Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using DronePilots.com.au ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and GreenHost (ABN 15 586 508 845), operating as dronepilots.com.au. We may update these Terms from time to time in accordance with Section 17.

These Terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which form part of this agreement.

2. Definitions

• "Platform" means the DronePilots.com.au website, including all pages, features, and services accessible through it.
• "Pilot" means a user who registers an account to list drone services on the Platform.
• "Client" means a user who uses the Platform to search for, evaluate, or engage drone pilots.
• "User" means any person who accesses the Platform, whether as a Pilot, Client, or visitor.
• "Services" means the drone-related services offered by Pilots through the Platform.
• "Content" means text, images, videos, data, reviews, and other materials uploaded to or displayed on the Platform.
• "CASA" means the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

To create an account on the Platform, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a resident of Australia or have the legal right to operate within Australia
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify us immediately at support@dronepilots.com.au if you become aware of any unauthorised use of your account.

We reserve the right to refuse registration, suspend, or terminate any account at our discretion, including where we reasonably believe a User has violated these Terms.

4. Pilot Obligations

By listing services on the Platform, Pilots represent and warrant that they:

• Hold a valid CASA Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and, if operating commercially, a Remotely Piloted Operator's Certificate (ReOC) or are authorised to operate under one
• Comply with all applicable CASA regulations, including Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998
• Maintain appropriate aviation and public liability insurance for all operations
• Provide accurate, truthful, and up-to-date information in their profile, including credentials, experience, equipment, and pricing
• Promptly update their profile if any information becomes inaccurate or out of date
• Operate drones safely and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Hold all necessary approvals, endorsements, and permissions for the services they advertise (including night flying, BVLOS, and operations in controlled airspace)

Pilots acknowledge that DronePilots.com.au may verify credentials through CASA and other official sources. Providing false or misleading credential information will result in immediate account termination.

5. Client Responsibilities

Clients using the Platform agree to:

• Provide accurate information when submitting quote requests or communicating with Pilots
• Conduct their own due diligence when selecting a Pilot, including verifying insurance coverage and suitability for their specific project
• Enter into appropriate written agreements directly with Pilots before any work commences
• Pay for services in accordance with the terms agreed upon with the Pilot
• Not use the Platform to solicit illegal services or operations that would breach CASA regulations

6. Platform Role

DronePilots.com.au operates as a marketplace and directory only. We are not a party to any agreement, contract, or transaction between Pilots and Clients. We do not:

• Employ, supervise, or control Pilots
• Guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or timeliness of any services provided by Pilots
• Guarantee the accuracy of information provided by Pilots (beyond our reasonable verification efforts)
• Act as an agent for either party in any transaction
• Mediate or resolve disputes between Pilots and Clients (though we may offer guidance at our discretion)
• Process payments between Pilots and Clients (any payments for Pilot services are arranged directly between the parties)

While we verify CASA credentials and display verified badges, our verification does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of a Pilot's skill, reliability, or fitness for any particular project.

7. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain ownership of Content you upload to the Platform. By uploading Content, you grant DronePilots.com.au a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your Content solely for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform.

You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to the Content you upload and that it does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

Platform Content

The Platform, including its design, text, graphics, logos, icons, and software, is owned by GreenHost, operating as dronepilots.com.au and protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our Content without prior written consent.

8. Prohibited Conduct

Users must not:

• Provide false, misleading, or deceptive information
• Create multiple accounts or impersonate another person
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other Users
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated means to extract data from the Platform without our written consent
• Attempt to circumvent security measures or gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Post spam, malicious links, or unsolicited advertising
• Manipulate reviews, ratings, or search rankings
• Use the Platform to facilitate operations that breach CASA regulations or any other law
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the Platform

9. Payments, Fees and Refunds

Platform Subscription Fees

Pilots may subscribe to paid plans to access enhanced features on the Platform. Subscription fees are as displayed at the time of purchase and are billed in Australian dollars. Specific terms are:

• Subscription fees are billed in advance on a recurring basis (monthly or annually as selected)
• All fees are inclusive of GST where applicable
• We reserve the right to change subscription pricing with 30 days' notice to existing subscribers

Refund Policy

• Monthly subscriptions may be cancelled at any time; access continues until the end of the current billing period
• Annual subscriptions may be eligible for a pro-rata refund within the first 14 days if no substantial use has occurred
• Refund requests should be directed to billing@dronepilots.com.au

Pilot-Client Payments

All payments for drone services are arranged and processed directly between Pilots and Clients. DronePilots.com.au is not responsible for any payment disputes between Pilots and Clients.

10. Reviews and Ratings

Reviews and ratings submitted on the Platform must be:

• Based on genuine experiences with the Pilot
• Accurate, fair, and not misleading
• Free from offensive, defamatory, or unlawful content

We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate these standards or our review guidelines. We do not edit or alter the substance of genuine reviews. Pilots may respond publicly to reviews via their profile.

Attempting to manipulate ratings through fake reviews, incentivised reviews, or review exchange schemes is strictly prohibited and will result in account termination.

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied
• We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components
• We do not guarantee that any Pilot listed on the Platform will meet your specific requirements

To the maximum extent permitted by Australian Consumer Law:

• Our total liability to any User for any claim arising from or related to the Platform shall not exceed the fees paid by that User to us in the 12 months preceding the claim
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, data, business opportunity, or goodwill

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) which cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified by agreement.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless GreenHost, operating as dronepilots.com.au, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third party rights
• Content you upload or submit to the Platform
• Any services provided by a Pilot to a Client (where you are either party)

13. Termination and Suspension

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately and without notice if:

• You breach these Terms
• We reasonably believe your account poses a security risk
• We are required to do so by law or a regulatory authority
• You provide false or misleading credential information
• Your CASA licence or certification is suspended or revoked

You may delete your account at any time via the Settings page in your account dashboard, or by contacting support@dronepilots.com.au. Account deletion is immediate and irreversible. Upon deletion:

• Your profile is removed from all search results and public listings
• All uploaded files (portfolio images, videos, profile photos) are permanently deleted from our servers
• All personal information, equipment, services, packages, and enquiry data is permanently removed
• Reviews attributed to your profile are anonymised (displayed as "Deleted Pilot")
• Any active subscription is cancelled without refund for the remaining billing period

We strongly recommend using the data export feature in your Settings page to download a copy of your data before deleting your account. A confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth of Australia. You submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Australian Capital Territory and any courts entitled to hear appeals from those courts.

15. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between you and DronePilots.com.au regarding these Terms or the Platform, the parties agree to follow this process:

1. Informal Resolution: Contact us at support@dronepilots.com.au to attempt to resolve the dispute informally within 30 days.
2. Mediation: If informal resolution fails, either party may refer the dispute to mediation administered by the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC) in accordance with ADC Mediation Guidelines.
3. Litigation: If mediation fails, either party may commence proceedings in the courts of the Australian Capital Territory.

For disputes between Pilots and Clients regarding drone services, we encourage the parties to resolve the matter directly. DronePilots.com.au is not obligated to mediate such disputes but may offer assistance at our discretion.

16. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles. By using the Platform, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

17. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• For material changes, we will provide at least 30 days' notice via email to registered users before the changes take effect
• We will display a prominent notice on the Platform

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may request account deletion.