About this course

Take your agricultural drone skills to the next level

Designed for experienced and qualified drone pilots, this advanced course will teach you how to use a suitable spray drone to safely and effectively apply pesticides in an agricultural setting.

Delivered by FPV Australia in partnership with Tocal College, the course combines practical and theory-based training. You’ll learn industry-standard techniques for setting up, operating and maintaining spray drones while understanding the rules and safety requirements for aerial chemical application.

You’ll learn how to:

  • regulatory and safety requirements for aerial chemical application
  • safely and efficiently apply pesticides using suitable drone equipment
  • set up and prepare a spray drone for operation
  • safely operate and maintain spray drone equipment
  • follow safe work practices when carrying out aerial chemical applications.

This course is designed to help experienced drone pilots build their skills in agricultural chemical application while working safely and within the relevant regulations.

Is this course right for me?

Before registering, check that this advanced course suits you. You’ll need to be an experienced and qualified drone pilot and hold a current Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Remote Pilot Licence (RePL). The course includes both theory and practical activities, so you should be comfortable operating drone equipment and following safety procedures and instructions. If you meet these requirements and want to develop your skills in agricultural pesticide application, click on the register now button.

At a glance:

Location: Statewide
Course duration: One week
Start date: Multiple intakes
Number of units: 3
Indicative fees: $2890 GST free

Fee free to eligible applicants
Accredited Course: Yes

Details

$2,890 GST free

For more information contact a skills training coordinator in your area here

Blended delivery:

  • online pre-learning +
  • 2-day face-to-face workshop

  • This course is delivered via a combination of practical and theoretical activities.
  • The course addresses the regulatory and safety requirements for aerial chemical application
  • Theory and practice of spray drone setup, operation and maintenance

Participants must:

  • Hold a current Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Remote Pilot Licence (RePL).
  • Be an experienced drone pilot with proven flight competency.
  • Have the physical capability to handle practical outdoor activities, including lifting, setting up, calibrating, and maintaining heavy agricultural spray drone equipment and liquid payloads.
  • Not have disqualifying medical conditions that could impair vision, spatial awareness, physical coordination, or the safe handling of hazardous agricultural chemicals.
  • Be comfortable working outdoors, applying chemical safety protocols, and strictly following instructor directions.

Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital Capability Requirements

To complete this course successfully, participants will need:

  • Reading: Interpreting CASA aviation regulations, chemical product labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), nozzle flow rate charts, and spray drift buffer specifications.
  • Writing: Completing chemical application records, pre-flight safety checklists, spray mission logs, and risk assessments.
  • Numeracy: Performing calculations for chemical dilution ratios, flow rates (L/ha), swath width, flight speed calibration, area coverage, and tank mix volume.
  • Oral Communication & Hearing: Communicating effectively during flight operations, maintaining crew situational awareness, and responding immediately to verbal safety cues or equipment warnings.
  • Digital Literacy: Good computer skills to navigate and setup drone software.

This course is mapped to the following national units of competencies:

Successful completion of assessment tasks will result in achieving a Statement of Attainment and can contribute to a nationally-recognised qualification.



Additional Information

For information on students rights and responsibilities, and the Tocal College Code of Practice see Industry qualification student policies.

The units addressed by this course are components of the AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture.