New rules for drones take off in Australia

On 24 March, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) registered amendments to the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, which govern unmanned aircraft such as drones. These amendments will take effect on 29 September 2016.

Purpose of the amendments

Since 2007, the number of authorised remote piloted aircraft operators has increased from fewer than 25 to more than 500. An industry that was formerly limited to military purposes has evolved into a buzzing commercial and recreational space, with drones now commonly used for such diverse purposes as aerial photography, infrastructure inspection and surveying. This expanding usage has prompted CASA to reconsider the regulatory framework it first devised in 2002, introducing amendments to reduce red tape and accommodate low-risk beneficial use.

The purpose of the amendments is to differentiate between low and high-risk operations, reduce the cost and requirements for those that are lower risk, and have more complex operational matters dealt with in a future Manual of Standards, which will be developed in conjunction with the industry. Whether an operation is lower risk will be determined by reference to weight and operational use of the aircraft.