Eligibility requirements for a remote pilot licence (RePL)

In plain language

To get your Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) in Australia, you must pass a theory exam, complete practical training or a flight test for your drone category, and log at least 5 hours of flying experience under standard conditions.

Requirement as structured

To be granted a remote pilot licence (RePL), an applicant must pass an approved aeronautical knowledge examination, complete an approved practical training course or flight test for the relevant RPA category, and have at least 5 hours of experience operating an RPA under standard operating conditions.

Original regulatory text

(2) Subject to regulation 11.055, CASA must grant a remote pilot licence to the applicant if he or she: (a) has passed: (i) an aeronautical knowledge examination (within the meaning of Part 61) for a flight crew licence under Part 61; or (ii) an aviation licence theory examination before 1 September 2014 that is taken to be an equivalent requirement for the grant of a flight crew licence under regulation 202.274; or (iii) the theory component of an RPL training course; or (iv) the theory component of a course conducted in a foreign country which CASA is satisfied is equivalent to the theory component of an RPL training course; and (b) has completed: (i) an RPL training course in the manual or automated operation of a category of RPA that he or she proposes to operate; or (ii) before 1 June 2017, a training course in the operation of a category of RPA that he or she proposes to operate, conducted by the RPA’s manufacturer or an agent of the manufacturer; or (iii) a flight test conducted by CASA for the purposes of this subparagraph; and (c) has at least 5 hours experience in operating an RPA under standard RPA operating conditions.