communication with the pilot before and during spraying.

Remotely piloted aircraft (drone) licensing

New technology is now available that enables drones, also known as remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), to conduct aerial spraying.

To cater for this new technology, special licence categories under Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Agriculture Victoria exist to authorise and regulate the piloting, spraying and business operations of RPA.

Agriculture Victoria licensing and training requirements

1. Agricultural aircraft operator licence for RPA

An agricultural aircraft operator licence (AAOL) is required by the operator (owner, leaseholder or equivalent) of RPA that undertake aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals or to employ pilots to carry out aerial agricultural spraying from RPA

The application requirements for an AAOL for RPA:

• A remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC) from CASA for the RPA being used or meet the CASA exemption criteria. Check CASA's website for details.
• No training requirements apply.

An AAOL may be applied for and held by an individual (natural) person, partnership or an incorporated entity (for example, a company). If the application is made by a partnership, the names of all partners must be listed.

The RPA AAOL application fee as at 1 July 2024 is $914.45 and the licence is valid for 3 years.

2. Pilot (chemical rating) licence for RPA

A pilot (chemical rating) licence (PCRL) for RPA must be held by a person who pilots an RPA that undertakes aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals.

These are the application requirements for a PCRL for RPA:

• Completion of the Agvet chemical user course that contains units AHCCHM307and AHCCHM304 or previous equivalents.
• Alternatively, Agriculture Victoria will accept Pilot Spraysafe accreditation from the Aerial Application Association of Australia.
• Applicants must hold a remote pilots licence (RePL) from CASA for the RPA being used.

The RPA PCRL application fee as at 1 July 2024 is $367.40 and the licence is valid for 3 years.

A person who operates (owns or leases) an RPA and also pilots an RPA that undertakes aerial spraying, must hold both an AAOL and PCRL.

AAOL conditions for RPA use

Specific licence conditions apply to AAOLs that authorise RPA operations for aerial spraying as follows:

1. Use must be in accordance with the holder’s CASA operations manual.
2. The RPA must be operated in accordance with RPA Standard Operating Conditions as described by Regulation 101.238 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
3. Despite point 2 above, a pilot operating under this licence may undertake aerial spraying with up to 5 RPA simultaneously if approved by CASA to do so.
4. Chemical products must not be applied before sunrise or after sunset.
5. The RPA must be under 150 kg gross weight.
6. Autonomous operation is prohibited (autonomous operation is where there is no ability for the pilot to intervene in the conduct of the flight).
7. Nozzles must NOT be positioned outside of the rotation of the propeller tips.
8. Nozzles must be equally spaced.
9. The RPA must have active pump and nozzle shut off systems.

PCRL conditions for RPA use

Specific licence conditions apply to PCRLs authorising RPA use for aerial spraying as follows:

1. Chemical products may only be applied by remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).
2. The RPA must be operated in accordance within RPA Standard Operating Conditions as described by Regulation 101.238 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
3. Despite point 2 above, the pilot may undertake aerial spraying with up to 5 RPA simultaneously if approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to do so.
4. The RPA must be under 150 kg gross weight.
5. Autonomous operation is prohibited (autonomous operation is where there is no ability for the pilot to intervene in the conduct of the flight).
6. Use must be in accordance with the CASA operations manual of agricultural aircraft operator licence under which the pilot is operating.
7. Nozzles must not be positioned outside of the rotation of the propeller tips.
8. Nozzles must be equally spaced.
9. The RPA must have active pump and nozzle shut off systems.

Regulation of aerial spraying from remotely piloted aircraft

Additional requirements apply to persons undertaking aerial spraying from remotely piloted aircraft in Victoria. Aerial spray from remotely piloted aircraft must:

• not be conducted before sunrise or after sunset; and
• only be conducted if the approved label of the agricultural chemical product or permit specifies the use to be undertaken by aerial spraying or spot spraying, and instructions for aerial spraying or spot spraying in relation to that use are complied with, including any water rates; and Note: Spot spraying instructions are alternatively described as ‘high volume spraying’ and can be accompanied by instructions for application by ‘knapsack’ or ‘handgun'.
• not be conducted using ultra-low volume application technique or concentrate application technique unless the approved label for the agricultural chemical product or permit provides directions for the use of these techniques by aerial spraying;
• be undertaken in accordance with the wind speed parameters specified on the approved label of the agricultural chemical product or permit. If the approved label of the agricultural chemical product or permit does not specify wind speed parameters, aerial spraying must only be conducted when the wind speed is greater than 3km/hr and less than 13km/hr at the time and place of application.

Victorian and interstate operators must also comply with all applicable CASA regulations when piloting RPA for aerial spraying.

CASA licensing requirements

CASA ensures the safety of aviation in Australia. All aerial vehicles are regulated by CASA and must be licensed by that authority.

1. Remote pilot licence (RePL)

   Anyone can apply for an RePL, but you only need one if you want to:

   • be a remote pilot for an individual or business that holds a remotely piloted aircraft operator certificate (ReOC)​.
   • fly a drone or RPA that weighs more than 25 kg but less than 150 kg over your own land.
2. Remotely piloted aircraft operator certificate (ReOC)

• Allows you or your business to trade as a drone service provider (i.e. commercial operator).

Check CASA’s website for the requirements for operating RPA/drones.

Operating an RPA in Victoria without an RePL

Under certain conditions administered by CASA, pilots can be exempt from requiring a remote pilot licence (RePL). These include:

• if the pilot it exempted under Regulation 101.237 of the Civil Safety Aviation Regulations 1998
• the RPA must only be flown over the person’s own land, must not be operated for remuneration and must be operated within CASA standard operating conditions
• the RPA must also be less than 25 kg gross.

Operating an RPA in Victoria without an ReOC

Under certain conditions administered by CASA, operators can be exempt from requiring a remote operator certificate (ReOC). These include:

• the RPA must only be flown over the person’s own land.
• must not be operated for remuneration.
• must be operated within CASA standard operating conditions.

The RPA must also be less than 25kg gross weight, unless the pilots holds the appropriate remote pilot licence.

More information

If you have questions or concerns about the spraying of chemicals from any aircraft, call our Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.

If you have any general questions or concerns about the operation of aircraft or RPA, contact CASA on 131 757.