Uncrewed traffic management (UTM) brings together people, rules, services and systems to help drones operate safely and efficiently. Together, these make up the UTM ecosystem.
Automated digital services form part of this ecosystem. They help drone operators check airspace rules, plan flights and request authorisations.
We oversee aviation safety and verify digital services against published operating rules.
Visit our drone safety apps page to find an app or service for your planned flight.
Services we verify
We verify the following services against published operating rules:
- Airspace awareness services provide information about airspace, rules, risks and requirements for your planned drone operation. It helps you check where you can and can’t fly.
- Airspace authorisation service for civil controlled aerodromes issues digital authorisations for eligible drone operations. These cover operations within 3 nautical miles of a participating controlled airport.
- Airspace authorisation service for restricted areas issues digital authorisations for eligible drone operations in Sydney Harbour restricted airspace.
Available locations depend on the app or service. Read about automated airspace authorisations for locations, requirements and application steps.
Providers may offer other features alongside these services. Our verification does not cover those features. Check whether those features suit your planned operation before using them.
See drone safety apps page to compare apps and the verified services they offer.
Government and industry roles
Government and industry work together to support uncrewed traffic management.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts leads UTM policy and governance through the UTM Action Plan.
Airservices Australia builds and operates the Flight Information Management System (FIMS).
UAS service suppliers (USS) develop and deliver digital services to drone operators and the public. UAS means uncrewed aircraft system.
We oversee aviation safety, provide regulatory guidance and support services through relevant data and verification of services. We do not deliver these services directly to users.
How we support these services
Published operating rules specify the information services must provide to users.
Providers can choose how they build their software while meeting the required safety outcomes.
We verify services through our acceptance framework. We do not certify individual products or companies, or own, fund or specify their software.
We also put regulatory approvals and legislative instruments in place to allow certain activities through verified services. These arrangements can remove the need for operators to apply separately to us for airspace authorisations. They cover eligible operations near controlled airports and in restricted areas.
Information for software providers
We’ll soon publish information about applying for digital service verification, including the requirements, costs, application steps and support available.