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Drone Flights Over People Australia CASA 2026: Ultimate rule

  • CASA News
  • May 19, 2026
Drone Flights Over People Australia CASA 2026

If you fly drones commercially in Australia and you’re already approved to operate near people — good news. CASA has made drone flights over people Australia CASA 2026 a lot simpler. If you hold the right approval, you no longer need to apply for a second, separate permit just to fly over a busy or populated area. One approval now covers both situations.

This is a practical, real-world change that reduces paperwork and costs for commercial operators who regularly work in populated environments — think real estate, events, construction sites, or infrastructure inspections in built-up areas.

In this article we explain what changed, who qualifies, what drone sizes it applies to, and exactly what you need to do to take advantage of it. At Skytronics, we track CASA updates so Australian drone operators always know what’s changed.

At Skytronics, we monitor CASA updates closely so Australian drone operators always know what's changed and what it means for their operations.

What Did CASA Announce About Drone Flights Over People Australia CASA 2026?

In plain terms: CASA introduced a general exemption that lets certain approved operators skip one of the two permits that were previously required for flying over or near people in populated areas. Before this change, if you wanted to fly commercially over a busy area, you often had to go through two separate approval processes:

  • Approval 1: Getting CASA approval to fly within 30 metres of people who aren’t part of your operation (under CASR regulation 101.029)
  • Approval 2: Getting a separate exemption to fly over a populous area — like a beach, park, CBD, or crowded event (under CASR 101.280)

Now, if you already have Approval 1 in place, you automatically have Approval 2 as well. CASA has removed the need to apply separately. That’s the core of the change.

Here’s a quick summary of the key details:

  1. The exemption is a general one — it doesn’t require a separate application
  2. It applies to very small, small, and medium remotely piloted aircraft only
  3. You still need to hold a current, valid CASA approval to fly near people (reg 101.029 or CASA 20/25)
  4. All other Part 101 rules still apply — this isn’t a free pass
  5.  You must stick to your operations manual and all conditions of your approval
  6. 6. The exemption covers flying outside an approved area under CASR 101.250(1)(b) and flying over a populous area under CASR 101.280(2)

Full details are available on the official CASA page: casa.gov.au — Making approved drone flights over people simpler

What Exactly Is a 'Populous Area' in Australian Drone Law?

This is one of the questions operators ask most often, and it’s worth understanding clearly.

Under Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, a populous area is any place where there are enough people around that a drone accident could create an unreasonable risk to people on the ground. It’s not just about population numbers — it’s about the potential impact if something went wrong.

Common Examples of Populous Areas Include:

  • Beaches on a busy weekend
  • Parks during events or markets
  • Sports ovals during games
  • Shopping centres and car parks with foot traffic
  • CBD streets and footpaths
  • Residential suburbs with people outside

■■ Important: A location doesn't have to look 'crowded' to be classified as a populous area. If a failure during your flight could pose an unreasonable risk to anyone on the ground, it likely qualifies. When in doubt, treat it as populous.

Who Does This Affect?

Recreational Drone Pilots

This exemption doesn’t apply to recreational flyers. If you fly for fun, you still need to keep 30 metres away from other people and avoid populous areas. The standard drone safety rules haven’t changed for hobby flyers.

Commercial Operators — ReOC Holders

This is who the change is designed for. If you hold a Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC) and you’ve already gone through the CASA approval process for flying over or near people, you’re the target audience for this exemption.

Think of operators running real estate photography in suburbs, drone inspection work near infrastructure in built-up areas, agricultural spraying near farm workers.

■ If you hold a current CASA OONP approval (over or near people) under reg 101.029 or CASA 20/25, you can now fly over a populous area without needing a separate populous area permit. Your existing approval already covers it

What Drone Sizes Does This Apply To?

The exemption only applies to three CASA size categories:

Category Max Take-Off Weight Common Examples
Very Small RPA Up to 2 kg DJI Mini series, small camera drones
Small RPA 2 kg to 25 kg DJI Matrice 300, Autel EVO II Pro
Medium RPA 25 kg to 150 kg Larger survey and agriculture drones

Large RPA (150 kg+) are not included in this exemption. Those operations remain subject to their own, more
stringent approval requirements.

What Do You Need to Do to Use the Exemption?

The good news is there’s no separate application required. If you already meet the conditions, the exemption applies automatically. Here’s how to check and make sure you’re covered:

Step 1. Check Your Current Approval

Look at your existing CASA approval documents. Do you hold a current, valid approval to fly within 30 metres of people who aren’t part of your operation (regulation 101.029), or to fly in or over another person’s safety zone (CASA 20/25)? If yes, you’re eligible.

