Australian aviation regulator seeks feedback on broad area BVLOS drone guidance
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is asking for input on draft guidance covering drone flights beyond visual line of sight across large areas. Comments are open until 7 December 2026.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) has published draft guidance on broad area BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) drone operations and is asking industry and the public for feedback. BVLOS refers to flights conducted without the operator keeping the drone in direct view. The broad area approach lets eligible drone operators fly across larger areas without continuous visual contact.
The draft sets out the pathways available for such operations, along with eligibility requirements and operational limitations. It also covers application and assessment requirements, the responsibilities of authorisation holders and nominated responsible persons, and how existing broad area BVLOS authorisations can be renewed. Steps for preparing an application are included as well.
Who the guidance is for
CASA says the material is meant to help drone designers, manufacturers, system integrators and operators understand what evidence is needed to support broad area BVLOS applications.
What the regulator wants to know
The authority is seeking feedback, including views on whether the draft adequately addresses safety issues. Comments can be submitted through the Consultation Hub platform by 7 December 2026.
