Beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations are where the remote pilot is:
- operating in a different location to the drone
- unable to maintain visual line-of-sight.
The requirements
To operate BVLOS, you must have a:
- remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC)
- remote pilot licence (RePL) with either:
- a pass in the Instrument Rating or BVLOS exam
- operate under the direct supervision of an individual who holds a pass in one of the exams (refer CASA EX51/24)
- BVLOS flight approval.
BVLOS flight approvals take several months to assess from the date of payment.
Specific operations risk assessment method
The Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) developed specific operations risk assessment (SORA). We adopted SORA in 2017.
In June 2024, JARUS published SORA 2.5. We anticipate CASA will provide an update on the transition to SORA 2.5 in 2025. All applications must continue to use the SORA 2.0 until this time.
You should submit your application based on the JARUS SORA (Package) and Standard Scenarios (JAR_doc_09):
You should familiarise yourself with the:
- AU-STS 2: Applicant response - BVLOS operations near a vertical object(s) with a sparsely populated ground environment (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- JARUS guidelines on SORA Annex A v1.0.
If this is your first JARUS SORA application, we recommend arranging a pre-application meeting to discuss the process. You can request a pre-application meeting using our form.
Temporary management instruction
We have published a temporary management instruction (TMI) to provide clearer guidance for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
This update introduces new population density bands and qualitative descriptors, which will support you to identify a more accurate ground risk class for your operational volume. The TMI incorporates elements from the latest SORA 2.5 version, including the ability to claim sheltering (in some circumstances) to reduce the ground risk class.
We hosted a free webinar designed to help you to apply to conduct beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. It covered the latest tools and tips on how to make a specific operations risk assessment (SORA) based BVLOS application.
Advanced operations
To enquire or apply for SORA SAIL III or higher operations go to advanced operations.
BVLOS standard scenarios
We have developed a suite of standard scenarios that you can use to apply for BVLOS operations with common characteristics.
For applications that meet the operational characteristics of one of the scenarios you may apply using the standard scenario applicant response:
- AU-STS 1: Applicant response - BVLOS operations near a vertical object(s) with a controlled ground environment (PDF, 877.6 KB)
- AU-STS 2: Applicant response - BVLOS operations near a vertical object(s) with a sparsely populated ground environment (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- AU-STS 4: Applicant response - BVLOS operations in a remote area within 3 NM of a registered or certified non-controlled aerodrome (PDF, 1.99 MB)
- AU-STS 6: Applicant response - BVLOS operations in remote Australian airspace (below 400 ft AGL) (PDF, 1.72 MB)
- AU-STS 7: Applicant response - BVLOS operations in remote Australian airspace (400 ft AGL to 5000 ft AMSL) (PDF, 1.53 MB)
When completing your application using a BVLOS standard scenario, please refer to: