Drone laws Victoria [March 2023] [Rules & How to Register]

In recent years, the number of recreational drone users in Australia has increased exponentially. This is due to the affordability and accessibility of drones. There are many benefits to operating a drone including capturing photos for social media and sharing with family and friends. However, it’s important that you know how to operate your drone safely in Victoria so that you don’t breach CASA regulation or cause any damage or injury to others.

In Victoria, drones cannot be used within 4km of an airport or over 400ft above sea level. Additionally, drones cannot be used at night or within 5m of people or vehicles without their consent. Drones must stay away from protected areas like national parks, marine parks and forests.

drone Laws Victoria

piloting Tips For Recreational Drone Users

Here are some simple tips to help you fly your recreational drone in a safe and responsible manner:

• Fly your drone below 120 metres. This is the maximum height limit for drones in Australia.
• Always keep your drone within line of sight, which means that you must be able to see it at all times while it’s flying. For example, if you were using an iPhone or Android device to control your drone from the ground, then you must be close enough to see what’s happening on your screen (and react quickly) in case something goes wrong with flight plans or other settings.
• Do not fly closer than 30 metres from people (including yourself), animals and structures such as buildings or roads – even if these things are not directly underneath where you’re flying! Any unexpected gusts could send them into harm’s way should anything go wrong with landing gear etcetera…

how To Fly Your Drone Safely

To fly your drone safely, keep the following things in mind:

• Fly your drone at a safe distance from people and property. These are both the most important principles to follow when flying a drone. You’re responsible for any damage or injury caused by your drone so it is vital you know what part of the law applies to you as an operator. If you hit another person with your drone, it could cost them their life – so ensure there’s enough distance between yourself and others before taking off.
• Fly your drone at a safe height. This means flying within 400 feet (120 metres) of the ground at all times if you’re using first-person view (FPV), or up to 400 ft above ground level if operating manually using line-of-sight (LOS).

pilot Registration For Drone Users

Pilot registration for drone users is a legal requirement. It’s also very easy to do, and it’s free!

Registering your drone with CASA means that you’ll have access to much more useful information about the laws and regulations governing drones in Australia. You can also report any incidents involving drones that you might encounter to CASA, which will help them in their ongoing research into drone safety.

The benefits are clear: registering your drone is worth it both for yourself and others who share our airspace. We all want to keep ourselves and each other safe while using our machines, so let’s all get on board with this initiative!

when To Register To Operate Your Drone

If you’re operating a drone in Victoria, you’ll need to register it with CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority) before you fly. You can do this online or through the mail.

You can also use our convenient registration tool to find out if your drone is classed as an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), then quickly and easily complete the process of registering it before flying again!

where To Fly Your Drone

You can fly your drone:

• In an open area that is away from people, buildings, vehicles and aircraft. You may not fly over or near any public or private property without the owner’s permission.
• Within 5km of any airport, heliport or water aerodrome (including those located in parks and reserves) without the permission of the airport manager.
• Within 30 metres of a person unless you have their permission to do so. This includes people flying drones for commercial purposes, as well as hobbyists who are using their drone for a photo shoot or something similar (but not other recreational activities).

where Flying Your Drone Is Not Allowed In Victoria

You must not fly your drone:

• In any airspace around an airport without providing notice to the airport operator and air traffic control.
• Over crowds of people (including sporting events, concerts and festivals).
• Within 5.5 kilometres of an airport without providing notice to the airport operator and air traffic control. This restriction applies even if you are in visual line-of-sight with your drone at all times during flight, and regardless of whether or not you have a Certificate IV Aviation Security Awareness training qualification under Part 61 of CASA’s Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) or equivalent qualification under another law giving effect to an international convention that has been ratified by Australia. It also applies regardless of whether or not you hold an aviation security identification card issued under Part 39 CASR 1998, provided that the holder is acting within their scope of employment as specified on their card’s validity period (e.g., flying for a particular purpose rather than generally).

flying Near And Over Other People

Flying around or over people, buildings and vehicles is considered a no-no. This is because it’s illegal to fly closer than 30m (98ft) from any person or animal.

