Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has published the summary of consultation on proposed drone operations above 400ft in defined environments.
The draft policy aimed to reduce unnecessary approvals for defined, lower-risk operations while protecting other airspace users. The proposal applied to two defined operating environments. The first would permit operations within 120m laterally of a natural or constructed vertical structure, object or obstacle and up to 100ft above its highest point. The second would permit operations over an active mining excavation, with the 400ft operating limit measured from the nearest pit edge or crest rather than the excavated floor.
Feedback was sought on the proposed operating environments, operating conditions and safety controls, operational and economic impacts, radio communication requirements and the proposed replacement of routine operation specific Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) with broader advisory information.
CASA said respondents broadly supported the proposal, with approximately 90 percent in favour. Feedback highlighted additional need for clear operating boundaries, practical guidance and proportionate requirements.
“The principal issues raised through feedback were the appropriate balance between individual pilot
competency and remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate based organisational assurance, the clarity of definitions and measurement methods, interaction with authorised low level crewed aviation, radio communication and notification requirements, ground and containment risks and the need for clear implementation guidance,” said CASA. “These issues are interrelated and will inform CASA’s consideration of the final framework.”
Many respondents considered the proposed operating environments sufficiently constrained to present a lower likelihood of interaction with crewed aircraft. “Respondents anticipated that the proposal would reduce repeated applications, approval timeframes and administrative burden for both industry and CASA, allowing greater emphasis on operational risk management rather than administrative processes,” the authority said.
Meanwhile, emergency service organisations highlighted benefits for time critical operations, including high rise incidents, cliff rescues, search and rescue activities and critical infrastructure inspections. Mining and infrastructure organisations similarly supported the proposal, citing improved access for inspections and surveys of wind turbines, towers, powerlines and active mine sites.
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Image: CASA