CASA 28/26

Instrument number CASA 28/26

I, PAUL HIBBERD, National Manager, Emerging Technologies & Regulatory Change, National Operations and Standards Division, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under regulations 11.245 and 101.065 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

[Signed P. Hibberd]

Paul Hibberd
National Manager, Emerging Technologies & Regulatory Change
National Operations and Standards Division

8 July 2026

CASA 28/26 — Operation of RPA in Sydney Harbour Restricted Areas, R407A and R407B (CASA-Verified Drone Safety App) Instrument 2026

1 Name

This instrument is the CASA 28/26 — Operation of RPA in Sydney Harbour Restricted Areas, R407A and R407B (CASA-Verified Drone Safety App) Instrument 2026.

2 Duration

This instrument:

(a) commences on 9 July 2026; and

(b) is repealed at the end of 6 July 2028.

Note For regulation 11.250 of CASR, the directions under section 5 cease to be in force at the end of 6 July 2028.

3 Repeal of instrument number CASA 67/24

The CASA 67/24 — Operation of RPA in Sydney Harbour Restricted Areas, R405A and R405B (CASA-Verified Drone Safety App) Instrument 2024 is repealed.

4 Definitions

Note In this instrument, certain terms and expressions have the same meaning as they have in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the regulations. These include the terms, aerial work operation, Australian territory, Part 101 Manual of Standards, remote pilot licence, restricted area, RPA and RPAS.

In this instrument:

ASIC means the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

CASA RPAS digital platform means the CASA digital platform, accessible on the internet by third party app developers, which provides data in relation to aeronautical information relevant to RPA operations within R407A and R407B.

CASA-verified drone safety app means a software application, connected to the CASA RPAS digital platform, which is listed as a verified app on the CASA website on the internet.

Note The relevant CASA website address on the internet is <https://www.casa.gov.au/drones/safety-apps>.

documented practices and procedures has the meaning given by subsection 1.04(2) of the Part 101 Manual of Standards.

operating area means the segment of airspace described on a CASA-verified drone safety app, defined by reference to horizontal and vertical limits within the relevant restricted areas, in which an RPA may be operated under this instrument.

R407A means the area of Australian territory declared as a restricted area, and designated as “YMMM/R407A SYDNEY”, under instrument number CASA OAR 088/26.

R407B means the area of Australian territory declared as a restricted area, and designated as “YMMM/R407B SYDNEY”, under instrument number CASA OAR 088/26.

Note On the making of this instrument, R407A and R407B are declared to be restricted areas under the CASA OAR 088/26 – Designation of Prohibited, Restricted and Danger Areas – Declaration and Determination (Permanent PRDs) Instrument 2026.

relevant restricted area means a restricted area approved under subsection 5(1).

remote pilot means a person who is:

(a) the holder of a remote pilot licence, or a person who is taken to hold a remote pilot licence under subregulation 202.461(3) of CASR; and

(b) an RPA operator or a member of an RPA operator’s personnel.

RPA operator means a person who is certified as an RPA operator under regulation 101.335 of CASR.

5 Permission

On application by AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR UNCREWED SYSTEMS INCORPORATED, ASIC Registration Number A39728, under regulation 101.065 of CASR, CASA approves R407A and R407B as restricted areas in, or over, which a remote pilot is permitted to operate an RPA.
The permission is subject to the condition that a remote pilot who uses the permission, in relation to the operation of an RPA in or over a relevant restricted area, must comply with the directions under section 5.

6 Directions

(1) The remote pilot (the pilot) must only operate the RPA, in the RPA operation, in an operating area.

(2) The pilot must, when operating the RPA in an operating area:

(a) if the pilot is an RPA operator — be registered, using a CASA-verified drone safety app, to be authorised to operate the RPA in the area during a period notified to the pilot on the app; or

(b) if the pilot is a member of an RPA operator’s personnel — ensure that the operator has registered, using a CASA-verified drone safety app, to be authorised to operate the RPA in the area during a period notified to the operator on the app.

(3) The pilot must, during the RPA operation, comply with any operating limitations, relevant to the operation, which are notified to the pilot or RPA operator, as applicable, on the CASA-verified drone safety app in relation to the registration, as applicable, mentioned in subsection (2).

(4) The pilot must conduct the RPA operation only as an aerial work operation.

(5) The pilot must, during the RPA operation:

(a) not operate more than 1 RPA; and

(b) take reasonable steps to ensure a listening watch is maintained on frequency 120.8 MHz, from 15 minutes before the start of a flight of the RPA until the RPA has landed at the end of the flight; and

(6) The pilot must, during the RPA operation, ensure the RPA is equipped and operated with an active fail-safe mode that will ensure, in the event of a data link loss between the RPA and its associated remote pilot station during a flight of the RPA, the RPA will:

(a) adjust its altitude to the minimum safe level, to provide obstacle clearance and the minimum potential for collision with other aircraft; and

(b) transit to a pre-defined safe landing area or flight termination area; and

(7) If there is an inconsistency between the relevant RPA operator’s documented practices and procedures and a direction under this section, the pilot must comply with the direction.