How to get a CASA ReOC in 2026: a step-by-step guide

By Muhammad Shibli Aslam, OHS Talks · October 2026 · 7-minute read

A Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC) is the CASA certificate that lets an organisation run drone operations as a business beyond the simple “excluded” rules. It is issued to the business, not the pilot – your pilots still need their own Remote Pilot Licence (RePL). If you are planning to fly bigger drones for clients, at night, closer to people or in controlled airspace, this is the certificate you are working towards.

First: do you actually need one?

Many small operators don’t. If you fly a drone under 2 kg commercially and stay inside CASA’s standard operating conditions, you can work in the sub-2 kg excluded category without a ReOC – you need an ARN, drone registration and operator accreditation (or a RePL), and you notify CASA before you fly commercially.

Excluded category vs ReOC at a glance

The three key people

CASA needs to see who is accountable. A small business can have one person in more than one role, but each role must be filled by someone CASA has accepted:

• Chief Executive / Responsible Manager – accountable for the business and its resources.
• Chief Remote Pilot (CRP) – runs flight operations, pilot standards and the operations manual. CASA interviews this person.
• Maintenance Controller – keeps every drone airworthy and its maintenance records up to date.

Step by step

1. Get the basics in place. ARNs for the business and key people, a RePL for the CRP, and a clear list of the drones (make and model) you will operate.
2. Decide your scope. What types of work, which aircraft, and which extras (night, near aerodromes, closer to people). Every extra adds procedures and assessment.
3. Write the operations manual and procedures library. Most operators start from CASA’s templates, but the manual must describe how your business actually works – the most common reason applications stall is a template that hasn’t been tailored.
4. Set up records. Flight records, pilot logbooks, a technical log and maintenance schedule for each drone, plus a register of the CASA instruments and approvals you rely on.
5. Apply. Lodge with CASA directly or through an authorised delegate. CASA charges for the assessment, and the time depends on how complete your package is.
6. Assessment. Expect a document review, an interview with the CRP on the manual and drone knowledge, and a planning scenario. Gaps come back as findings to fix.
7. Keep it alive. A ReOC has an expiry date. Keep records current, review the manual at least annually, and start the renewal well before it expires.

How long does it take?

Once a complete application is lodged, a delegate assessment can be quick – some delegates aim to issue within about two weeks. The real time is in preparing a manual that matches your operation, getting key people ready for interview and closing any findings. For most small businesses we work with, the whole journey takes two to three months.

Mistakes that slow applications down

• Copy-paste manuals that name the wrong aircraft or procedures you don’t actually use
• A CRP who hasn’t practised explaining the manual out loud
• No maintenance records for the drones listed
• Asking for every extra (night, BVLOS, near people) on day one instead of starting simple
• Forgetting the business side – insurance, WHS risk assessments and client SWMS

Sources: CASA – Get your ReOC; CASA – Key personnel guide: Chief Remote Pilot. This guide is general information, not legal or regulatory advice; check CASA’s current requirements for your operation. We never promise approval – CASA makes that decision.