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Drone flyer diary
Drone flyer diary – Damien Boyer
For Damien Boyer, drones are far more than an emerging technology. They are essential tools transforming coastal safety and rescue operations. As Head of Uncrewed...
Drone flyer diary – Ben Macht
Flying a drone near a bushfire can ground firefighting aircraft, delaying efforts and risking property damage or lives.
Ben Macht, an Air Operations Officer with the...
Drone Flyer Diary – Elisha Chandra
In a quiet cafe on a warm day in Kuala Lumpur, Elisha Chandra sits cross-legged, sipping coffee with her travel companions. Her recent travels have...
Drone flyer diary – Rebecca Ludgate
Rebecca Ludgate's aviation journey was inspired by her father, a Qantas pilot.
Drone flyer diary – Chris Warrior
In the Yankunytjatjara language of the Yankunytjatjara people, napartji napartji means to be reciprocal.
Drone flyer diary – Peter Jose
With a passion for aviation, photography and technology, Peter ‘Pete’ Jose transformed his love for the skies into a thriving aerial photography business. As...
Drone flyer diary – Melanie Olsen
When Melanie Olsen was just a kid growing up on a farm, she couldn’t have dreamt she’d go on to work with drones in...
Drone flyer diary: Dean West
Meet Dean West, a Darwin-bred dad-of-four and veteran, whose day job involves supporting emergency services and averting disasters with the aid of cutting-edge drone...
Drone flyer diary: Roberto Lujan Rocha
Meet Roberto Lujan Rocha: an environmental scientist by trade, and a passionate drone enthusiast by heart.
Drone flyer diary: Matt Sturdy
Australia has emerged as a global hub for drone innovation, with beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations taking center stage. Leading this revolution is Matt...
Drone flyer diary: Oliver Heys
Never work a day in your life.
For many of us, Oliver Heys has scored the job of a lifetime.
Picture this: soaring a Mavic 3...
Drone flyer diary: Ronnie Fahy
A modern-day entrepreneur exploring the future of aerial intelligence.
The 1985 film, Back to the Future, promised us flying cars and hoverboards by the turn...
Drone flyer diary: Renee Bartolo
Sitting in a shipping container during a Tasmanian winter is Dr Renee Bartolo, who is prepping remote pilots for a voyage down to Antarctica...
Drone flyer diary: Philip Sargeson
Drone education – future proofing the industry
Located in southeast Queensland, approximately 130 km from Brisbane, lies a charming town called Warwick.
At Warwick Christian College,...
Drone flyer diary: Rudi and Ben
Drone racing to Hollywood aerial photography
Captivated by the world of aviation at a young age, Rudi and Ben began their drone flying careers with...
Drone flyer diary: Melissa Hele
Managing weeds from great heights
A decade of working in the environmental conservation industry has shown Melissa Hele, Sunshine Coast Council’s current Invasive Weeds Project...
Drone flyer diary – Andrew Tridgell
The future of managing bushfires with drones
The 21st century has proved that drones are highly versatile in serving a multitude of purposes.
From thrilling drone...
Drone flyer diary – Dominic Papasergio
Dominic Papasergio's love for all things aviation spans over 40 years, stemming from when his brother was a pilot in the United States throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Drone flyer diary – Ru Maka
Combating climate change with drone technology
Ru Maka has had a keen interest in drone technology since 2016.
After working in a variety of drone-related roles,...
Drone flyer diary – Jackie Carpenter
Using drones to help students thrive through STEM
Jackie Carpenter is Founding Director of the One Giant Leap Australia Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that advances...
Drone flyer diary – Roger Fairest
Roger Fairest is the chief remote pilot and finance manager for 'Drone That', a Brisbane-based organisation that specialises in using drones to manage vegetation across southern Queensland.
Drone flyer diary – John Coulombe
John Coulombe is a California-born environmental scientist with broad experience in many industries, including being a professional firefighter in the United States and a bike mechanic in Switzerland.
Drone flyer diary – Anthony Banks
The passionate teacher creating a pathway for the pilots of the future.
