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 the safe deployment of these technologies.
In 2022, we established a Future Strategies Taskforce (Taskforce). The Taskforce paved the way for a permanent emerging technologies program at CASA. That program is presented in the RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap, which was co-developed with industry and sets out CASA’s emerging technologies regulatory priorities.
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 first developed the RPAS-AAM Roadmap collaboratively with industry in 2022 so our activities can support the ambitions of industry. The RPAS-AAM Roadmap aims to give clarity about Australia’s future approach to aviation safety rules and safety oversight for RPAS and AAM.
We reviewed the RPAS-AAM Roadmap in 2024 together with industry. We will continue to evolve it to keep pace with new technologies and innovations, supporting emerging industries.
The latest updates on Roadmap activities can be found on our Regulatory proposal and initiatives search page.
Landing sites
Together with the Roadmap, we are developing guidance and harmonising internationally how infrastructure can support emerging technologies.
The RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap outlines infrastructure activities that aim to create clear and risk-based standards along with flexible and efficient authorisation pathways for operators of ground- and space-based infrastructure.
This supports the Aviation White Paper → Towards 2050 initiative 52, to 'work with stakeholders to develop AAM infrastructure planning guidance to support the introduction of AAM'.
Emerging technologies work program
At the beginning of 2023 we formed a new Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Change branch. The branch supports:
- CASA’s regulatory preparation work for the industry to deploy emerging aviation technologies and capabilities
- coordination of our activities for this program of work.
We continue to refine business planning to inform our decisions on how we prioritise and resource activities. This planning will further support timely regulatory responses for industry to safely deploy emerging technologies.
We will continue to work with industry to develop and outline our evolving approach to emerging aviation technologies and systems.