BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations unlock enterprise-scale drone missionsโlarge-area surveys, infrastructure inspection, agricultural monitoring. But BVLOS is the most heavily regulated pathway. This guide walks you through CASA's approval process and shows you exactly what's required to legally operate BVLOS in Australia.
Piyo: "I want to survey a 500-hectare farm. The DJI M300 can fly 55 km away from me. Why do I need CASA approval if the drone handles it?"
Moo: "Because at 500 meters altitude and 20 km away, you can't see your droneโand neither can air traffic controllers. CASA must verify you have safeguards: a spotter who can see it, airspace coordination with Airservices Australia, and contingency plans for emergencies."
What Is BVLOS? The Definition
BVLOS = Beyond Visual Line of Sight. Technically, it means the RPA is operated >500m horizontally from the operator, or altitude exceeds operator's ability to maintain visual reference.BVLOS vs VLOS Comparison
| Factor | VLOS | BVLOS |
|---|---|---|
| Range from Operator | <500m horizontal | >500m horizontal |
| Altitude Ceiling | 120m AGL | 500m AGL |
| Visual Observer Required | No (operator sees aircraft) | Yes (dedicated spotter) |
| Airspace Coordination | None (Class G) | Yes (Airservices Australia) |
| CASA Approval | ReOC standard | OONP required |
| Insurance Premium | Baseline | +40โ80% |
| Survey Range | Limited (small sites) | Unlimited (large areas) |
| Preparation Time | 2 hours | 10โ20 hours |
Poppo: "Think of VLOS as 'eyes on aircraft at all times.' BVLOS is 'I have a dedicated person (spotter) watching for manned aircraft in the airspace, and I monitor the RPA via telemetry.' More complex, but vastly more capable."
CASA's BVLOS Approval Framework
CASA approves BVLOS through OONP (Operational Over Non-Populated areas) process in AC 21-62.
Step 1: Meet Baseline Eligibility
Before applying, verify you qualify:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| ReOC Status | Current, valid, no disqualifying incidents |
| BVLOS Endorsement | Training completed, documented (20โ40 hours) |
| Visual Observer | Second person, trained, unrestricted view |
| Aircraft Capability | Documented failsafe RTH, telemetry link, autopilot |
| Airspace Class | G preferred; E/D requires ATC coordination |
| Population Density | <5 people/kmยฒ (sparsely populated) |
Step 2: Develop Risk Assessment Document
This is the core of CASA approval. Document:
2.1 Operational Risk Analysis
Identify hazards:- Weather (wind, visibility, precipitation)
- Terrain (obstacles, buildings, power lines)
- Air traffic (manned aircraft, other RPA)
- System failures (engine loss, battery depletion, telemetry loss)
- Third-party interference (jamming, hacking)
| Hazard | Likelihood | Severity | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telemetry link loss at 15 km | Low (modern systems) | High (RPA loses control) | RTH failsafe auto-activates; spotter visually tracks descent |
| Manned aircraft in airspace | Very low (Class G, airspace coordination) | Critical (collision fatal) | Airservices NOTAM coordination; spotter airspace watch |
| Wind gust exceeds M300 limits (12 m/s) | Moderate (weather variability) | Moderate (RPA loss) | Pre-flight wind assessment; land if sustained >10 m/s |
| Ground personnel unaware of RPA | High (isolated area, transient workers) | High (strike risk) | Pre-operation briefing; restricted area perimeter; spotter comms |
2.2 Spotter Role & Training
Document your visual observer: `` Visual Observer: Jane Smith Training: 20 hours BVLOS observation (AC 21-62 compliant) Responsibilities:
- Continuous airspace monitoring (360ยฐ scan)
- Manned aircraft detection & avoidance
- Communication with pilot (radio/phone)
- Real-time hazard identification
- Emergency authority (order landing immediately)
2.3 Telemetry & Contingency
Describe your failsafe system:
- Telemetry Link: 4G/LTE backup + primary RC link (dual redundancy)
- Failsafe Trigger: Loss of signal >5 seconds
- Failsafe Action: RTH (Return to Home) + auto-land
- Altitude Floor: Minimum 50m AGL buffer before landing
- Spotter Override: Spotter can command land via radio if telemetry lost
2.4 Airspace Coordination
If airspace is Class E/D (near regional airports), coordinate with Airservices:
` Airspace Check:
- Airservices Australia NOTAM request submitted 20 days prior
- Class G confirmed via airspace chart
- Nearest airport: Goulburn Airport (15 km south)
- NOTAM issued: "BVLOS RPA ops, [date], [time window], [location]"
- Non-conflict with manned traffic confirmed
``
Moo: "NOTAM = Notice to Airmen. It's an alert broadcast to all pilots in a region. If you're flying BVLOS near an airport, Airservices issues a NOTAM so manned aircraft know to stay out of your zone. Without NOTAM, you're invisible to ATC."
