Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight. In Australia, you are required to hold a BVLOS rating to operate a drone beyond your direct line of sight. This includes operating drones at great distances, great altitudes, or when flying in dense areas (such as forests and cities) where you cannot maintain line of sight on the drone.

Flying beyond visual line of sight carries additional risks for bystanders, operators and structures in the area. For that reason, CASA requires pilots to complete a BVLOS exam. BVLOS training prepares you for examination and provides the knowledge you need to obtain a BVLOS rating.

To fly a drone beyond visual line of sight you are requireTo fly a drone beyond visual line of sight you are required to:

• Operate under a ReOC that has developed BVLOS operational procedures

• Hold an RePL

• Hold a BVLOS rating

• Obtain BVLOS flight authorisation from CASA

You are required to pay an assessment fee when applying to CASA for flight authorisation.d to:

• Operate under a ReOC that has developed BVLOS operational procedures

• Hold an RePL

• Hold a BVLOS rating

• Obtain BVLOS flight authorisation from CASA

You are required to pay an assessment fee when applying to CASA for flight authorisation.

Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) are two different types of drone missions. Both allow the pilot to fly a drone outside of their visual line of sight with certain restrictions.

With EVLOS missions, operators can pilot drones outside your direct line of sight, but the drone must always remain within 1,500 metres of a trained operator. While there are fewer training requirements to operate EVLOS missions, the need for observers creates significant challenges when operating over large areas and long distances. 

During a BVLOS mission you can operate a drone outside your direct line of sight without the need for observers. BVLOS missions require more operator training, but they provide greater flexibility than EVLOS missions in many circumstances.

Some commercial drones can operate up to 200+ kilometres away from the pilot. The maximum flight distance of a drone depends on the model, battery life, operating conditions and more.

You are required to hold a BVLOS rating if you intend to fly a drone beyond your direct line of sight, noting that in some cases this may even be as little as 300 metres away. 

Some commercial drones can operate up to 200+ kilometres away from the pilot. The maximum flight distance of a drone depends on the model, battery life, operating conditions and more.

You are required to hold a BVLOS rating if you intend to fly a drone beyond your direct line of sight, noting that in some cases this may even be as little as 300 metres away.