DO YOU NEED A LICENSE TO FLY A DRONE?
Kind of, yes and no. If you're just flying for fun, you don’t need a license. But as soon as you start using your drone to make money—even if it's not direct cash, like promoting your business—you’ll need a license or authorisation from CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority).
There’s an exemption for drones under 2kg, so you can fly those commercially without a license. But there are still some hoops to jump through—you’ll need to register the drone, pass some basic tests, and follow flight restrictions, especially near airports or helipads. Also, without a license, you won’t be able to fly at night or in certain risky conditions, and you will struggle to get public liability insurance. So, if something goes wrong, you could be personally held liable.
There’s an exemption for drones under 2kg, so you can fly those commercially without a license. But there are still some hoops to jump through—you’ll need to register the drone, pass some basic tests, and follow flight restrictions, especially near airports or helipads. Also, without a license, you won’t be able to fly at night or in certain risky conditions, and you will struggle to get public liability insurance. So, if something goes wrong, you could be personally held liable.
IS CREATIVE KICKS LICENSED?
Yep, we are. We hold a CASA RePL (Remote Pilots License) and CASA ReOC (Remote Operator’s Certificate), which means we’ve passed all the tests, have the right certifications, and keep track of all our flight records, equipment maintenance, and safety procedures.
Before hiring any drone operator, make sure they’re licensed and insured. If they’re not, you could be held responsible if anything goes wrong—like if someone gets hurt or if property is damaged.
Before hiring any drone operator, make sure they’re licensed and insured. If they’re not, you could be held responsible if anything goes wrong—like if someone gets hurt or if property is damaged.
ARE YOU INSURED?
Absolutely. We’re covered with $20 million in public liability insurance.
IS IT CALLED A DRONE OR A UAV?
Both are correct. Technically, it’s a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System), which is what CASA likes to call them. But we’re fine if you call them drones too!
ARE THERE ANY LAWS OR RESTRICTIONS FOR DRONE OPERATORS?
Yep. We stick to all the rules set by CASA, which include restrictions on how high we can fly, where we can fly, and what areas need special permissions. We always do a full safety check and risk assessment before flying, and if the location isn’t safe, we won’t fly.
WHAT ARE THE BASIC RULES?
Some key rules include:
• Stay 30 meters away from people.
• Don’t fly over crowds or traffic.
• Stay below 400 feet (120 meters).
• No flying within 5 km of towered airports unless you have permission.
• No flying after dark.
• No flying in ways that could put manned aircraft at risk.
And if it’s super windy or too rainy, we usually won’t fly because drones don’t handle those conditions well.
• Stay 30 meters away from people.
• Don’t fly over crowds or traffic.
• Stay below 400 feet (120 meters).
• No flying within 5 km of towered airports unless you have permission.
• No flying after dark.
• No flying in ways that could put manned aircraft at risk.
And if it’s super windy or too rainy, we usually won’t fly because drones don’t handle those conditions well.
ARE DRONES SAFE?
Yes, as long as they're flown by the right people. We follow strict safety guidelines similar to those used in manned aviation. We initally assess every flight to ensure everything’s safe prior to proceeding, and that we’re following all the necessary procedures. Only then do we have the go ahead.
CAN YOU SPY ON SOMEONE FOR ME?
Nope, absolutely not. We don’t fly over private property without permission. And realistically, drones aren’t good for spying. They’d have to be super close to get a clear shot, and you'd definitely hear them.
MY FRIEND HAS A DRONE AND WILL DO THIS FOR $50.
That’s cool, but just make sure your friend knows what they’re doing and is registered or licensed, so you don’t get in trouble if something goes wrong. Hobby drones are fine for fun and casual use or if you're doing smaller paid work, but for serious work you’ll want the precision and quality of professional equipment.
WHAT ARE YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS?
Please find the Terms and Conditions for drone services here
