National Drones training room and drone pilot study environment

Draft study edition

Remote Pilot Licence Study Guide

Online RePL study lessons with diagrams and references to the Part 101 MOS. Aviation review is ongoing.

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Study units

Lessons

Ongoing

Aviation review

About this study edition

This draft study edition provides online lessons, diagrams and references to support RePL theory learning.

Aviation review is ongoing. Check current CASA, Airservices and approved operator procedures before operating.

Dedicated to Bob Tait

Dedicated to my good mate Bob, who helped me get my start in aviation.

Ben Harris, Co-founder, National Drones

This study guide supports learning. It is not legal advice and does not replace current CASA, Airservices or approved operator procedures. The public practice questions are newly written study checks, not a CASA exam bank.

Study pathway

Study topics and MOS references

Each unit links to the lessons and Part 101 MOS references that support your study.

Fictional aviation map showing latitude and longitude grid lines, a drone operating site, aerodrome symbol and north compass

RBAK11 lessons

Basic Aviation Knowledge

Map position, direction, time, units, energy, lift, drag, weight and balance, propellers, controls and remote pilot station principles.

Open unit

Concept illustration of a remote pilot operating near a controlled aerodrome with layered airspace and separated crewed aircraft

RACP4 lessons

Airspace and Charts

Airspace classes, chart reading, AIP, ERSA, NOTAMs, approvals, restricted areas and electronic flight bags.

Open unit

Remote pilot crew checking weather before launching a drone with changing cloud and wind nearby

RBMO2 lessons

Meteorology

Weather phenomena, observations, forecasts, wind, visibility, turbulence, heat, cold, rain, humidity and convection.

Open unit

REES2 lessons

Electrical Systems

Electrical terms, RPA components, batteries, charging, GPS, electromagnetic radiation, EMI and signal reliability.

Open unit

Remote pilot crew conducting a pre-flight risk and human factors briefing at a drone launch site

RHPF2 lessons

Human Performance

Airmanship, decision-making, vision, stress, health, threat and error management, crew coordination and workload.

Open unit

Remote pilot crew documenting aircraft condition and notes after a minor drone event

RKOP2 lessons

Operations

General operations, risk assessments, logs, airworthiness, role equipment, incidents, abnormal operations, aerodromes and tethered operations.

Open unit

Remote drone crew planning an operation with a safety buffer and people outside the operating area

RORA3 lessons

Air Law

Aviation legislation, information currency, guidance material, RePL conditions and certified RPA operator obligations.

Open unit

Stylised automated drone mission route with waypoints, sensor confidence and return path checks

RAFM2 lessons

Automation

Automated flight management use, limitations, fault detection, emergency behaviour, programming precautions and degraded modes.

Open unit

RBKM2 lessons

Multirotor

Multirotor components, weight and balance, rotor aerodynamics, hovering, controls, abnormal operations, launch, climb, turns and recovery.

Open unit

Stylised aviation radio, headset, radio waves and aircraft traffic awareness cues

AROC3 lessons

Aeronautical Radio

Radio responsibilities, frequencies, VHF line of sight, phraseology, readability, emergency calls and radio discipline.

Open unit

Next step after study

Complete your Remote Pilot Licence training

The free study guide is a strong theory foundation. To actually be issued with a RePL, students still complete approved training, practical flying and assessment with a certified provider.

Enrol in the RePL Course View Course Details

Official sources

Regulatory baseline

Current MOS baseline

Part 101 (Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets) Manual of Standards 2019, F2024C00404 C10

Checked 2026-05-18

CASA guidance

AC 101-01 v6.1 - Remotely piloted aircraft systems - licensing and operations

Checked 2026-05-18

Aeronautical information

Airservices Australia Aeronautical Information Package, including ERSA and chart products

Checked 2026-05-18

CASA RPA approvals

Flight approvals and permissions, including controlled and restricted airspace guidance

Checked 2026-05-18

CASA drone rules

Drone safety rules for work, fun, airspace, people and approvals

Checked 2026-05-19

CASA operating categories

Drone weight categories and requirements, including excluded category RPA

Checked 2026-05-19

CASA RePL guidance

Get your remote pilot licence

Checked 2026-05-19

CASA ReOC guidance

Get your remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate

Checked 2026-05-19

CASA AROC guidance

Radio operators and Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate requirements