If you’re flying in a populated area, make sure you’re also at least 30m (98ft) away from any buildings, roads or vehicles.

flying Near Emergency Services

The most important rule on Victoria’s drone laws is to not fly near emergency services. If you’re in the area of an emergency and you notice a drone nearby, land it immediately—you can be charged under the Civil Aviation Act if this happens.

For instance, if you’re flying through a forest fire and a plane drops water on it from above, that plane would have priority over your drone. The same goes for police choppers looking for missing children or suspects hiding out in nearby forests or buildings: they have priority over your flying machine.

You should also avoid flying over people who are at work (like construction workers), parks or beaches where children play and other crowded areas; don’t fly into residential areas without permission; don’t fly over power lines; don’t fly into restricted airspace (for example: around airports); never take off from highways or roads; never fly under bridges due to safety concerns

registering Drones And Equipment From Overseas

If you are importing a drone or its equipment from overseas, you will need to register the drone with CASA before flying it. If you are flying a drone that was made in Australia or overseas, you must register it with CASA before flying it.

the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (casa) Regulates The Operation Of Drones.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the regulator of civil aviation in Australia. It has a range of responsibilities, including:

• Regulating the operation of drones (remotely piloted aircraft).
• Ensuring that drone pilots are appropriately trained and competent to operate their craft.
• Assessing applications for registration of recreational drones weighing less than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds), as well as other types of model aircraft and remotely piloted vehicles operated for sport or recreation.

how To Register Drone In Victoria

In Victoria, it is a legal requirement to register your drone with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The CASA-issued certificate of registration is proof that you have registered your drone, and therefore are legally permitted to fly your aircraft in Victoria. This guide will show you all the steps necessary to register your drone, including how to name it and how to get internet access if needed.

introduction

If you’re reading this article, you probably already know what a drone is. But just in case: a drone is a small unmanned aircraft that can be piloted remotely. Drones are used for all sorts of reasons, including photography and videography (both commercial and recreational), parcel delivery, search and rescue operations, scientific research purposes, military operations and more.

In Victoria (and Australia), drones must be registered with CASA before they’re flown outdoors. This process is called ‘registering your drone’ or ‘getting your drone registered’. It’s not difficult – just make sure your registration number is visible on the outside of your craft at all times when flying it!

which Drones Must Be Registered?

You will need to register your drone if it weighs 250 grams or more, or if its total weight is more than 250 grams.

If you don’t know how much your drone weighs or the total weight of your drone, then you can check these things in the box below.

Total flying time and distance of a flight are also important factors when determining whether a drone requires registration. If it was flown for less than one minute and not more than 50 metres from take-off point then it does not require registration.

who Must Register The Drone?

All drone pilots in Victoria must register their drones with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). If you are not a pilot, you must have a pilot who is registered.

If you are a pilot and don’t yet have an ATSB registration number, then it’s time to get one! You can do this by registering with your state’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) or by going to https://registermydrone.com.au/victoria/.

how Do I Name My Drone?

You must choose a name that is unique and not offensive. Your drone’s name cannot be misleading, too long or short, contain any special characters (such as &, !), numbers or spaces.

what Is A Casa-issued Certificate Of Registration?

A CASA-issued certificate of registration is a document that proves you have registered your drone. It can be collected from the registry office in person, over the phone or online.

In Victoria, these offices are located at major airports around the state. They are also available at many post offices and one of our agency offices in Melbourne (located at: 13 King Street Melbourne 3000).

can I Register My Drone If I Don’t Have Internet Access?

There are a number of places around Victoria where you can register your drone. Here’s a summary:

• Post Office
• Local Library
• Community Centre (e.g., community hall)
• Shopping Centre (e.g., Coles or Woolworths)

register Your Drone To Fly In Victoria

To register your drone in Victoria, you must first determine which agency is responsible for your area. The CAA oversees most of the state, but there are a few exceptions.

