Drones are without doubt one of the hot topics in insurance and aviation circles, and the fast developing nature of the industry presents challenges for operators, insurers and regulators alike.

Current rules for commercial drone operations

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for the regulation of drones in Australia. Led by the work of CASA, Australia has been recognised internationally as a leader in drone regulations. The most recent regulations took effect in September 2016 and are contained within Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. Currently, the key regulatory considerations for an operator considering commencing commercial drone operations include:

  • the applicable rules depend on the size of the drone. Commercial operators using the following drones are not required to be licensed or certified by CASA:
    • "very small" drones (i.e. weighing less than 2kg);
    • "small" drones (i.e. between 2kg to 25kg) operated by private landowners on their own property; and
    • "medium" drones (i.e. between 25 kg to 150kg) operated by private landowners on their own property (subject to some additional licensing requirements).
  • compliance with the "Standard Operating Conditions" unless special authorisation is obtained from CASA. Those conditions are:
    • only fly during the day and keep the drone within visual line of sight;
    • never fly higher than 120 metres above the ground;
    • keep the drone at least 30 metres away from other people;
    • keep the drone at least 5.5 kilometres away from controlled airspace;
    • never fly over populous areas such as beaches, parks and sporting fields;
    • never fly over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency services are underway without prior approval; and
    • only fly one drone at a time.
  • notifying CASA at least five days before the operator's first commercial flight; and
  • any commercial drone operations using a large drone or occurring outside of the Standard Operating Conditions require authorisation from CASA and are likely subject to further licensing and/or certification requirements.

New rules on the way?

Although many have welcomed the flexible regulatory approach adopted by CASA, others have voiced concerns that the regulations do not address the potential safety threats posed by the rapidly expanding drone industry.

Seemingly prompted by industry pressure, the Australian Government is undertaking a substantive review of the current regulations, which is being conducted by CASA and separate Senate Inquiry. The ongoing review focuses on several regulatory approaches that CASA could adopt to manage drone-related activities, including:

  • introducing a mandatory registration system for all drones;
  • using geo-fencing technology to contain drones within a particular area, or to exclude drones from sensitive areas (for example, in the airspace of airports), to prevent drone interference with other aircraft activity; and
  • compulsory training or education requirements for all drone operators.

Drone operations in Australia – 'need-to-know'

With the proliferation of drones in recent years at both a commercial and recreational level, there is now a wealth of information available in the public domain for prospective drone operators. This, however, creates its own problems for those seeking to navigate through what can sometimes be a complex and confusing set of rules and requirements.

With that in mind, here are some key 'need-to-know' features of drone use in Australia for those exploring a move into this exciting field:

  • While drone operators in Australia are not currently required by the Regulations to take out insurance, it is important that steps are taken to obtain appropriate insurance coverage.This is particularly so given the risk of potentially large exposures for third party damage caused by drones on the ground (e.g. property damage or personal injury).
  • Drones are increasingly becoming a target for cyber-hackers.It is expected that greater focus will be given to government regulation addressing the vulnerability of drones to such attacks, as well as the availability and development of insurance products covering cyber-specific risks for drones.
  • Commercial users will need to take heed of the different safety measures that CASA is currently considering to address concerns raised by industry, whether in the form of more stringent registration requirements, the introduction of geo-fencing technology, or increased training requirements.
  • Penalties for breach of operating conditions by drone users in Australia include fines, and possible imprisonment (for more serious infringements).It is expected that increased resources will be made available to assist CASA in identifying potential breaches by drone operators and enforcing penalties.
  • It is important that brokers advising clients who have commenced or are considering the commercial use of drones remain apprised of regulatory developments given the fluid nature of this industry.In addition to the ongoing government reviews in Australia, the UK has recently announced a new drone bill tightening the existing laws there.The success or otherwise of new drone regulations overseas is likely to have a significant bearing on the approach the Australian authorities adopt moving forward.

*This article was first published in the Insurance Business Australia magazine Issue 7.01. You can read the article here.

Drone Rules In Australia: Comply Before You Fly

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.