Checked 2026-05-19

CASA Pack Right

Lithium battery carriage and dangerous goods guidance

Checked 2026-05-19

CASA model aircraft guidance

AC 101-03 v2.0 - Flying a model aircraft or drone for recreation or education

Checked 2026-05-19

Bureau aviation weather

Bureau of Meteorology aviation forecasts, observations and knowledge centre

Checked 2026-05-20

Bureau thunderstorm guidance

Bureau of Meteorology severe weather knowledge centre: thunderstorms

Checked 2026-05-20

Airservices flight briefing

Airservices Australia flight briefing and NAIPS pilot tools

Checked 2026-05-20

CASA human factors

CASA pilot safety hub, including human factors and safety behaviours

Checked 2026-05-20

ATSB human factors

Australian Transport Safety Bureau aviation human factors safety material

Checked 2026-05-20

CASA incident reporting guidance

CASA safety incident reporting guidance

Checked 2026-05-21

ATSB occurrence reporting

ATSB aviation accident, serious incident and incident notification guidance

Checked 2026-05-21

CASA drugs and alcohol

CASA aviation drug and alcohol management guidance

Checked 2026-05-21

Rewrite source

Original RePL Study Guide V1.2 source material

Checked 2026-05-18

Study guide coverage

Lessons and MOS references

View Download Options

Unit	Lesson	MOS refs	Lesson references
RBAK	Map Position, Latitude/Longitude and Runway Orientation	1, 1-3	RePL Study Guide pp. 11-29; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 92-95.
RBAK	Direction, Heading and Wind	1	RePL Study Guide pp. 11-35; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 92-93.
RBAK	Time, UTC and Date-Time Groups	2	RePL Study Guide pp. 32-34; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 92.
RBAK	Height, Altitude, Elevation and Aviation Units	3	RePL Study Guide pp. 29-35; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 92.
RBAK	Aircraft Energy, Inertia and Speed	4	RePL Study Guide pp. 199-200; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 92.
RBAK	Aerodynamics, Weight and Balance	5	RePL Study Guide pp. 199-206; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 92-93.
RBAK	Lift, Drag and Angle of Attack	6	RePL Study Guide pp. 200-213; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 93.
RBAK	Propellers, Rotors, Thrust and Torque	7	RePL Study Guide pp. 166-172; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 93.
RBAK	Flight Controls, Axes and Climb	8	RePL Study Guide pp. 188-198 and 220-224; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 93.
RBAK	Remote Pilot Station and Control Link	9	RePL Study Guide pp. 175-183; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 93.
RBAK	Performance, Wind Shear, Turns and Ground Effect	1-8, 6-10	RePL Study Guide pp. 215-236; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 92-95; CASA AC 101-01 v6.1 and AC 101-03 v2.0 checked 2026-05-19.
RACP	Airspace, Charts and Approvals	1, 2-3, 4-5	RePL Study Guide pp. 40-99; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 94-95.
RACP	Airspace Classes, Controlled Aerodromes and CTAF	1, 2, Guidance	RePL Study Guide pp. 66-82 and 92-98; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 94-95; CASA flight approvals and permissions guidance checked 2026-05-18.
RACP	ERSA, NOTAMs, PRD Areas and Publication Checks	2, 3, 4-5	RePL Study Guide pp. 83-98; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 94-95; Airservices AIP/ERSA/NOTAM sources checked 2026-05-18.
RACP	Circuit Patterns, Aerodrome Traffic and CTAF Awareness	1, 2, 3, Guidance	RePL Study Guide pp. 92-98 and 278-313; Part 101 MOS C10 Schedule 4 Unit 2.
RBMO	Weather Risk for Drone Operations	1, 2-3	RePL Study Guide pp. 107-140; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 96.
RBMO	Forecasts, Observations and Weather Hazard Decisions	1, 2, 3	RePL Study Guide pp. 107-140; Part 101 MOS C10 Schedule 4 Unit 3.
REES	Batteries, Electronics and Signal Reliability	1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9	RePL Study Guide pp. 142-183; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 97-99.
REES	Battery Management, Charging and Power Margins	4-6, 1-4	RePL Study Guide pp. 161-165; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 97-99; CASA Pack Right lithium battery guidance and AC 101-03 v2.0 Appendix C checked 2026-05-19.
RHPF	Human Performance and Threat and Error Management	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6	RePL Study Guide pp. 241-275; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 100-102.
RHPF	Decision-Making, Risk Matrix and Operational Worksheets	1, 4, 5, 6, 2	RePL Study Guide pp. 241-275; Part 101 MOS C10 Schedule 4 Unit 5.
RKOP	Operational Risk, Logs and Emergencies	1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-10	RePL Study Guide pp. 44-65 and 267-270; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 103-105.
RKOP	Incident Reporting, Fitness and Post-Event Actions	1, 2-3, 5, 6, 2,4	RePL Study Guide pp. 99-102 and 267-270; Part 101 MOS C10 Schedule 4 Unit 6.
RORA	Rules, Licences and Current Sources	1, 2	RePL Study Guide pp. 40-55; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 106.
RORA	RePL, ReOC and Operating Categories	1, 2	RePL Study Guide pp. 44-55; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 106; CASA RePL/ReOC and drone weight category guidance checked 2026-05-19.
RORA	Operating Limits, VLOS, Populous Areas and Approvals	1, 1	RePL Study Guide pp. 55-65 and 99-102; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 106; CASA drone safety rules and flight approvals guidance checked 2026-05-19.
RAFM	Automation Limits and Failure Modes	1	RePL Study Guide pp. 151-183; Part 101 MOS C10 p. 107.
RAFM	GNSS, Compass and Sensor Reliability	1, 7-9	RePL Study Guide pp. 151-160; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 97-99 and 107; CASA AC 101-01 v6.1 and AC 101-03 v2.0 checked 2026-05-19.
RBKM	Multirotor Components and Vortex Ring Awareness	1-5, 6-10	RePL Study Guide pp. 142-183; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 111-113.
RBKM	Propulsion, Telemetry and Failsafe Checks	1-6, 2-3, 7-9	RePL Study Guide pp. 166-183; Part 101 MOS C10 pp. 111-113; CASA AC 101-03 v2.0 Appendix C checked 2026-05-19.
AROC	Radio Calls, Readability and Emergencies	Guidance, 1(c)	RePL Study Guide pp. 278-316; CASA AC 101-01 v6.1.
AROC	Radio Fundamentals, Responsibilities and Phraseology	Guidance, 1(c)	RePL Study Guide pp. 278-306; CASA radio operators guidance checked 2026-05-19; CASA AC 101-01 v6.1.
AROC	Sample Calls, Emergencies and Lost Communications	Guidance, 5-6	RePL Study Guide pp. 292-316; CASA radio operators guidance checked 2026-05-19; CASA AC 101-01 v6.1.