Drone or remotely piloted aircraft spraying

In Victoria, the spraying of chemicals with RPA is regulated by Agriculture Victoria and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Special licence categories under Agriculture Victoria and CASA exist to authorise and regulate the piloting, chemical use and business operations of RPAs for aerial spraying.

Licensing requirements

If a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) is aerial spraying agricultural chemicals in Victoria, the pilot must hold an RPA pilot (chemical rating) licence and be operating under an RPA agricultural aircraft operator licence, both issued by Agriculture Victoria.

RPA operators must also comply with CASA regulations.

See Licences for drone or remotely piloted aircraft spraying of agricultural chemicals for further information.

Regulation of aerial spraying from remotely piloted aircraft

Aerial 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.

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

• A smoke-generating device used at ground level at or near the point of spraying
• A smoke-generating device that is fitted to the aircraft and operated before and during spraying
• An operating windsock that 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 continuously available to the pilot
• The pilot being in continuous radio communication with a ground-based person who is located near the point of spraying and uses equipment to measure the wind speed and direction

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, stock or agricultural produce derived from that land
• each spray nozzle on the aircraft is fitted with an operating leak-proof cut-off valve
• notification requirements are complied with
• If spraying in an agricultural chemical control area, all permit conditions are followed.

Landholders must ensure that any maps provided to aerial operators are accurate and not false or misleading as this is an offence.

Interstate pilot (chemical rating) licences or equivalents from participating states and territories are valid in Victoria. Interstate pilots must comply with all applicable Victorian laws. For more information visit the automatic mutual recognition and chemical use licensing page.

Records of use

A person who uses agricultural chemicals must:

• make records of use within 48 hours of using a product
• keep these records for a minimum of 2 years.

Agricultural chemical control areas

There are certain areas across Victoria that are called agricultural chemical control areas (ACCAs) and requires a permit to use specific chemicals when aerially spraying. Landholders are responsible to apply for an ACCA permit, and the pilot is responsible to follow all the permit conditions.

More information

The following pages outline responsibilities and provide tips for land managers to assist in the safe and appropriate RPA spraying of agricultural chemicals:

• Working with chemicals
• Agricultural chemical control areas
• Notification requirements
• Managing spray drift
• Keeping records of chemical use

If you have questions about the aerial spraying of chemicals, contact 136 186.

If you have general questions about aircraft operations, contact CASA 131 757. For more information visit CASA.