Remote Operator Certificate – Nominated Personnel

Nominated personnel play key roles within the organisation, responsible for ensuring the safety and compliance of the organisation’s drone operations. With safety starting at the top, nominated personnel are expected to lead a strong safety culture. Selecting suitable individuals for the nominated roles will contribute to the organisation’s long-term success.

The key roles are defined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and are included in the Operations Manual. The roles that require nominated personnel are:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Chief Remote Pilot (CrP)
• Maintenance Controller (MC)

If the organisation is a Remote Pilot Licence training organisation, there is one additional role:

• Chief Remote Instructor (CRI)

Jointly, the nominated personnel are responsible for the safety and compliance of the organisation’s drone operations.

An individual can hold more than one of the nominated personnel roles, provided they can effectively manage multiple roles.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has the ultimate responsibility for safety within the organisation. They are in charge of

• Assuring that the organisational design is suitable for safe and compliant drone operations.
• Nominated personnel are qualified, experienced and competent.
• Drone operations are adequately financed and resourced.

The CEO is also responsible for updating the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of changes to:

• Contact details
• Nominated personnel
• Financial status

This role can be nominated to somebody outside of the “Chief Executive Officer” of the organisation, where it is more appropriate for the organisational design. The person holding this role must have the authority to perform the functions of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Chief Remote Pilot (CRP) is responsible for managing the organisation’s drone operations. They are in charge of:

• Ensuring the organisation’s drone operations are compliant with Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.
• Check and Training of Remote Pilot’s operating under the Remote Operator Certificate
• Maintaining operational standards
• Company record keeping
• Internal auditing

The Chief Remote Pilot should hold a Remote Pilot Licence for the type of Remotely Piloted Aircraft the organisation intends to operate.

The maintenance controller is responsible for the continued airworthiness of the organisation’s drone fleet. They are in charge of:

• Controlling scheduled and unscheduled maintenance
• Maintain a record of defects and unserviceability
• Investigate defects
• Develop and monitor maintenance standards

During the Remote Operator Certificate application process, a Form 101-06 (CASA delegate application) or Form 101-02 (CASA direct application) is completed in conjunction with the development of the Operations Manual. This form is used to detail the initial nominated personnel, who are described in the Operations Manual. The Remote Operator Certificate remains valid as long as these nominated positions are filled.

If one of the nominated personnel resigns, the Operations Manual is updated, and a Form 101-02 is used to nominate a new person for the position. The process of changing nominated personnel can take a few weeks; therefore, it is advisable to submit the appropriate paperwork as soon as possible. Where possible, a process for upskilling team members will assist in an easy transition.

Aviassist provides products and services to support your drone operations. Some products and services related to Nominated Personnel are:

Training

• Chief Remote Pilot training

Services

• Remote Operator Certificate – Initial
• Operations Manual update