Drone Operations in Australia

Overview of Airspace Usage in Australia for Drone Flights

• Shared Airspace

  • The airspace in Australia is shared between military and civilian users.

  • Certain clients may be denied access based on existing regulations.

  • It is crucial for operators to be knowledgeable about preparations for drone flights, whether recreational or commercial.

• Checklist Development

  • Operators should create a comprehensive checklist for drone flying locations, ensuring adherence to all required regulations and restrictions.

Local Council Regulations

• Diverse Regulations Across Councils

  • Local councils have varying rules regarding drone operations.

  • Some councils impose no restrictions if CASA standards are followed, while others may have stringent prohibitions on council-owned land.

  • Some councils may permit drone flights with certain limitations or require written approval.

  • Recommendation: Always check the local council's website for guidelines on drone operations. If information is unclear, contact the council via phone before flight planning.

Land Ownership and Drone Operations

• Flying on Private Land

  • Operators can fly drones on their own land, following CASA's standard operating procedures and within the permitted categories (recreational or excluded).

  • Approvals may be necessary for operations outside these parameters, requiring CASA's consent.

• National Parks Regulations

  • Drone operations in national parks vary significantly by state and specific park.

  • Recommendation: Contact the national park management beforehand to clarify permissible activities.

Classification of Airspace in Australia

• Types of Civilian Airspace

  • Airspace is classified into two major categories:

  1. Controlled Airspace

     • Governed by air traffic controllers.

     • Operators must comply with instructions from controllers.

  2. Non-controlled Airspace

     • Operators have more freedom but must still adhere to specific rules and procedures.

  • Aerodromes within controlled airspace feature control towers.

• Aerodrome Classification

  • Controlled Aerodromes: Feature a control tower (Classes C and D).

  • Non-controlled Aerodromes: Do not have a control tower; aircraft separation is maintained via pilot communication.

• Prohibited, Restricted, and Danger (PRD) Areas

  • Many PRD areas are military-operated.

  • Understanding PRD areas is essential for identifying potential flight restrictions.

Depictions of Airspace on Visual Terminal Charts (VTC)

• Visual Representation

  • Civilian airspace and aerodromes are represented on VTCs.

  • Class G Airspace

  • Uncontrolled airspace where operators can conduct flights but must still follow existing regulations.

  • Controlled Airspace Classes

  • Classes A, C, D, and E denote controlled airspace; drone pilots do not need to differentiate these classes.

  • Flight Levels (FL):

  • Indicate altitude in feet.

  • Example:

    • ext{FL 125} = 12,500 ext{ feet}

    • ext{FL 180} = 18,000 ext{ feet}

Understanding VTC Details

• Graphical Information

  • Light blue concentric circles on VTCs outline controlled airspace's boundaries.

  • Example:

  • The term "CTR" (Control Zone) signifies that an area is controlled.

  • In Perth's Control Zone, controlled airspace extends from the surface to designated altitudes:

    • Controlled airspace from surface to 1,500 feet: ext{Class C, CLL 1,500}

    • Next layer of controlled airspace at 2,000 feet: ext{CLL 2,000}

    • Following layer at 3,500 feet: ext{CLL 3,500}

  • Beneath controlled airspace, Class G (non-controlled) airspace exists.

• Fremantle Airspace

  • Controlled airspace with a lower limit of 2,000 feet indicates drone operations below this altitude fall in Class G airspace, allowing drones to fly legally up to 400 feet over areas such as the ocean.

Visual Navigation Chart (VNC) Compared to VTC

• VNC Characteristics

  • Like VTCs, VNCs provide crucial supervisory information for flight planning but operate at a different scale (1 in 500,000 instead of 1 in 250,000).

  • Purpose: Facilitates longer-range mission planning.

• Awareness of Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

  • VFR routes on these charts are pertinent for drone pilots, as they are commonly utilized by manned aircraft.

  • Manned aircraft may fly as low as 500 feet AGL, only 100 feet higher than the legal flying height for drones, necessitating vigilance regarding surrounding air traffic.

• Tracking Points

  • Essential for tracking the movement of manned aircraft and aiding drone operation awareness.