ReOC vs RePL: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?
ReOC vs RePL: the short answer
A RePL (remote pilot licence) is a licence for a person. It shows CASA that you have been trained and assessed to fly a particular type and weight of drone.
A ReOC (remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate) is a certificate for an organisation. It lets a business run commercial drone operations and engage RePL holders to fly for it.
Think of it like driving for a living. The RePL is your licence to drive. The ReOC is the transport company's authority to run the business, with the procedures, insurance and responsibility that come with it. For most commercial drone work beyond the simplest jobs, you need both: a RePL holder flying under a ReOC.
What is a RePL?
CASA issues the RePL after you complete theory and practical training with a certified training provider. Key points:
It is rated by aircraft type (for example, multirotor) and weight category: under 7kg, under 25kg, and type-specific ratings above that.
It does not expire.
CASA sets no minimum age for a RePL.
Your training provider applies to CASA on your behalf once you pass.
Holding a RePL means you can fly as a remote pilot for a ReOC holder, or use it as the first step towards getting your own ReOC.
What is a ReOC?
A ReOC is held by a business, not a person. To get one, an organisation needs (among other things):
A Chief Remote Pilot who holds a RePL, has passed a CASA assessment, and manages day-to-day flight operations.
A maintenance controller responsible for drone maintenance (often the Chief Remote Pilot in a small operation).
An operations manual and library that set out how the business flies safely and in line with CASA rules.
The ReOC is also what CASA attaches approvals to, such as beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), extended visual line of sight (EVLOS), night operations or flying closer to people and aerodromes than the standard rules allow.
Do I need a RePL, a ReOC or both?
It depends on the drone's size and the type of work. The main cases under CASA's rules are:
Drones up to 2kg flown commercially under the standard operating conditions: you can work in the "excluded category" with a free CASA operator accreditation and a registered drone. No RePL or ReOC is required.
Drones 2kg to 25kg flown over your own land for your own purposes, without payment: operator accreditation is enough.
Drones 25kg to 150kg flown over your own land without payment: you need a RePL, but not a ReOC.
Anything else commercial (drones over 2kg working for clients, or any job outside the standard operating conditions): you need a RePL holder flying under a ReOC.
The standard operating conditions are the key limits for excluded-category work. Broadly, they mean flying in daylight, within visual line of sight, no higher than 120m (400ft), at least 30m from people, not over populous areas, and away from controlled aerodromes. As soon as a job needs you to step outside those limits, the work moves into the ReOC world.
Why most professional operators hold a RePL
Even if your first jobs fit within the sub-2kg rules, the sub-2kg category quickly limits you. Most survey, inspection, mining, and infrastructure work uses heavier enterprise drones such as the DJI Matrice series, and clients increasingly require a RePL and ReOC before they let a pilot on site. A RePL is also a requirement for employment with most commercial drone operators.
Can I get my own ReOC?
Yes. Many pilots start by flying under someone else's ReOC, then apply for their own once they have the experience and a client base. You will need to hold a RePL, be assessed as Chief Remote Pilot and prepare your operations manual. Training for the Chief Remote Pilot role and help with ReOC documentation are part of what FlyIQ by DIWA offers to businesses building in-house drone capability.
How to get started
The usual pathway looks like this:
Get an aviation reference number (ARN) from CASA through myCASA.
Complete a RePL course with a CASA-certified training provider: theory plus practical flight assessment.
Add an AROC radio licence if you will fly in controlled airspace or need to talk on the airband.
Fly under an existing ReOC, or apply for your own.
FlyIQ by DIWA runs CASA-approved RePL training in Perth under DIWA's own ReOC (CASA ReOC 1174), taught by instructors who fly commercial operations every week. See our RePL course up to 7kg, our RePL + AROC course up to 25kg, or training for your whole team.
This article is general information based on CASA's published rules at the time of writing. Always check casa.gov.au for the current requirements before you fly.
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