Drone Safe Work Method Statement

Commercial drone operations in Australia require either operating under Excluded Category provisions for drones under 2kg subject to standard operating conditions, or holding Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) operating under Remote Operator's Certificate (ReOC) for more complex operations. Excluded Category permits operations of drones under 2kg in daylight, within visual line of sight, below 120 metres above ground level, away from aerodromes, not over populous areas, and maintaining 30-metre separation from people not involved in operations. No licence is required for excluded category if all conditions met, though thorough training is still recommended. Remote Pilot Licence requires passing CASA theoretical knowledge examinations covering aviation legislation, meteorology, navigation, and human factors, followed by practical flight test demonstrating operational competency. RePL permits commercial operations with drones of any weight subject to operations manual procedures and ReOC holder safety management systems. For construction applications, most progress photography and basic inspection work can be conducted under excluded category using sub-2kg drones, whilst survey operations, large site coverage, or operations requiring flexibility beyond standard operating conditions typically require RePL and ReOC. Organisations conducting regular drone operations should consider obtaining ReOC providing operational flexibility and professional credibility. Individual pilots working for ReOC holders can operate with RePL under the certificate holder's operations manual without needing their own ReOC. All commercial drone operations regardless of category require appropriate insurance coverage typically minimum $20 million public liability including specific drone operations extension.

Drone operations within 5.5 kilometres of controlled aerodromes (airports with control towers) require prior CASA approval submitted minimum 5 business days before planned operations. Approval applications specify proposed operational area, aircraft details, operational procedures, and timeframes. CASA assesses applications considering aerodrome operations, approach paths, and aviation safety, granting approval with conditions or refusing if safety concerns cannot be adequately addressed. Operations within 3 kilometres of non-controlled aerodromes (aerodromes without control towers) do not require CASA approval but require notification to aerodrome operator before operations providing details of planned activity. For construction sites located within these distances, drone contractors must factor approval timeframes into project planning and may face restrictions on operational areas, maximum heights, or operational timing to avoid conflicts with aircraft movements. Some busy airports may refuse drone operation approvals entirely if construction sites are located in critical approach or departure paths. Alternative documentation methods including ground-based photography, traditional surveying, or elevated work platforms may be necessary if drone approvals cannot be obtained. Regular communication with CASA and aerodrome operators during approval processes helps identify constraints and develop acceptable operational procedures. Drone pilots must monitor NOTAM system before each operation as temporary restrictions may be imposed for emergency operations, VIP movements, or special events even if standing approvals exist for routine operations.

Modern drones incorporate failsafe procedures activating automatically if GPS signal or communication link is lost during flight. Typical failsafe behaviour includes return-to-home function where aircraft automatically flies back to recorded take-off position using last known GPS coordinates and lands, or automatic hover maintaining last position until signal recovers or battery depletes requiring landing. Pilots should pre-configure failsafe behaviour through aircraft settings selecting appropriate response for operational environment - return-to-home suitable for open areas, whilst hover may be preferable in congested areas where automated return flight might strike obstacles. If GPS signal is lost but communication remains, aircraft typically maintains current position using barometric altitude and compass heading though position drift occurs over time. Pilot should immediately command aircraft return to visual range allowing manual flight control using visual references rather than GPS positioning. If communication link is lost, pilots should remain at control position as aircraft failsafe typically results in return-to-home and automated landing near pilot position. Move only if necessary to maintain visual observation of returning aircraft. Do not attempt to approach or capture aircraft during failsafe landing as rotating propellers create injury hazards. If communication link does not recover and aircraft executes return-to-home, be prepared to observe landing and secure aircraft once motors stop. Document any GPS loss or communication link failure incidents in flight logs and investigate causes before conducting further operations. Electromagnetic interference from power lines, communication towers, or other radio frequency sources commonly causes GPS and communication problems requiring operational area changes or different flight paths avoiding interference sources. Consider backup landing areas in operational planning accounting for possible return-to-home activations requiring clear landing space.

