As of 28 January 2021, all drones or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) used for commercial or business purposes must be registered with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
This applies to any drone that is used to provide any type of service, regardless of its weight.
Service includes, but is not limited to:
- Selling photos or videos taken from a drone
- Inspecting industrial equipment, construction sites or infrastructure
- Monitoring, surveillance or security services
- Research and development, or
- Any drone activities on behalf of your employer or business.
Registration Process
Drone registration is free before 30 June 2021 and is valid for 12 months. To register your drone with CASA, you will need:
- To be 16 years or older
- Proof of identification, such as an Australian passport, Australian birth or citizenship certificate or ImmiCard
- A myCASA account
- An aviation reference number (ARN)
- The make, model, serial number, weight and type of drone, and
- To download and/or print your certificate of registration from myCASA.
To register your drone online today, please visit the CASA website.
Accreditation Requirements
Additionally, CASA will also require you to obtain an RPA Operator Accreditation, unless you currently hold a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) or only fly your drone for sport or recreation purposes.
This accreditation is free, valid for 3 years, and is required to fly and/or supervise others as of 28 January 2021.
You can complete the online accreditation process here.
Penalties For Flying Without Registration or Accreditation
You may be asked to provide your RPA operator accreditation certificate or RePL by an authorised CASA representative, or member of the Australian Federal Police or State and Territory police services.
If your business drone is not registered and/or you do not have a valid RPA operator accreditation from 28 January 2021, you may be fined up to $11,100.
Checking Your Insurance Policy
Some Public Liability policies in the market may cover the use of a drone, however, this is NOT the case with most general liability policies.
If you are using a drone for commercial or business purposes, it is important to check with your insurance provider to see how your existing policies will respond to these changes (if at all).
Information Source: Civil Aviation Safety Authority
