CASA agricultural drone rules for farm operators
Learn when agricultural drone work needs a RePL or ReOC, plus weight limits and CASA operating rules for farms.
What CASA says applies to agricultural drone operations
Agricultural drones do not sit outside Australia’s general aviation safety framework. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says its drone safety rules apply to all operators, including those working in agriculture.
- DJI Agras T100 100 L
- DJI Agras T70P 70 L
- XAG P150 70 L
- DJI Agras T55 50 L
- DJI Agras T50 40 L
- Yamaha FAZER R 32 L
| Model | Value |
|---|---|
| DJI Agras T100 | 100 L |
| DJI Agras T70P | 70 L |
| XAG P150 | 70 L |
| DJI Agras T55 | 50 L |
| DJI Agras T50 | 40 L |
| Yamaha FAZER R | 32 L |
Sources: ag.dji.com, ag.dji.com, xa.com, ag.dji.com, ag.dji.com, global.yamaha-motor.com
CASA’s agricultural guidance names several common uses:
- crop monitoring and spraying
- livestock management
- land surveying
The regulator also recognises that drones can improve efficiency and reduce costs. Its regional aviation research says drones are already used for planting, livestock management, crop spraying and mapping.
Those benefits do not change the compliance test. Operators must consider the aircraft’s weight, the purpose of the flight and how the operation will be conducted.
CASA uses the term remotely piloted aircraft, or RPA, for drones. A remote pilot is the person controlling the aircraft, or initiating and monitoring its flight.
Operators comparing aircraft should check the manufacturer’s stated weight carefully. Our drone specifications pages provide a starting point, but CASA remains the authority on the category and permissions that apply.
Weight matters: the main CASA categories agricultural operators need to know
CASA divides business and work-related drone operations into weight categories. Those categories affect whether the pilot needs a remote pilot licence, known as a RePL. They also affect whether the operation needs a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate, known as a ReOC.
Weight is not the only factor. Ownership of the land, payment for the service and the proposed operation also matter.
Micro RPA
A micro RPA weighs 250 g or less. CASA says it may be flown for business or as part of a job without a RePL or ReOC.
That category may suit light inspection, imagery or monitoring equipment. Whether a particular task fits still depends on compliance with the drone safety rules.
Very small, excluded category RPA
A very small RPA weighs 2 kg or less. CASA also calls this the sub-2 kg excluded category.
It can be flown for business or as part of a job without a RePL or ReOC. The operator must still meet the other requirements applying to work-related drone flights.
CASA says drones flown for business or as part of a job must be registered. Its general guidance also directs work operators to obtain the relevant licence or operator accreditation.
Small, excluded category RPA
A small RPA in this category weighs more than 2 kg but not more than 25 kg. It may be flown over the operator’s own land for business or as part of their job.
The operator cannot accept any type of payment for the service. Under this landowner or private landholder excluded category, CASA says a RePL and ReOC are not required.
This distinction matters for contract work. The category is not simply a general permission to provide paid agricultural drone services with an aircraft in that weight band.
Medium, excluded category RPA
A medium RPA weighs more than 25 kg but not more than 150 kg. It can be flown over the operator’s own land for business or as part of their job.
Again, the operator cannot accept payment for the drone service. CASA calls this the landowner or private landholder excluded category.
Unlike the small landholder category, a RePL is required. The licence must cover the type and model of drone being flown. A ReOC is not required for this category.
That difference is easy to miss. “Excluded category” does not always mean that both the RePL and ReOC are unnecessary.
Licences and approvals: RePL, ReOC and when they are needed
A RePL is a licence held by the remote pilot. CASA says the licence shows the type and weight category of drone that the holder can fly.
The supplied CASA guidance establishes these main positions:
- Micro RPA can be flown for work without a RePL or ReOC.
- Very small, excluded category RPA can be flown for work without a RePL or ReOC.
- Small landholder operations can proceed without a RePL or ReOC when all category conditions are met.
- Medium landholder operations require an appropriate RePL but not a ReOC.
A ReOC is an operator-level certificate rather than the pilot’s licence. CASA provides separate information for obtaining, varying and renewing it.
Operators should not assume the landholder exception covers work away from their own property. Nor should they assume that it covers services for which they accept payment.
Getting a RePL
CASA’s RePL pathway starts with an aviation reference number through its myCASA portal. The applicant then finds a certified training provider.
The course includes theory and practical skills components. The practical component must match the type and category of RPA the applicant intends to fly. The training provider applies to CASA for the RePL after the applicant passes.
CASA says a RePL does not expire. It also says there is no minimum age for obtaining one.
Operators with prior aviation experience may receive recognition for that experience. CASA says they may still need RPA-specific theory and practical assessment.
