Operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight
To operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), two main certifications are required.
- A BVLOS OCTA exam pass for the Remote Pilot*
- A Beyond Visual Line of Sight approval for the organisation (Remote Operator Certificate) for the area that is to be flown BVLOS.
Aviassist conducts training for the BVLOS OCTA exam, BVLOS approvals using JARUS SORA and implementation training and support.
A Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) comes standard with a limitation that the holder must operate the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS), that is the RPA must be able to be seen at all times. To remove the limitation and enable Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, the RePL holder must acheive a pass in the BVLOS OCTA exam or IREX exam. The BVLOS OCTA exam is designed specifically for Remote Pilot Licence holders where as the IREX is designed for crewed aviation. The only difference between the two qualifications is the *IREX allows operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight within controlled airspace where as the BVLOS OCTA only allows Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations outside of controlled airspace.
Once a pass is obtained in the BVLOS OCTA exam the Remote Pilot Licence holder can be inducted into BVLOS operations under the Remote Operator certificate approval.
BVLOS OCTA Exam training
The BVLOS OCTA exam training is designed for Remote Pilot Licence holders wishing to operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight. The training is theory based and and consists of three days of training conducted via Aviassist’s online live platform or in person at our training locations around Australia.
Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) - BVLOS approval training
The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) is the adopted standard by most regulators around the world for submitting approvals for complex operations such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). SORA training is conducted over two days and equips attendees with all of the skilled to navigate the SORA framework for complex operations. This training is suitable both to operations in Australia and those countries where the regulator adopts SORA.
The course includes:
- Ground Risk considerations
- Air Risk considerations
- Risk Mitigation strategies
- Determination of Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL)
- Sample procedures for meeting Operational Safety Objectives
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) SORA classifications for certain concept of operations
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority Area approval application process
