Aerial Operator Licence and Pilot (Chemical Rating) Licence

An Agricultural Aircraft Operator Licence (AAOL) is required by the operator of any business that provides an agricultural chemical aerial spraying service, or employs pilots to carry out aerial spraying in Victoria.

A Pilot (Chemical Rating) Licence (PCRL) is required by pilots conducting agricultural chemical spraying for a business in Victoria. This licence is also required to apply pest animal baits via aircraft.

If an Agricultural Aircraft Operator is also a pilot, then both an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Licence and a Pilot (Chemical Rating) Licence are required.

Agricultural Aircraft Operator Licence (AAOL)

To qualify for an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Licence an applicant must:

• operate an aerial spraying business that meets the requirements of Operation SpraySafe, or be assessed by the DPI as operating to a similar standard
• provide information on any previous convictions under any of the following Acts:
  • Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
  • Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
  • Dangerous Goods Act 1985
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
  • Environment Protection Act 1970
  • Health Act 1958

• hold a current Commercial Pilot (Aeroplane or Helicopter) Licence OR Air Transport Pilot (Aeroplane or Helicopter) Licence endorsed with an Agricultural Pilot (Aeroplane or helicopter) Rating Grade 1 or 2 under the Civil Aviation Act 1988of the Commonwealth of Australia,
• have either Operation SpraySafe Accreditation OR have passed the appropriate examination required by DPI, and
• provide information on any previous convictions under any of the following Acts:
  
  • Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
  • Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
  • Dangerous Goods Act 1985
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
  • Environment Protection Act 1970
  • Health Act 1958.

• Specified chemical use records are made and kept;
• Spray drift does not injuriously affect any plants or stock outside the target area;
• Spray drift does not injuriously affect any land outside the target area so that growing plants or keeping stock on that land can be reasonably expected to result in contaminated plants or stock derived from that land; Each spray nozzle used in the aerial spraying equipment is fitted with a operating leak-proof cut-off valve;
• Notification requirements are complied with;
• One or more of the following methods must be used immediately before and during aerial spraying to provide the pilot with an accurate indication of the weather conditions at the target area:
  
  • a smoke generating device used at ground level at or near the point of spraying
  • the aircraft is fitted with a smoke generating device that is operating
  • a windsock is operating and is clearly visible to the pilot at ground level at or near the point of spraying, or
  • an automatic weather station is located at or near the point of spraying, and information about the wind speed and direction is available to the pilot.