CASA 55/20 — Operation of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Directions 2020

(as amended)

made under regulation 11.245 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

This compilation was prepared on 24 December 2020 taking into account amendments up to CASA 86/20 — Operation of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Directions Amendment Instrument 2020 as amended and in force on 24 December 2020.

Prepared by the Advisory and Drafting Branch, Legal, International & Regulatory Affairs Division, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Canberra.

Compilation No. 1.

1 Name

 This instrument is CASA 55/20 — Operation of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Directions 2020.

2 Duration

 The instrument:

(a) commences on 1 October 2020; and

(b) is repealed at the end of 31 March 2022.

3 Definitions

Note   In this instrument, certain terms and expressions have the same meaning as in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the regulations. These include: aerodrome, AGL, authorisation, controlled aerodrome, micro RPA, model aircraft, movement area, remote pilot licence, RPA and RPA operator.

 (1)In this instrument:

helicopter landing site means an area of land or water, or a defined area on a structure, intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopters.

non-controlled aerodrome means a place that is:

(a) a helicopter landing site not located at a controlled aerodrome; or

(b) an aerodrome that is not a controlled aerodrome.

 (2) In this instrument, awareness that a manned aircraft is operating to or from an aerodrome is taken to exist where a reasonable person ought to have been aware that a manned aircraft is operating to or from the aerodrome.

4 Application

 This instrument applies to the operation of unmanned aircraft of all kinds, except operation mentioned in subregulation 101.005 (3) of CASR.

5 Directions relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft near controlled aerodromes

 (1)A person must not operate an unmanned aircraft within 3 nautical miles of the movement area of a controlled aerodrome.

Note   The designation of controlled aerodromes is made in the Determination of Airspace and Controlled Aerodromes Etc. (Designated Airspace Handbook) Instrument, as in force from time to time, which is a legislative instrument revised and reissued by CASA approximately every 6 months. Controlled aerodrome information in the Determination in force at any particular time is also published by Airservices Australia, ARN 202210, in the Designated Airspace Handbook.

 (2)The direction in subsection (1) does not apply to the operation of an unmanned aircraft in accordance with any of the following:

(a) an authorisation (however called) or exemption granted under CASR that permits operation of the aircraft within 3 nautical miles of the movement area of the aerodrome;

(b) the approval of an approved area under regulation 101.030 of CASR;

(c) if the aircraft is an RPA operated by the holder of a remote pilot licence — the privileges and limitations associated with:

 (i) the licence; and

 (ii) the certification of the RPA operator that is conducting the operation.

 (3)The direction in subsection (1) does not apply to the operation of a micro RPA, a model aircraft with a gross weight of not more than 250 g, a tethered balloon or kite, an unmanned free balloon, a rocket or fireworks.

6 Directions relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft near non‑controlled aerodromes

 (1) A person must not launch an unmanned aircraft within 3 nautical miles of the movement area of a non-controlled aerodrome if the person is aware that a manned aircraft is operating to or from the aerodrome.

 (2) If a person controlling an unmanned aircraft within 3 nautical miles of the movement area of a non-controlled aerodrome becomes aware that an aircraft is operating to or from the aerodrome, the person controlling the unmanned aircraft must:

(a) immediately ensure that the unmanned aircraft is safely manoeuvred away from the path of the manned aircraft; and

(b) land the aircraft as soon as safely possible.

 (3)The directions in subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to the operation of an unmanned aircraft conducted in accordance with any of the following:

(a) an authorisation (however called) or exemption granted under CASR that permits operation of the aircraft within 3 nautical miles of the movement area of the aerodrome;

(b) the approval of an approved area under regulation 101.030 of CASR;

(c) if the aircraft is an RPA operated by the holder of a remote pilot licence — the privileges and limitations associated with:

 (i) the licence; and

 (ii) the certification of the RPA operator that is conducting the operation.

 (4)The directions in subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to the operation of a micro RPA, a model aircraft with a gross weight of not more than 250 g, a tethered balloon or kite, an unmanned free balloon, a rocket or fireworks.

7 Directions relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft higher than 400 ft AGL

 (1)A person controlling an unmanned aircraft must not operate the aircraft higher than 400 ft AGL.

 (2)The direction in subsection (1) does not apply to the following:

(a) the operation of a tethered balloon or kite in accordance with Subpart 101.D of CASR;

(b) the release of an unmanned free balloon in accordance with Subpart 101.E of CASR;

(c) the operation of a rocket in accordance with Subpart 101.H of CASR;

(d) the operation of an unmanned aircraft in accordance with:

 (i) an authorisation (however described) or exemption granted under CASR that permits operation of the aircraft higher than 400 ft AGL; or

 (ii) the approval of an approved area under regulation 101.030 of CASR;

(e) the operation of an RPA by the holder of a remote pilot licence in accordance with the privileges and limitations associated with:

 (i) the licence; and

 (ii) the certification of the RPA operator that is conducting the operation;

(f) the operation of a model aircraft in accordance with a written approval given by CASA for the purposes of this paragraph.

8 Directions relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft over areas of public safety or emergency operations

 (1)A person controlling an unmanned aircraft must not operate the aircraft over an area where a fire, police, or other public safety or emergency operation is being conducted.

 (2)The direction in subsection (1) does not apply to the extent that a person in charge of the emergency operation approves the operation of the unmanned aircraft.

9 Directions relating to the operation of RPA or model aircraft near people

 (1)A person controlling an RPA or a model aircraft must ensure that the aircraft is not operated less than 30 m from a person unless the person has duties essential to the control or navigation of the aircraft.

 (2)For subsection (1), the distance of 30 m is measured in every direction from the point on the ground or surface of the water directly below the aircraft.

 (3)The direction in subsection (1) does not apply:

(aa) to the operation indoors of a micro RPA if the person holds an approval given by CASA for the purposes of this paragraph; or

(a) to the operation of an RPA or a model aircraft in accordance with an authorisation (however called) or exemption granted under CASR that permits operation of the RPA or model aircraft less than 30 m from another person; or

(b) if:

 (i) the person is controlling an RPA that is an airship; and

 (ii) the airship approaches no closer to the second person than 10 m horizontally and 30 ft vertically.

10 Directions relating to the operation of a single RPA or model aircraft

 (1) A person controlling an RPA or model aircraft must only operate 1 aircraft at a time.

 (2)The direction in subsection (1) does not apply to the operation of an RPA or model aircraft in accordance with an authorisation (however described) or exemption granted under CASR.

Notes to CASA 55/20 — Operation of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Directions 2020

Note 1

CASA 55/20 — Operation of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Directions 2020 (in force under regulation 11.245 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the tables below.

Table of instruments