Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is seeking feedback on a policy proposal for certain drone operations above the standard 400 ft above ground level (AGL) limit.
The proposal would apply in two defined environments where crewed aircraft are not likely to operate: near vertical structures, objects or obstacles, such as cliffs, wind turbines, towers or buildings; and over excavated pit areas within active mining operations.
These environments are considered lower risk because crewed aircraft do not typically operate close to structures or within mining pits.
“Near vertical structures, drones could fly up to 100 ft above the highest point of the structure,” CASA said today (6 July). “The drone would need to stay within 120 m laterally of the structure.”
For operations over excavated pit areas within active mining operations, altitude would be measured from the natural surface of a pit edge or crest, not the pit floor.
Operations must meet specific safety conditions, including remote pilot qualifications, radio procedures and airspace restrictions.
If the policy is realised, CASA said it would remove the need for a separate CASA approval to operate above 400 ft AGL, remove the need for these specific operations to be conducted under a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC), unless another approval or requirement applies, reduce repeated applications, give operators more certainty and maintain aviation safety.
The proposal does not change requirements for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) and extended visual line-of-sight (EVLOS) operations or other approvals.
Interested parties can view the proposed policy and provide feedback via CASA’s Consultation Hub by 30 July 2026.
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Image: CASA