Product Overview

Summary: This Agriculture Drone Operations SOP provides a clear, step-by-step framework for safely planning, flying and maintaining drones in Australian farming and agribusiness environments. It helps you control WHS risks, meet CASA regulatory requirements, and standardise drone use for mapping, crop monitoring and agricultural spraying across your operations.

Agricultural drones are transforming how Australian farms and agribusinesses monitor crops, manage livestock and apply chemicals, but they also introduce new safety, legal and operational risks. This Agriculture Drone Operations Safe Operating Procedure provides a practical, farm-ready framework for planning and conducting drone flights in line with WHS obligations and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules. It addresses the unique challenges of working around machinery, chemicals, overhead powerlines, dust, variable weather and remote locations common across Australian primary production.

The SOP walks your team through every stage of safe drone use: from pre-flight planning, airspace checks and risk assessments, through to launch, in-flight controls, emergency responses and post-flight maintenance. It clarifies who can fly, what qualifications are required, and how to manage battery safety, payloads and data capture in a consistent way across your properties. By implementing this procedure, you reduce the likelihood of crashes, near misses, chemical misapplication and privacy complaints, while creating a defensible audit trail that shows regulators, insurers and clients that your drone operations are controlled, compliant and professionally managed.

Key Benefits

• Ensure drone operations comply with CASA regulations and Australian WHS legislation across all farm sites.
• Reduce the risk of crashes, fly-aways and near misses involving workers, contractors, the public and neighbouring properties.
• Standardise pre-flight checks, flight procedures and post-flight documentation for consistent, repeatable operations.
• Minimise incidents related to chemical spraying, including drift, off-target application and operator exposure.
• Support safe integration of drones with other farm activities, including ground spraying, harvesting and livestock handling.

Who is this for?

• Farm Owners and Managers
• Agricultural Drone Operators
• Agronomists and Precision Agriculture Specialists
• Contract Sprayers and Aerial Application Providers
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Station Managers and Farm Supervisors
• Vineyard and Orchard Managers
• Mixed Farming Operations Managers
• Drone Program Coordinators
• Training and Compliance Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Collision with people, vehicles, structures, trees and overhead powerlines
• Loss of control or fly-away due to signal interference, GPS loss or equipment failure
• Battery fire, thermal runaway and unsafe charging or storage of lithium batteries
• Chemical exposure from agricultural spray payloads, including spills and drift
• Noise and nuisance impacts on workers, neighbours and livestock
• Adverse weather impacts such as high winds, dust, rain and extreme heat on drone performance
• Slips, trips and falls during launch, landing and retrieval in uneven or remote terrain
• Manual handling injuries from transporting drones, batteries and spray tanks
• Privacy and surveillance risks when operating near neighbouring properties or public areas
• Fatigue and distraction when operating drones for extended periods or while multitasking

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations (including RPAS, ReOC, RePL, VLOS, BVLOS)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Regulatory and WHS Compliance Obligations (CASA and WHS)
• 5.0 Drone and Payload Specifications
• 6.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Agricultural Drone Use
• 7.0 Pre-Flight Planning and Site Assessment
• 8.0 Airspace Checks, NOTAMs and Weather Assessment
• 9.0 Pre-Start Inspections and Equipment Checks
• 10.0 Battery Management, Charging and Storage Procedures
• 11.0 Safe Operating Procedures – Take-off, Flight and Landing
• 12.0 Agricultural Spraying and Payload Handling Procedures
• 13.0 Working Around People, Livestock, Powerlines and Other Plant
• 14.0 Emergency Procedures (Loss of Control, Crash, Fire, Chemical Spill)
• 15.0 Incident Reporting, Near Misses and Corrective Actions
• 16.0 Data Management, Privacy and Neighbour Relations
• 17.0 Maintenance, Calibration and Recordkeeping Requirements
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) – Part 101 Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets
• CASA Advisory Circulars and guidance for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and harmonised State/Territory legislation)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 3825:2020 Procedures and devices for the removal of ignition sources
• Relevant State/Territory pesticide and agricultural chemical control of use legislation and guidance