Here’s how to register your drone:

• Go to the CASA website and fill out their online application form for unmanned aircraft registration. They will send you an email once it has been approved or denied (usually within 24 hours). If you don’t receive a response after 48 hours.
• Fill out all required fields (name and address information), including payment details if necessary; then click “Submit” at the bottom right corner of each step until you reach Step 6: Confirmation – then complete any other fields they may have missed! Once done here, click “Next” at bottom right corner again until getting back into step 4 where they tell you what needs doing next – then complete those additional steps before doing yet another round through steps 1 through 3 again only this time clicking “Accept” instead when prompted near bottom left corner when finished working through each step again as before with no problems reported during processing times listed above indicated by asterisks (*).

are Drones Allowed In Victoria

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates the use of drones in Australia. While they have a clear set of rules that drone users must abide by, there is some flexibility depending on how you plan to fly your craft. Here are some frequently asked questions about drones and Victoria:

what Are The Rules For Flying A Drone In Victoria?

You can fly your drone in Victoria if it weighs less than 2 kilograms and is used for recreational or hobby purposes.

You must keep your drone at least 30 metres away from people, vehicles and buildings.

Drones cannot be flown within 5.5 kilometres of an aerodromes (airports). This includes Laverton Airport and Avalon Airport located in Geelong – both of which are major airports servicing V/line regional flights to interstate destinations including Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

can I Fly My Drone Over A Beach, Lake Or River?

If you’re flying your drone over a beach, lake or river, it must be kept at least 30 metres away from people.

That means you can fly your drone as long as it’s in the air for at least 30m (100ft) in any direction from another person.

It also means that your drone must not be operated within a 30m radius of boats and other vessels on the water—or within a 5km radius of airports.

In addition, drones cannot be flown directly above public beaches, parks or sports fields because they may interfere with people playing games on the ground below them.

can I Fly My Drone In An Urban Area?

You can fly in an urban area, but there are some rules you need to follow.

You must:

• Keep your drone at least 30m away from people, vehicles and buildings (or any other fixed structure). This includes large groups of people such as sporting events and concerts where you may not be able to detect who’s around you. If there is no-one within 30m of you when flying in an urban area, then it’s safe to assume they won’t be there when they land either.
• Keep your drone at least 30m away from aircraft such as planes or helicopters. You should also be aware that private aircraft might not have their transponders turned on so it’s important for them to know that drones are nearby too!
• Not fly higher than 120 metres above ground level unless given permission by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) in writing prior to operating within controlled airspace (for example: near airports).

can I Fly My Drone At Night Time?

No, it is illegal to fly a drone at night time.

Drones are restricted from flying at night because they are not suited to night operations and can cause nuisance to others.

are There Any Rules About What I Can Film With My Drone?

It is an offence to film people without their permission. You can’t film people in their homes, private vehicles or private property.

You cannot film people in their gardens or on patios of houses that are not yours.

conclusion

In Victoria, it’s illegal to fly a drone higher than 120 meters or within 30 meters of a person. You need to give way to public transport aircrafts and helicopters, and you can’t fly in a way that could endanger other aircraft.

As you can see, there are a lot of rules and regulations to drone flying in Victoria. It’s important that recreational drone users follow these rules so they don’t put themselves or others at risk. If you need more information about drone flying, please visit CASA’s website for more details on how the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates the operation of drones. Alternatively, contact your local police station for more information about local laws and restrictions on where you can fly your drone.

Frequently Asked Questions (drone Laws Victoria)

Can I Fly My Drone In Any Park?

You can fly your drone in any park except the Royal Botanic Gardens or Melbourne Cricket Ground.

If you need to fly at a location that is not approved for drones, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground or Royal Botanic Gardens, then you must register for an exemption with CASA.

Can I Fly My Drone Over 70 Metres?

You can fly your drone over 70 metres from the ground. You must be in line of sight of your drone at all times, and it is recommended that you do not fly over crowds or congested areas. Remember to always give way to other aircraft!

If you are planning on flying your drone at night, it must be fitted with a flashing light that makes it more visible to other people on the ground and pilots in the air (for example: red and green lights).

Can I Fly My Drone At Night?

Yes, you can fly your drone at night.

However, there are some restrictions:

• You must have lights on the drone. This is so people can see it and avoid it if necessary.
• You cannot fly over people’s heads or cars, as these are likely to be alarmed by a flying object above them at night (especially if they’re driving).
• You also should not fly over roads, as it is likely that drivers will become distracted from their tasks by what seems like an alien invasion!