The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today released a discussion paper reviewing regulation of drone operations in Australia.
DP1708OS is part of a review started in June to review CASA's approach to regulating Remotely-Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations, and canvasses several topics and options including registration, experience and training, geo-fencing and counter-drone technology.
According to CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody, the rise of drone use has presented National Aviation Authorities around the world with similar issues to those encountered in Australia.
"Globally, aviation safety regulators are facing the same kinds of challenges: to maintain high levels of safety without unnecessarily impeding progress or unduly constraining commercial opportunities to use a technology capable of a multitude of beneficial humanitarian, economic and recreational applications," he said in his foreword to the DP.
...
"I recognise the need for existing aviation safety requirements to be reviewed, critically assessed and updated in response to emerging risks, new technologies, international regulatory developments, and the advice and views from other government, industry and community stakeholders. Therefore I look forward to [the] responses to this discussion paper."
The CASA RPA review is different to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (RRAT) inquiry into the safe use of drones, but CASA expects the outcome of their review will provide information to that inquiry.
DP1708OS is available for download from the CASA website.