We first came across Anthony Banks and the great work he does at...
Drone flyer diary – Kane Leussink
A young recreational drone flyer finds enjoyment and fun spending time outdoors and having a new perspective from the sky
Kane Leussink is a 17-year-old...
Drone flyer diary – Michael Pacchini
A passionate drone pilot creating opportunities in the aviation industry for students
Michael Pacchini is the chief remote pilot for UAVAir, a training provider that...
Drone flyer diary – Isaac Mannion
Drones successfully engaging STEM students in the classroom
Isaac Mannion is a dedicated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher at Riverina Anglican College, Wagga...
Drone flyer diary – Paul Hardy
Working along some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, saving lives, and providing important surveillance on marine animals and our coral coastline. Sounds like a...
Drone flyer diary – Rob Whittle
Starting a new job is exciting at the best of times but starting a new job during the Covid-19 pandemic is according to Rob...
Drone flyer diary- Brett Glosko
Who says public service jobs are boring? For Brett Glosko, who started his career in the Queensland Government 23 years ago, the benefits of...
Drone flyer diary – Samantha Farrow
The Australian drone industry recently reached a new milestone, with Surf Life Saving Northern Territory (SLSNT) approved by CASA as the 2,000 th remotely...
Drone flyer diary – Wayne Condon
There seems to be a common theme occurring in aviation at the moment: former manned aircraft pilot sees a golden opportunity to fly drones...
Drone flyer diary – Tom Raimondo
Fact: Australia has rocks dating from over three billion years ago.
Fact: An ancient supervolcano in South Australia’s Gawler Ranges contains a lava field 500...
Tackling one wetland at a time
Mitigating the mosquito issue with drones – reducing risk and cost and improving efficiency
The City of Bayswater Council is working closely with drone specialist...
Drone flyer diary – John Fardoulis
For John Fardoulis, it was discontent with his career in business and publishing that led him to his dream job as an international specialist...
Drone flyer diary – Jaiden Maclean
A new perspective on drone fishing catches on
It all started with a blog – Sea Ulcer – that captured the ocean adventures of 4...
Drone flyer diary – Dean Casciato
Drones reduce safety risks across a range of industries
After working in commercial TV as a camera assistant for 15 years, Dean Casciato decided to...
Drone flyer diary – Sue Osborn
By Sarah Guttler
Imagine coordinating the largest drone light display in the southern hemisphere
In early January, this became a reality for Sue Osborn from Mirragin...
Drone flyer diary – Debbie Saunders
As she searches from the skies, Dr Debbie Saunders can be on the lookout for animals as diverse as missing koalas, endangered Vietnamese pangolins...
Drone Flyer Diary – Phil De Glanville
Accelerating from designer to award-winning drone photographer
Phil De Glanville’s reputation as a leading photographer took flight when he was named a category winner...
Drone Flyer Diary – Corey Roberts
Architect’s career takes off with drones
For many commercial drone operators, flying drones was once a hobby that merged into something more.
For Corey Roberts, flying...
Drone Flyer Diary – Adam Grant
Drone operation offers ‘next level’ skillset
In this edition of Drone Flyer Diary, we talk to Canberra cinematographer Adam Grant about how drones are fast...
Drone Flyer Diary – Craig Garth
Flying high for local government
In this edition of Drone Flyer Diaries, we talk to Tasmanian drone pilot Craig Garth about finding his professional wings...
Drone Flyer Diary – Victorian Drone Flyers
‘We were just two guys flying drones in an empty paddock,’ says Chris Robert Perry, describing the humble beginnings of the Victorian Drone Flyers...
Drone Flyer Diary – Adam Smith
Drone photographer Adam Smith’s Instagram feed is an influencer’s dream: curated scenes of stunning sunsets, swarming sharks and wonderous whales.
Adam travels extensively along the...
Drone Flyer Diary – Andrew Reitsma
While Qantas' A380s continue to hibernate in the Mojave Desert in the USA, the staff who flew these magnificent birds are not sitting idle.
