Flying Drones On Campus
To fly drones from or above a University of Adelaide campus, you must first obtain approval from the Uncrewed Research Aircraft Facility (URAF).
University of Adelaide campuses are busy, complex places. Flying drones in these spaces requires suitable planning and safety precautions. Ensure you follow the below instructions and contact us prior to your planned activities.
Failure to comply with our requirements will result in an investigation which will be forwarded to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Please contact us as early as possible to have the best chance of obtaining an approval in time. We recommend a minimum of two weeks, with significantly more time for more complex operations, such as involving populated areas of the campus.
External operators
Including: External operators contracted by the University; drone operators working for non-University clients; members of the public flying on campus, including inside and outside of business hours.
To obtain approval to fly from or above University campuses, operators must hold a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator's Certificate (ReOC). An Operator's Accreditation is not sufficient.
To apply for an approval
Email the below documentation to dronecompliance@adelaide.edu.au.
- A copy of your RePL and ReOC.
- Public liability insurance certificate for drone operations.
- Detailed description and maps of the intended operation, especially with respect to maintaining adequate separation from non-operations personnel.
- Risk Assessment (RA).
- Job Safety Assessment (JSA).
- Drone registration certificate.
- Evidence of support for the operations from the relevant facilities and/or campus managers.
The URAF Compliance Team will either request further information or provide approval.
Approved applications will be provided with written permission which can be used as evidence of your approval.
Forward your endorsed email to the relevant campus manager and security team.
The URAF can help with the relevant contact details for your flight location.
Note: For all approved flights by the URAF, it remains the pilot’s sole responsibility to meet all relevant laws and regulations as outlined by CASA, the URAF, and the University of Adelaide when operating their aircraft.