Step 2. Make Sure Your Drone Is in the Right Size Category

The exemption covers very small, small, and medium RPA only. If you’re operating a large RPA (over 150 kg), this doesn’t apply to you. Check your aircraft’s MTOW and confirm it falls within one of the three eligible categories.

Step 3. Check That Your Approval Is Still Current

The exemption only works if your OONP approval is current and valid. If it’s expired, you don’t qualify until you renew it. Double-check the expiry date on your approval documentation.

Step 4. Follow All Conditions in Your Operations Manual

The exemption doesn’t override your existing approval conditions. Every requirement in your operations manual still applies — flight procedures, risk controls, crew briefing requirements, and emergency response plans all remain in force.

Step 5. Confirm You’re Still Following All Other Part 101 Rules

This exemption removes one administrative step, not your compliance obligations. Height limits, VLOS requirements, airspace rules, and all other standard drone operating conditions remain unchanged.

What Doesn’t Change — Important Reminders

It’s easy to read a simplification like this and assume more has changed than it has. Here’s what stays exactly the same:

  1. You still need a valid ReOC to conduct commercial drone operations.
  2. You still need a current OONP approval (the exemption doesn’t replace this — it builds on top of it).
  3. All Part 101 rules remain in force — height limits, VLOS, airspace, weather minimums.
  4. Your operations manual conditions still apply — every one of them.
  5. This exemption does not apply to large RPA (over 150 kg).
  6. Recreational pilots do not benefit from this change.

■■ This is not a blanket permission to fly wherever you like. It's a targeted administrative simplification for operators who have already proven they can operate safely near people. Your safety case still matters.

 

The Skytronics Perspective

 

Honestly, this is the kind of change the industry has been asking for. The double-approval system never made a lot of sense for operators who had already gone through the rigorous process of getting OONP approval. If CASA has already assessed that your operation near people is safe, requiring a second application for a populated area was just extra paperwork for the same risk scenario.

For commercial operators — especially those doing real estate, events, construction inspection, or agriculture — this directly reduces compliance costs and speeds up operations. Less time on permit applications means more time actually flying.

The types of drones commonly used for these jobs — reliable multi-rotor platforms with strong safety records, clean payload integration, and solid obstacle avoidance — are exactly the ones this exemption targets. The regulatory shift rewards operators who invest in quality equipment and take safety seriously.

Explore our range of commercial drones and agriculture drones — designed for exactly the kind of professional, populated-area operations this update supports.

Not sure whether your current approval qualifies or which drone suits your operation? Speak to the Skytronics team — we're happy to help →

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: Do I need to apply for anything to use this exemption?

A: No — there’s no separate application. If you already hold a current CASA approval to fly within 30 metres of uninvolved people (reg 101.029) or in another person’s safety zone (CASA 20/25), the exemption applies automatically. Just make sure your approval is current and you’re operating within its conditions.

Q: Does this apply to all drone sizes?

A: No. The CASA drone exemption update covers very small RPA (up to 2 kg), small RPA (2–25 kg), and medium RPA (25–150 kg) only. Large RPA over 150 kg are not included and still require their own populous area approvals.

Q: Do all my other CASA rules and permit conditions still apply?

A: Yes, absolutely. This exemption removes one administrative requirement — it doesn’t change any other Part 101 obligations. Your operations manual conditions, VLOS rules, height limits, and all other requirements remain in full force.

Q: I’m a recreational pilot. Does this help me?

A: Unfortunately, no. The OONP drone approval Australia exemption only applies to ReOC holders who have gone through the formal CASA approval process. If you fly recreationally, the standard rules still apply — keep 30 metres from people and stay out of populous areas.

 

Wrapping Up

CASA’s update to drone flights over people Australia CASA 2026 is a sensible, practical move that reduces red tape for operators who have already earned their approval to fly near people. If you hold a current OONP approval and fly a very small, small, or medium drone, check your documents — you may already be covered for populated area operations without any additional paperwork.

 

Stay up to date with the latest CASA drone rule changes by following our Drone Rules category on the Skytronics blog. We translate the official documents into plain language so you can keep flying with confidence.

Note:

Source: Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) — Drone Flights Over People Australia CASA 2026

All information sourced from CASA and rewritten in our own words for the Australian drone community. Always verify current rules at casa.gov.au.

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