If you plan on turning your passion for flying a drone into a paying hobby, then you will inevitably stumble upon a number of terms and definitions. While the Australian airspace may seem to be free to use, it is actually heavily regulated to ensure the safe and smooth passage of flights. When it comes to running a commercial operation with your drone, ReOC would come up sooner rather than later. Learn everything about this license and discover how having it can help you with your drone business.
What Exactly Is a ReOC?
All flights in Australia are subject to the control and supervision of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, also known as CASA. While the agency primarily focuses on general aviation, it has a set of rules and requirements for commercial drone flights as well. All businesses running such flights in Australia need to get their Remote Operators Certificate first.
According to the latest updates to CASA’s legislation, a small number of drones below 2 kilograms can still be used for commercial flights within the “excluded category”. Any heavier device will require certification. It helps CASA control all necessary aspects of flights, such as proper manuals, training programs, safety measures, and management plans.
The Importance of a ReOC for Commercial Drone Business
With the ReOC drone certification obtained, you can significantly expand your operational capabilities by getting permission to fly in restricted areas. For instance, this license will allow you to fly closer to people, conduct nighttime missions, and operate heavier drones. At the same time, having a Remote Operators Certificate will make it possible for you to employ additional remote pilots with a Remote Pilot License. This way, you will be able to do multiple missions simultaneously.
It is also worth mentioning that a large number of customers, insurance agents, and other stakeholders prefer working with businesses possessing the certificate since they can rely on them more. Getting this document should not take long as long as you fulfill all requirements correctly.
The Steps Required to Get a ReOC
In order to obtain your certificate, you will need to comply with a certain number of requirements. First of all, you should note that this certificate cannot be applied for by individuals but rather only for organisations. So, you will either need to be the CEO of the company with all necessary permissions to make decisions, or hire a person with a Remote Pilot License.
Next, you will need to compose an operations manual. This document will contain all relevant details about your organisation and its flights, and it will play a pivotal role in proving that your company is compliant with all regulations. Then you need to fill out the application and make the payment of required fees.
Finally, you need to undergo an assessment interview, where the examiner will test your knowledge of the legislation and your manual.
Getting Ready for Higher Levels of Drone Operations
As can be seen, the commercial drone business in Australia will continue to evolve as time goes by. There is always a great demand for experienced professionals with the proper qualifications to work on numerous projects involving drone flights. Thus, you should try to start obtaining a Remote Operators Certificate now in order to improve your competitiveness and get access to better-paying projects.
