Airffic InspectionThe future guide to drone inspection

REGULATIONS / AU

Australia: drone rules for inspection

Australia regulates drones under CASR Part 101. Every commercially flown drone must be registered whatever its weight, and excluded-category commercial operators flying drones over 250 g need online operator accreditation unless they hold an RePL. Inspections outside the standard conditions (day, VLOS with the pilot's own eyes, ≤120 m, ≥30 m from people, never over people or populous areas), such as BVLOS, night or close to people, need an RePL, a ReOC and a specific approval. In 2026 CASA consulted on two proposals: easing operations over or near people, including a no-approval pathway up to 25 kg where people are protected by a structure, and national RePL/BVLOS exams. Neither is final yet.

Checked against official sources

Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.

Authorityオーストラリア民間航空安全局 (CASA) / Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Main frameworkCivil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) Part 101 (unmanned aircraft and rockets), with registration and accreditation provisions added by an amendment made in 2019, and the Part 101 Manual of Standards 2019, which was amended in 2024 (miscellaneous fixes; the Chief Remote Pilot Licence Instructor role took effect on 10 July 2024).
RegistrationUnder the 2019 amendment regulations, every RPA flown commercially must be registered with CASA whatever its weight, including excluded-category operations. Recreational RPA and model aircraft over 250 g are also covered, while recreational aircraft of 250 g or less and indoor recreational flying are exempt. The minimum age to register is 16. Whether the recreational stage is now in force was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Remote IDNo Remote ID requirement turned up in the CASA documents reviewed (the 2026 policy proposals and consultations do not mention one). (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Pilot licensingOperators of excluded-category commercial RPA over 250 g need operator accreditation unless they hold a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL). Accreditation is an online video and quiz, renewed every three years, with a minimum age of 16. Flying outside the standard operating conditions needs an RePL and a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator's Certificate (ReOC), plus a specific CASA approval. A 2026 consultation (CD 2613US) proposes nationally consistent RePL and BVLOS examinations, set by CASA and run by approved providers.
Risk categoriesAustralia uses excluded categories (for example micro RPA of 250 g or less, and excluded commercial operations that meet the standard operating conditions) versus operations under a ReOC that need approvals. There is no EU-style Open/Specific scheme, although CASA accepts SORA-based assessments as one pathway for approvals over or near people. The exact excluded-category weight thresholds (2 kg and 25 kg) were not re-read in the regulation text (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
BVLOSBVLOS is outside the standard operating conditions, so it needs an RePL, a ReOC and a CASA approval. Excluded-category operators cannot apply for approvals beyond the standard operating conditions, including BVLOS. CASA is moving to set national BVLOS examinations (CD 2613US, consultation closed September 2026; no final decision yet). CASA's BVLOS guidance page could not be fetched (robots_disallowed), so the details of the approval process and any standard scenarios are not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22.
Night & over peopleStandard operating conditions: daylight only; VLOS with the operator's own eyes; at or below 120 m AGL; at least 30 m from people other than those helping with the operation; never over people or populous areas such as events, beaches or roads in use; only one RPA at a time. Night flight and flight within 30 m of or over people need an approval under a ReOC. CASA's 2024 temporary management instruction for operations over or near people has energy-based, consent-based and SORA-based pathways. Policy proposal PP 2609US (April 2026, consultation closed 20 May 2026) would add new pathways: micro RPA flown by RePL holders without approval; drones up to 25 kg with no approval needed where everyone within 30 m is protected by a structure or barrier; a low-altitude pathway (≤1.5 kg, 4-10 m AGL); and a parachute pathway. Implementation dates have not been set.
Near structuresAustralia has no general 'shielded operation' exemption. The standard conditions keep RPA over 250 g at least 5.5 km from controlled aerodromes and out of approach/departure paths, and they limit flying near emergency operations. Operations near structures that break the 30 m or populous-area rules need approval. PP 2609US proposes a physical-barrier pathway (people protected by a structure or a stationary vehicle), which is relevant to inspection near buildings, but it is still a proposal. Australia has no general national rule on flying near power lines or railways (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Indoor & confinedThe 2019 registration amendment exempts recreational RPA flown indoors from registration. Whether Part 101 applies to commercial flights inside enclosed buildings was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Imaging & privacyPrivacy Act 1988 (Cth) and state and territory surveillance device laws (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Recent changes2024: Part 101 MOS miscellaneous-fixes amendment (F2024L00490, registered 29 April 2024), with the Chief Remote Pilot Licence Instructor role taking effect on 10 July 2024; the 2024 temporary management instruction on operations over or near people. 2025-2026: CASA is reviewing the RPAS rules through a technical working group (terms of reference June 2025). CASA said it planned MOS amendments through 2025 and regulation changes from late 2025 into 2026. Two proposals followed: PP 2609US (operations over or near people, April 2026) and CD 2613US (Part 101 miscellaneous amendments 2026: NOTAMs only where they help safety, national RePL/BVLOS exams; consultation 6 August to 3 September 2026). Neither is final.

Sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22