Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Drone Licence in Australia

Well, you’ve finally made up your mind to move your drone operation to the next level. Perhaps you’re interested in commencing your photographic venture, property inspection, or you’d like to expand your drone operation beyond recreational standards. Whatever your motivations might be, obtaining your Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) certainly represents a significant milestone. However, applying for it isn’t always an easy ride.

Aspiring pilots are often left grounded because of purely administrative reasons or a misunderstanding of the regulations. Being rejected not only means disappointment but will also result in delaying your own plans and could incur costs for you. To assist you in dealing with the red tape and get you airborne sooner, we will examine the most common obstacles encountered today! 

Neglecting Practical Flight Training

It sounds simple, but it’s impossible to earn a flying license simply by reading books. The biggest risk is always underestimating the practical. Even if theory studies are absolutely necessary, it’s always essential to provide a demonstration that you know how to operate your machine safely.

Some candidates quickly move through this step or believe that their recreational experience alone is sufficient. Professional levels of proficiency are considerably higher, though. You must be able to prove your competence in various manoeuvres, as well as in emergency situations, only through the instruction of an approved training coach. Neglecting to accumulate enough hours or, even worse, not taking this step seriously will lead to an automatic disqualification.

Incomplete or Inaccurate Documentation

Bureaucracies thrive in paperwork, and the process for a drone is certainly no exception. Incomplete and misleading paperwork is perhaps the most frequent cause for holds. That includes everything from your original applications right down to your logbooks and training cards.

Every aspect has to be double-checked. Please make sure everything in the form is accurate, including the spelling of your last name on your identification being the same, the dates being correct, and all mandatory fields being filled in. If you’re applying on the basis of previous experience, the records in your flight log must be perfect. The CASA officials examine this paperwork very carefully, and any small errors can create sufficient doubts to temporarily halt the processing of your application.

Lack of Knowledge of Regulations

Knowledge of the rules of the sky is an absolute necessity, and drone courses in Brisbane by GDS will give you everything you need. The rules imposed by CASA cover all aspects of sky safety to ensure that the air is always safe for all aircraft, from aeroplanes to tiny model aircraft flown in the park. A surprisingly large number of candidates fail because they do not thoroughly understand the rules and regulations governing the category of licence they are seeking.

It is essential that you understand what you can and cannot fly, how high you are allowed, and then the distance you need to maintain from people and buildings. All the above information will be put to test in the theory part of your training. If you think you can take a casual approach and do not put effort into analysing the necessary reading material – namely CASR 101 – you will find it tough to clear the exams.

Disregarding Security Requirements

There are many responsibilities involved if someone wants to fly a drone commercially, and that’s why security checks are included. In applying for an Aviation Reference Number (ARN) and RePL, a background check may be necessary.

It is not uncommon for some individuals applying for this license to fail to provide their identification documents as required at this point. In the event that there is any problem with the background check or that identification information is not provided when it is requested, the license cannot be issued.

Disregarding Medical Standards

Finally, remember to consider your own health. Of course, you will not require medical clearance to fly as an airline pilot does, but there are some medical requirements that you will have to fulfil as well. You will generally be asked to state that you do not have any medical conditions that could affect your use of the drone.

Not disclosing a relevant condition or simply failing to address the medical questionnaire aspect of it would render you halted in your tracks. The best course of action here is to be truthful, and if you do happen to have one, you can determine whether it would disqualify you or whether you can function within certain limitations.

Clear Skies Ahead

Getting your RePL doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By homing in on the details and treating your training seriously, you can easily avoid these common pitfalls. By showing the same regard for your application as you know you are going to have for your flying, you’ll be airborne in no time!