Current instructions are available on CASA’s remote pilot licence page. Broader planning material is also available through our Guides index.
Standard operating conditions still apply
A weight-based exclusion removes certain licensing or certificate requirements. It does not remove the drone safety rules.
CASA says the standard operating conditions apply to all operators. Agricultural operators using an excluded category must therefore consider both the weight permission and the proposed flight.
CASA’s published drone safety rules include these operating limits:
- Do not fly higher than 120 m above ground level.
- Keep the drone within visual line-of-sight.
- Fly only during daylight hours.
- Fly only one drone at a time.
- Keep at least 30 m from other people and do not fly over another person.
- Do not fly in a way that creates a hazard to aircraft, people or property.
- Do not fly over or near an emergency operation.
- Do not fly in a populous area.
Visual line-of-sight means seeing the drone with your own eyes. CASA says a device, screen or goggles do not satisfy that condition. Cloud, fog and smoke must not block the view.
Airport rules also depend on aircraft weight and location. CASA’s published rules set specific conditions around controlled airports, smaller airports and helicopter landing sites. Operators can use a CASA-verified drone safety app to check where they may fly.
CASA’s drone rules page sets out the current safety rules. Its agricultural guidance also points operators to the Part 101 plain English guide for micro and excluded RPA operations.
The landholder rule for farming on your own property
The private landholder excluded category is especially relevant to farm operations. However, it is divided by aircraft weight.
For an RPA weighing more than 2 kg but not more than 25 kg, the operator does not need a RePL or ReOC. The flight must be over the operator’s own land, for business or as part of their job. No payment may be accepted for the service.
For an RPA weighing more than 25 kg but not more than 150 kg, the own-land and no-payment conditions remain. The pilot must hold a RePL for the aircraft type and model, but a ReOC is not required.
The rule therefore supports work performed for the landholder’s own agricultural operation. It should not be read as a general permission for paid work on another property.
Spraying on your own land
CASA says no CASA authorisation is required for a spraying operation involving one drone on the operator’s own land. That statement does not remove other applicable CASA requirements, including the correct weight-category credentials and standard operating conditions.
State or territory aerial distribution laws must also be checked. CASA warns that local requirements may cover licensing, spray quality and equipment standards.
Agricultural chemical regulation is separate from aviation regulation. Meeting the landholder pathway does not itself establish compliance with those local chemical controls.
Complex agricultural operations
Some farm tasks may go beyond the standard operating conditions. CASA identifies extended visual line-of-sight, beyond visual line-of-sight and swarm operations as complex operations requiring additional training and flight authorisations.
In an extended visual line-of-sight operation, someone other than the remote pilot observes the drone and surrounding airspace for hazards.
In a beyond visual line-of-sight operation, the pilot cannot see the drone with their own eyes. The pilot instead relies on onboard cameras or location-based information for control and navigation.
A swarm operation involves one remote pilot operating multiple drones at the same time. CASA identifies agricultural spraying as a common example.
These operation types cannot be assessed by weight alone. An aircraft may fit an excluded weight category while the proposed flight still needs further authorisation.
What agricultural operators should check before flying
Start with the aircraft’s operating weight and identify the CASA category. Do not rely only on tank capacity, payload or the aircraft’s empty weight.
Next, define the work itself. Crop imagery conducted within the standard operating conditions presents a different regulatory question from a remote inspection beyond visual line-of-sight.
The main checks are:
- Is the RPA micro, very small, small or medium?
- Is the flight for business or part of a job?
- Will it take place only over the operator’s own land?
- Will any payment be accepted for the drone service?
- Does the pilot need a RePL for that aircraft?
- Is a ReOC required for the proposed operating arrangement?
- Can the work remain within the standard operating conditions?
- Does the task involve spraying, extended visual line-of-sight, beyond visual line-of-sight or a swarm?
Registration should also be confirmed. CASA says any drone flown for business or as part of a job must be registered before flight.
Where the operation does not fit clearly within an excluded category, operators should use CASA’s flight authorisation and operator guidance. The weight table alone cannot settle every agricultural use case.
CASA sources and where to verify the rules
CASA’s drone weight categories and requirements page is the clearest starting point for category boundaries. It states the RePL and ReOC position for each excluded category.
The agricultural drone guidance explains how those rules apply to farm work. It also covers spraying and the distinction between standard and complex operations.
CASA’s Part 101 plain English guide summarises the rules for micro and excluded RPA. CASA notes that the guide is not the law and may change without notice.
The underlying framework is Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and its Manual of Standards. Operators should check CASA’s current pages before each new operating arrangement, especially when aircraft weight, land ownership or payment changes.