Apply for flight authorisations

To fly in some locations or under certain conditions, you must apply for additional approvals or permissions. Only chief remote pilots of a remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC) holder can apply.

The requirements

To apply for a flight authorisation, you must:

  1. Fill out either:
  2. Include supporting documents and risk assessments.
  3. Pay the estimated fee following review of your application. Additional fees may apply if a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) inspector needs to travel to complete the assessment.

In addition to these requirements, operators undertaking complex operations may need a noise approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Apply for additional approvals

You must apply for approval to fly:

  • above 120 m (400 ft) above ground level (AGL) in controlled airspace
  • above 120 m (400 ft) AGL in non-controlled airspace
  • within 5.5 km (3 nm) of a controlled aerodrome
  • above 120 m (400 ft) AGL within 5.5 km (3 nm) of a controlled aerodrome, including military controlled aerodromes
  • over a movement area of a controlled aerodrome
  • in the approach or departure path of a runway of a controlled aerodrome.

These approvals take a minimum 28 days to process from the date of payment.

Apply for additional permissions

You must apply for permission to fly:

  • over a movement area of a non-controlled aerodrome
  • above 120 m (400 ft) AGL within 5.5 km (3 nm) of a non-controlled aerodrome.

These permissions take a minimum 28 days to process from the date of payment.

Flying indoors within 5.5 km (3 nm) of a controlled airport

To fly indoors within 5.5 km (3 nm) of a controlled airport, you must apply to us for permission. To apply, you must submit your updated Operations Manual and Library to us with procedures.

On approval, we will send you a letter granting you permission.

You don’t need permission if you have:

  • transitioned to a new ReOC that does not include (in Schedule 2) a restriction from operations within 3 nm of controlled airports
  • documented practices that include relevant content for indoor operations within 3 nm of a controlled airport.

Apply for beyond visual line-of-sight approvals

You must apply for approval to fly:

If this is your first BVLOS application, you may wish to arrange a pre-application meeting with us to discuss the general application process.

For EVLOS approval applications, you can use and incorporate it as an annex to your operations manual:

Apply to fly in Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas

You must apply for permission to fly in Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas. This area is restricted airspace (R405A/B) due to helicopters and seaplanes that have permission to fly there.

Apply to fly a drone light show

To apply to conduct a drone light show or swarm, you must submit a RPAS multi-purpose form and supporting documents, including information about where you plan to train and fly. You must consider:

  • the location of nearby public areas and available buffers
  • road or maritime exclusion zones and closures required
  • weather planning and effects
  • proximity to airports and air traffic
  • GPS availability and signal strength
  • electronic or physical barriers to stop drones escaping the programmed area
  • relevant stakeholders.

Once you have lodged your application, an RPAS inspector will:

  • conduct a technical desktop review
  • issue approval to carry out training and testing
  • conduct a technical onsite assessment
  • confirm the outcome of your application.

These approvals can take up to 3 months to process from the date of payment.

Submit a request through our online enquiry form for detailed guidance materials on:

  • application and assessment process
  • information on how to run a drone light show.

Renew approvals and permissions

To renew any expiring flight authorisations you must submit a new application at least 28 days prior to the expiry date.

Automated airspace approvals trial

We are undertaking a trial to digitally authorise requests to fly within 5.5 km (3 nm) of a controlled airport at 3 selected trial sites:

  • Adelaide Airport (YPAD)
  • Canberra Airport (YSCB)
  • Perth Airport (YPPH).

Varying your procedures

If you need to change your procedures that won’t require reissuing the instrument, and you hold a flight authorisation, you must submit:

Find out more about significant or non-significant changes on our Remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate page.

Contact us

Have a question? Need help?

You can contact us through our online enquiry form.

Last updated:
21 Aug 2023
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//drones/registration-and-flight-authorisations/apply-flight-authorisations
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