Form 1087 at a glance
What it is: Form 1087 is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Controller Certificate form.
Who signs: Sign on the Signature line and enter the Date.
Where and when to file: Mail to: CASA Licensing and Registration Centre, CASA, GPO Box 2005, CANBERRA ACT 2601.
What to bring and attach to Form 1087
Please attach copies if applicable.
Enter your aeronautical experience hours and provide logbook evidence: UAV Operating Experience, Enter hours, and Remarks.
Attach this Payment Authorisation Form (and Cheque / Money Order / Purchase Order) to the Application Form.
A filled-in Form 1087 example: an applicant fills in page 1
How to fill out Form 1087, box by box
Applicant Details
Enter the Applicant Details as per Birth Certificate / Passport: Applicant ARN, Title, Family Name, Given Names and Date of Birth.
Qualifications Held
Under Qualifications Held (Please attach copies), Do you hold an UAV Controller Certificate? Yes: enter the UAV Controller Certificate Number, or No. Do you have an existing pilot licence? Yes: PP(A)L, PP(H)L, CP(A)L, CP(H)L, ATP(A)L or ATP(H)L, or No.
Do you have a command instrument rating (CIR)? Yes: enter the Date of Expiry, or No.
Other licence or certificates held: for each of Air Traffic Control Licence, Flight Service Officer Licence, Flight Radio Operator Licence, Aircraft Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency and Military Flight Crew Qualification, enter the Licence or Certificate Number and the Ratings or Endorsement. Flight Radio Operator Licence: * and Aircraft Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency: *. * One or other is a mandatory requirement if the applicant does not hold any other licence types.
Aeronautical Knowledge
2. To be eligible for a UAV Controller Certificate, applicants must have passed at least the PP(A)L or PP(H)L Aeronautical Knowledge Exam, other than for qualifications in Section B1.
Select the exam series you passed and enter the date and the Exam Code: PP(A)L or PP(H)L Single Exam (PPLA or PPLH), Other, or Command Instrument Rating Exam (IREX).
IREX Exam Exemption: enter the Instrument Date and the Instrument Number.
UAV Type Training Course
UAV Type Training Course, conducted by manufacturer, approved agent, etc.: enter the Name of course, Organisation, Date of completion and UAV type.
UAV Aeronautical Experience (Hours)
To be eligible for a UAV Controller Certificate, applicants must have at least the following minimum aeronautical experience.
5 hours UAV Operating experience.
Variation to Certificate
Under Variation to Certificate, enter the UAV type and the Reason for variation of UAV Controller Certificate.
Applicant Checklist
Section C: Applicant Checklist: Enter 'Y' or 'N' in applicable boxes. Refer to CASR 1998 101 Subpart F.4.
Certified true copy of qualifications attached (other than for pilot licence or instrument rating).
I hold a Flight Radiotelephone Operator's Licence or Aircraft Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency, OR A completed application (Form 638) has been lodged with CASA / or is attached.
Examination results page and Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) are signed and attached, OR I hold a CASA issued pilot licence of PPL or higher.
I seek an exemption from completing the IREX (Instrument attached), OR I hold an Instrument Rating.
Certified true copy of evidence of completing a UAV Type Training Course attached (if applicable).
Logbook evidence attached.
Payment Authorisation completed (cheque or money order attached if applicable).
All sections of the application form are filled in and I have signed the application declaration.
Applicant Declaration
In Section D: Applicant Declaration, the applicant certifies that all statements in this application are true and correct in every particular and that they have read and understood all regulatory references included in this application.
I consent to CASA using and disclosing my personal information in accordance with CASA's privacy policy including exchanging the information with Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies (see www.casa.gov.au/privacy).
The applicant has attached all required documentation specified in the applicant checklist and acknowledges that to knowingly make a false statement is an offence against the Criminal code Act 1995.
Sign on the Signature line and enter the Date.
Payment Authorisation Applicant Details
In the Payment Authorisation, enter the Applicant Details: Surname and Given Names.
Licence Fees: Fee Code 17.5, Certificate of person as a UAV - processing and consideration of application, $160 (checked November 11, 2026). Enter the Total Cost.
Details of Person Making Payment
Details of Person Making Payment (if not the Applicant): enter the Individual's or Organisation's Full Name, Postal Address, State, Postcode, Country, Contact Phone and ARN (if applicable). The receipt will be sent to the applicant's current postal address unless CASA is advised otherwise.
Payment Options
Payment Options: I have enclosed a Cheque or Australian Money Order (please make cheques payable to CASA), or I am paying by credit card - please ensure you complete ALL details including the card holder name and the total amount.
I am paying by credit card - please ensure you complete ALL details including the card holder name and the total amount. I hereby authorise the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to debit the amount from my: Mastercard Visa. Enter the Card Number, Expiry Date, Card Holder Name (please print), Total, Signature and Date.
More rules for Form 1087
Section A: Application Type: Issue, Variation or Add an aircraft type.
Refer to: CASR 101.295.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS 1: For further information regarding UAV applications, please contact the UAV Specialist at uas@casa.gov.au. 2: All certificates issued will be as for visual line of sight (VLOS). There are different options available for the issue of a certificate beyond VLOS (BVLOS). This will require an instrument rating iaw CASR101.295(2)(c). Refer to the CASA website for further information (http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_100374). 3: If you hold a private pilot licence or higher, you will already satisfy the requirements of holding a flight radio operators licence (FROL) or aircraft radiotelephone operator certificate of proficiency (AROCP), have passed the relevant exams and possibly the requirement for an instrument rating. Please ensure you send your application to the UAV specialist for review prior to submitting to CASA Licensing and Registration Centre. 4: If you are applying for an exemption for the instrument rating requirement, you must send a written statement to the UAV Specialist, detailing your intentions for the use of the privilege, BEFORE you submit this application to CASA Licensing and Registration Centre. 5: UAV type training options include:
Manufacturer training, UAV Operator Certificate (UOC) holder training, Manufacturer agent training, Approved flying training organisations 6: Please ensure your application and the checklist are completed correctly and that all required supporting documentation is provided. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and may be returned to you for amendment. Fields marked with an * are mandatory.
If your situation is different
Your contact details have changed
CONTACT DETAILS Note: You are required to notify CASA of any changes to your personal contact information (refer to CASR 11.070). Correspondence, including permissions issued as a result of this application, will be sent by post to the current postal address according to CASA's records. Have you updated your personal and contact details with CASA? You should notify CASA of any changes using one of the following methods:
Log onto the CASA Self Service Portal https://portal.casa.gov.au/selfservice/ or Submit Online Change of Details form https://portal.casa.gov.au/casaforms/addrchange.htm
Common questions about Form 1087
Where do I file it?
Mail to: CASA Licensing and Registration Centre, CASA, GPO Box 2005, CANBERRA ACT 2601. Fax to: 1300 737 187.
Sources
[1] Form 1087 (08/2012), UAV Controller Certificate, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (the Official source link on this page).