On 31 Jul 2019, the Government introduced regulations to establish a registration and accreditation scheme for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) (commonly referred to as ‘drones’), model aircraft, and operators. The initial component of the regulations (affecting operators of RPA flown for business or as part of a job) came into effect on 28 January 2021.
The growing use of RPA in Australia directly correlates with a significant increase in RPA safety incidents reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau since 2012. The most concerning occurrences pose a risk for the safety of conventionally piloted aircraft and for people on the ground.
On 31 July 2018, the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport tabled its report - Current and future regulatory requirements that impact on the safe use of remotely piloted aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems and associated systems.The report expressed support for a mandatory RPA registration regime, to which the Government Response, tabled on 27 November 2018, agreed.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) prepared and certified a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) which looked at a number of options to improve the safety and security aspects of RPA use. These included online education campaigns, expanding the application of existing regulations, or introducing a new registration and operator accreditation scheme. The RIS concludes that a new registration and operator accreditation scheme has the highest net benefit.
The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) assessed the RIS as consistent with good practice.
The RIS estimates the average annual regulatory costs at $1.26m.