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CASA will introduce new rules to smooth the pathway for certifying airworthiness of large remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).
The rules, to come into effect on 29 September, will provide additional options for certification of RPAs heavier than 150kg, beyond the current experimental and restricted certificates.
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“These pathways do not suit every large RPA or operation. Experimental certificates mainly support research, development and testing. They do not provide an ongoing pathway for most commercial operations,” said CASA.
“Restricted certificates only cover certain operations. The aircraft must also have restricted-category type certification.
“The changes will provide more practical pathways for commercial operations using large RPA while maintaining an acceptable level of safety.”
Under the new regulations, any applicable kind of certificate of airworthiness will be allowed “subject to meeting the relevant airworthiness standards and appropriate operating conditions”, and relevant large RPA will be able to operate without one “subject to certain restrictions”.
“CASA approval is still required for the operation of a large RPA, regardless of whether the RPA has a certificate of airworthiness. Operators must also continue to hold a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC),” the regulator said.
“Licensing, maintenance, continuing airworthiness and other operational rules, such as RPA registration, will continue to apply.
“While we will have the ability to approve large RPA commercial operations without a certificate of airworthiness, we are continuing to work through other operational requirements.”
CASA also noted that operations without a certificate will “continue to require operators to carry out a risk assessment and hold the necessary CASA approvals”.
“Operators will need to show that the aircraft’s design and construction suit the proposed operation, [and] the operation will not adversely affect other airspace users or people on the ground or water,” said CASA.
The Part 101 Manual of Standards (MOS) will be updated by 29 September.
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