Licences for drone or remotely piloted aircraft spraying of agricultural chemicals

Drones are referred to as remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) by Agriculture Victoria.

Special licence categories under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Agriculture Victoria exist to authorise and regulate the piloting, chemical use and business operations of RPA for aerial spraying.

In Victoria, an RPA agricultural aircraft operator licence (RPA AAOL) for remotely piloted aircraft (AAOL for RPA) is required by:

• an aircraft operator (owner, leaseholder, borrower or equivalent) that carries out aerial spraying with RPA
• an aircraft operator that employs pilots to carry out aerial spraying with RPA.

In Victoria, a RPA pilot (chemical rating) licence (RPA PCRL) is required by people who:

• carry out aerial spraying with RPA
• apply 1080 and PAPP pest animal baits with RPA aircraft. The person must have completed the 1080 and PAPP user course.

If an aircraft operator is also a pilot, then both an RPA AAOL and an RPA PCRL are required. The combined fee for both licences for the current year is $1,075.80 (64 fee units as per the Monetary Units Act 2004), which is GST-exempt.

Licence applicants must provide information about convictions in the previous 10 years under 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.

Remotely piloted aircraft agricultural aircraft operator licence (RPA AAOL)

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

To qualify for a RPA AAOL, the applicant must hold a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC) from CASA for the RPA being used or meet the CASA exemption criteria. Check the CASA website for details.

The RPA AAOL application fee for the current year is $941.35 and the licence is valid for 3 years.

AAOL conditions for RPA use

The following licence conditions apply to RPA AAOL holders:

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.

Pilot (chemical rating) licence for remotely piloted aircraft

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 pilot licence (RePL) from CASA for the RPA being used.

The RPA PCRL application fee as at 1 July 2025 is $378.20 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.

PCRL conditions for RPA use

The following licence conditions apply to RPA PCRL holders :

1. Chemical products must 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

In Victoria, spraying from remotely piloted aircraft must:

• not be conducted before sunrise or after sunset
• 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. 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 3 km/h and less than 13 km/h 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:

• The pilot is 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 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.
• It must not be operated for remuneration.
• It must be operated within CASA standard operating conditions.

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

More information

If you have questions about aerial spraying, call our Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.

If you have general questions the operation of aircraft, contact CASA on 131 757.