This is a digital only publication. Our emerging technologies program plans for the safe and timely integration of emerging aviation technologies and systems into Australia’s airspace and civil aviation regulatory framework.
It builds on work done over the last few years to ensure we meet industry and community expectations for safe deployment of these technologies.
Future strategies
In 2022, we established a Future Strategies Taskforce (taskforce).
The taskforce worked on a strategic overview of the major activities we will likely need to undertake to deliver appropriate and timely regulatory responses to emerging aviation technologies and systems. The taskforce focused on technologies expected to deploy in the next 3 to 10 years.
The taskforce surveyed and researched the aviation environment for emerging technologies and systems. This included a public market survey.
The taskforce found a range of future regulatory challenges and issues. To address these challenges, the taskforce identified:
- future workforce management
- policy development
- legislative actions
- implementation activities.
RPAS-AAM Roadmap
The taskforce’s work coincided with the finalisation and release of our Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Strategic Regulatory Roadmap (RPAS-AAM Roadmap).
We developed the RPAS-AAM Roadmap collaboratively with industry so our activities can support the ambitions of industry. The RPAS-AAM Roadmap aims to provide clarity about Australia’s future approach to aviation safety regulation and safety oversight for RPAS and AAM.
Emerging technologies work program
We have merged these two streams of work into a single emerging technologies program.
At the beginning of 2023 we formed a new Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Change branch. The branch will support:
- preparation work for the deployment of emerging aviation technologies and capabilities
- coordination of our activities for this program of work.
We are working on detailed business planning to inform our decisions on how we prioritise and resource activities. This planning will further support timely regulatory responses for the safe deployment of emerging technologies.
We will continue to work with industry to develop and outline our evolving approach to emerging aviation technologies and systems.
Reporting and consultation
We expect the priorities of the aviation industry to change in response to new and developing technologies and new operational use cases.
The expected timelines we have plotted may not keep pace with industry and technological development. We will review the program regularly to make sure it reflects the needs of industry.
We have made a commitment to review the RPAS-AAM Roadmap every 18 months in consultation with industry.
This will include reporting on the activities already begun or completed along with proposed changes to the roadmap. We will next review the RPAS-AAM Roadmap in 2024.
In addition, we will continue to consult and collaborate with industry on specific program activities.