Drone operators in Australia may be facing significantly tougher restrictions than previously contemplated, it seems, after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) released terms of reference for a coming review of the regulations.
CASA said that, among other things, it plans to assess options including mandatory registration and training for all operators of what it calls “remotely piloted aircraft” or RPAs, and “geofencing” technology to restrict the flying of drones in certain areas.
The tougher approach follows alarms raised by the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, which wrote to Transport Minister Darren Chester, calling for strengthened rules on drone use, following a number of near incidents with aircraft.
CASA said its review would examine both the costs and the benefits of mandatory registration and training for all drone operators.