Step 3: Submit BVLOS Application to CASA
Required Documents:- BVLOS Risk Assessment (as above)
- Aircraft specifications (Matrice 300: manual, payload limits, max range)
- Spotter training certificate (hours logged, sign-off)
- Operations manual excerpt (BVLOS procedures section)
- Insurance certificate (must include BVLOS endorsement)
- Pilot & observer credentials
- Emergency procedures (loss of telemetry, manned aircraft sighting)
Step 4: CASA Review & Feedback
CASA evaluates:- โ Risk assessment adequacy (can they identify hazards? Are mitigations realistic?)
- โ Spotter competency (trained? Experienced? Reliable?)
- โ Aircraft capability (sufficient payload? Sufficient range? Failsafe robust?)
- โ Airspace coordination (NOTAM in place? No conflicts?)
- โ Regulatory alignment (does plan comply with CASR Part 101 + AC 21-62?)
Step 5: Operation Under Approval
Your CASA approval letter specifies:
- Valid dates (e.g., 2026-04-08 through 2026-04-12)
- Geographic area (e.g., "500-hectare surveyed area, coordinates [lat/lon]")
- Time windows (e.g., "0700โ1700 AEST, excluding sunset/sunrise ยฑ30 mins")
- Personnel (named pilot, named spotter)
- Conditions (e.g., "No ops if wind >10 m/s" or "Airspace NOTAM must be active")
- Carry approval letter + insurance
- Verify NOTAM active (call Airservices 1300-NOTAM-AU)
- Brief team pre-flight (spotter, ground crew)
- Log all flights (time, duration, incidents)
- Report any deviation (e.g., "Spotter lost comms for 2 minutes")
Cost of BVLOS Operations
| Cost Category | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BVLOS training (pilot) | $2,000โ$4,000 | 20โ40 hours, CASA-aligned course |
| Spotter training | $1,000โ$2,000 | 10โ20 hours |
| Risk assessment development | $1,500โ$3,000 | DIY or hire consultant |
| CASA application & processing | Included in ReOC | No additional fee |
| Insurance upgrade (BVLOS endorsement) | +$2,000โ$5,000/year | Depends on aircraft & scope |
| Airservices NOTAM | Free (Airservices funds) | Included in airspace coordination |
| Total first-mission cost | $6,500โ$14,000 | Amortized over multiple ops |
Piyo: "That's expensive. Is BVLOS worth it?"
Poppo: "Depends on your market. A 500-hectare survey takes 3โ4 hours VLOS (multiple flights, repositioning). BVLOS does it in 1 flightโ1.5 hours of airtime. If you charge AUD $5,000/survey, BVLOS pays back investment in 2โ3 missions."
Common BVLOS Approval Denials & How to Avoid
| Reason for Denial | Your Mistake | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Insufficient risk assessment | Vague hazard analysis ("wind might happen") | Quantify: "Historical wind data shows <10% chance of sustained >10 m/s" |
| Spotter lacks documented training | Used untrained family member | Enroll spotter in certified BVLOS observation course |
| Aircraft failsafe not proven | "Matrice 300 RTH works, I assume" | Provide manufacturer spec sheet + test flight evidence |
| Airspace coordination missing | "It's Class G, no coordination needed" | Even Class G benefits from NOTAM; issue preventively |
| Insurance doesn't cover BVLOS | Generic commercial policy | Add BVLOS endorsement; provide updated certificate to CASA |
MmowW Integration for BVLOS Compliance
MmowW streamlines BVLOS documentation: โ Flight logging with telemetry โ Automatic failsafe event recording โ Spotter shift tracking โ Document observer ID, hours, airspace watch events โ Incident logging โ Manned aircraft sightings, telemetry blips, RTH events โ CASA approval file โ Organized document storage (upload approval letter, risk assessment) โ Airspace NOTAM integration โ Automated NOTAM status alerts
Cost: A$8.50/drone/month. Eliminates spreadsheet chaos for BVLOS ops.FAQ
Q: Can I be both the pilot and visual observer for BVLOS?A: No. CASA explicitly requires a separate, dedicated visual observer. The observer watches airspace for manned aircraft; the pilot monitors telemetry and aircraft. Two people, one mission.
Q: How far can I fly BVLOS?A: Limited by telemetry range, not regulation. Modern Matrice 300 has 10+ km range. But CASA OONP typically limits to "visually observable altitude at ~500m," which is 4โ6 km practical range.
Q: If I'm flying BVLOS in Class G airspace, do I need Airservices NOTAM?A: Not strictly required for Class Gโbut CASA approval requires documented airspace coordination. Issue NOTAM anyway (it's free).
Q: What's the difference between BVLOS approval and OONP approval?A: OONP is the regulatory pathway; BVLOS is the operational capability. All BVLOS ops are OONP. Not all OONP is BVLOS (some OONP is VLOS in sparsely populated areas).
Q: Can I operate BVLOS at night?A: Rare. Requires BVLOS + night ops endorsement + spotter visual capability (floodlights, night vision). Most operators avoid due to complexity.
Q: How long is BVLOS approval valid?A: Typically 5 days (single mission). Standing approvals for recurring ops are 1 year, renewable.
The Bottom Line
BVLOS is achievable for professional operators willing to invest in training, risk management, and airspace coordination. The approval process isn't adversarialโCASA genuinely wants safe BVLOS ops. Strong documentation and responsible planning result in approvals 85% of the time.