Construction drone operations must comply with Privacy Act 1988 and state surveillance device legislation when capturing imagery potentially identifying individuals or private property. The key privacy principle is that individuals have reasonable expectation of privacy in private spaces including residential properties, yards, balconies, and building interiors. Drone photography capturing construction sites often inadvertently records neighbouring residential properties, individuals in private outdoor spaces, and views into windows of surrounding buildings. Best practice privacy compliance includes conducting privacy impact assessments before operations identifying privacy risks and implementing controls, planning flight paths and camera orientation focusing on construction subject whilst minimising capture of surrounding private property, implementing image review procedures examining footage before distribution and obscuring or deleting segments showing identifiable individuals without consent, obtaining consent from neighbouring property owners if deliberately filming private property beyond incidental background capture, establishing secure data storage for drone footage preventing unauthorised access, implementing retention schedules deleting footage when no longer required for legitimate project documentation purposes, and responding promptly to privacy complaints investigating concerns and deleting footage if violations are confirmed. When publishing construction progress imagery including project websites, promotional videos, or social media posts, review content carefully obscuring identifiable individuals, vehicle registration plates, and neighbouring property details using video editing software. Post signage on construction sites visible to neighbours advising of periodic drone operations and providing contact details for privacy enquiries. Some construction sites including defence facilities, correctional centres, and critical infrastructure prohibit drone photography entirely due to security sensitivities requiring alternative documentation methods. Privacy awareness training for drone pilots emphasises privacy as equally important to aviation safety in commercial drone operations.

Maximum wind speed limits for drone operations depend on aircraft specifications, flight stability requirements, and pilot competency. Most commercial multi-rotor drones specify maximum wind resistance of 35-50 km/h (10-14 m/s) in manufacturer specifications representing winds in which aircraft can maintain position control though with reduced battery efficiency and controllability. Conservative operational limits establish 40 km/h as maximum wind speed for routine operations with most commercial drones, reduced to 30 km/h for operations requiring precise positioning including structural inspection, survey photography requiring stable image capture, or flights near obstacles where reduced maneuvering margin increases collision risk. Operations by less experienced pilots should apply lower wind limits around 25-30 km/h allowing greater safety margins for developing piloting skills. Wind speeds vary substantially with altitude with speeds at typical operating heights of 50-100 metres often exceeding ground level measurements by 30-50%. Site-specific factors including buildings, terrain, and vegetation create wind turbulence and gusty conditions potentially exceeding average wind speeds measured by anemometers. Monitor real-time aircraft behaviour during flight watching for excessive drift, difficulty maintaining position, or tilting exceeding normal flight attitudes indicating winds approaching or exceeding aircraft capabilities. Land immediately if control becomes difficult or battery consumption increases substantially from continuous position correction in high winds. Weather forecast wind predictions provide planning guidance but actual on-site wind measurement using anemometers positioned at operational height provides most accurate operational data. Conservative decision-making landing aircraft proactively when winds approach limits prevents loss of control incidents from gusty conditions unexpectedly exceeding aircraft capability. Battery capacity reduces substantially in high winds due to continuous motor power required for position holding potentially causing in-flight power depletion if flight duration not reduced accordingly.

Construction companies engaging drone contractors should implement systematic verification procedures ensuring regulatory compliance and adequate insurance coverage before authorising site operations. Request contractors provide Remote Pilot Licence documentation if operating under RePL showing licence number, issue date, expiry date, and any conditions restricting operations. Verify licence authenticity by searching CASA licence register online using pilot name and licence number confirming licence current and checking for suspensions or limitations. For contractors operating under ReOC, verify certificate currency by checking CASA ReOC register confirming operator holds current certificate. Request copy of contractor operations manual relevant sections confirming procedures address construction site operations, emergency procedures, and maintenance requirements. Verify contractor insurance coverage requesting copy of current public liability insurance certificate showing minimum $20 million coverage with specific drone operations extension or endorsement. Confirm certificate names insured party matches contractor business name and certificate currency extends throughout planned operation period. Contact insurance broker or insurer if certificate authenticity questions arise. Review contractor previous experience requesting examples of similar projects completed, client references, and safety performance records. Conduct contractor site briefing before operations authorisation covering site-specific hazards, coordination requirements, exclusion zones, and emergency procedures. Document contractor verification including copies of licences, ReOC certificate, insurance certificate, and operations manual extracts maintaining records demonstrating due diligence in contractor selection. Establish ongoing monitoring procedures observing contractor operations during initial flights confirming compliance with briefed procedures and regulatory requirements. Implement contractor performance review processes providing feedback about operational quality and safety performance. Maintain approved contractor register documenting qualified operators available for engagement on future projects streamlining verification for recurring contractors. These verification procedures protect construction companies from vicarious liability for contractor regulatory violations whilst ensuring professional service delivery and adequate insurance protection for potential incidents affecting project sites or surrounding properties.