Licensed drone pilots hit new milestone

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has now issued more than 40,000 remote pilot licences (RePLs), a figure that has more than doubled since the start of the decade.

There were about 16,500 remote pilot licences in mid-2020 after a surge in growth that had seen the number grow from less than 3,300 licences four years earlier.

In recent years, remote pilots have overtaken CASA-licensed fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter and other pilots to become Australia's biggest pilot group.

Growth in drone registrations has also been healthy, with an 18 per cent year-on-year increase between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Australia was among one of the first jurisdictions to introduce rules allowing commercial drone operations and CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Pip Spence said the authority remained committed to keeping Australia at the forefront of emerging technologies.

Ms Spence said the growth in licensed remote pilots underscored the industry's health as it uncovered new and innovative uses for drones.

'From helping archaeologists unlock the secrets of the past, to enhancing safety in underground mines, detecting sharks, delivering medicine and remotely inspecting crops for pests and soil degradation, today's drones are going where no RPA has gone before,' Ms Spence said.

'Drones are now a key part of the toolkit available to police and emergency services as they strive to keep us safe and respond to natural disasters, including Cyclone Alfred and other recent events.

'As we approach the challenge of integrating these operations into Australia's airspace and regulatory framework, our goal is to keep up with the sector's growth without compromising safety.'

Information about becoming a licensed drone pilot can be found on our website.

CASA is looking at an array of policies and initiatives relating to remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft and last year updated its RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap. The roadmap explains our plan for regulating RPAS and AAM over the next 10 to 15 years.