Australia's drone industry is growing quickly, with more operators looking to fly beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS). To support this growth, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is launching a 12-month trial to make BVLOS approvals more accessible.
Date
The trial starts on 13 October 2025 and introduces 4 new broad area approval pathways under a Temporary Management Instruction (TMI 2025-03).
These pathways reduce hurdles and provide Australia-wide approvals while ensuring safety remains the top priority.
The pathways apply to the small drone category (25kg or under) and are available to remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC) holders. Each pathway sets conditions based on the drone's size and the environment it will be flown. Smaller drones may be approved in suburban areas. Larger drones may be approved in lightly or sparsely populated areas.
Operators must:
- update their documented practices and procedures
- nominate a responsible person
- apply to CASA.
Approvals will be issued for 12 months. During this time, CASA will collect data to assess the trial. This evidence will guide future BVLOS policy, as well as consultation through the post implementation review.
The new pathways are likely to support uses in emergency services, agriculture, infrastructure inspection and environmental monitoring. By making BVLOS approvals more accessible, CASA helps operators expand operations safely and efficiently, while encouraging innovation and supporting growth.
More information about the TMI is available on CASA's website: Beyond visual line-of-sight operations.