Pilot...
Drone Flyer Diary – Grant Cameron
Using 'tech for good' is a mantra drone operator Grant Cameron likes to live by.
Kamilaroi man Grant is manager of the Indigenous Digital Excellence...
Drone Flyer Diary – Thomas and Paul Bitmatta
Back in the day, typical father-son bonding activities probably brought to mind fishing, camping and working on cars. The hands-on hobbies involving building and technical skills still prevail,...
Drone Flyer Diaries – Henry Corbell
It was a YouTube video captured in a French forest that first caught the eye of Henry Corbell, a young tech enthusiast from Canberra.
The...
Drone Flyer Diaries – Jade King
If you found yourself watching MasterChef last year (both the adults and kids’ versions), you may have noticed Australian native foods were at the forefront of some amazing...
Drone Flyer Diaries – Amanda Meys
With CASA’s commercial drone registration deadline just around the corner, Amanda Meys, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) chief remote pilot, was...
Drone articles
Drones taking agriculture sky high
In Australia, drones are increasingly being used to carry out agricultural operations such as crop monitoring and spraying, livestock management and land surveying.
We’ve compiled...
Apply for CASA’s safety manager scholarship
Are you an aviation safety manager or do you know someone who is?
If so, why not apply for one of this year’s CASA safety...
Vertical challenger
The designers of what is planned to be Australia's first certified advanced air mobility aircraft say technology and safety go hand in hand.
Safety was...
Stay away from bushfires
El Niño adds weight and urgency to our annual bushfire warning.
Summer 2023–24 has started early, it seems, with scorching September temperatures on Australia’s east...
The unseen hand: automation, human factors and drones
Margo Marchbank talks to industry professionals on how the powerful combination of automation, human capabilities and human limitations affects uncrewed aviation in unique ways.
There's...
Aviation 2.0
Uncrewed aerial systems have been at the centre of Dr Reece Clothier’s professional life since it began.
Different but the same
Fiona Church has been a bush pilot, Qantas pilot and now a drone operator. Success in these diverse fields has 3 common ingredients, she says...
New regulatory roadmap for drones and advanced air mobility in Australia
We’re paving the way for remotely piloted aircraft (drones) and advanced air mobility (AAM) in Australia with our new regulatory roadmap.
With the rapidly growing...
Five tips when hiring a drone professional
More and more industries are now using drones to improve their business.
From farming and mining to wedding photographers and search and rescue, they are...
Drone technology – the next step forward for safer beaches
A shark is spotted. The alarm echoes. You run out of the water. You’re safe!
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes...
Preparing for tomorrow’s skies, today
Are you working on something new for aviation? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re calling on designers, manufacturers, inventors and other people...
Drone safety to be taught in schools
School students across Australia can build their skills as next-generation pilots through an innovative safety campaign being launched by CASA
Children represent a growing proportion...
Android RePL now available
Android users are now able to store a digital copy of their remote pilot licence (RePL) on their devices, using Google Pay.
Previously, a digital...
New drone safety apps
Five new CASA-verified drone safety apps are now available for recreational and commercial drone operators to download and use.
The apps give users location-based information...
Stay away from bushfires
With the bushfire season already upon us, it’s time to remind all pilots – commercial, recreational and drone – to stay away from bushfires...
What Donny taught me about drones
Pilots’ core skills are transferrable across the entire sector of aviation
Many years ago, I was sent on a helicopter flight for an article about...
CASA sponsors drone safety signs
A new round of sponsorship to promote drone safety is now open.
CASA is accepting applications from individuals, organisations, local government councils and airports to...
Drones – beyond visual line of sight ops
CASA is developing guidance to help drone pilots conduct operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
Currently, we assess these applications from holders of a...
Down-to-earth wisdom
An airline captain makes a coronavirus career change to drones and discovers his
training in human factors and non-technical skills is just as valuable on...
Drone registration and operator accreditation – it’s the law
If you fly a drone or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) for business or as part of your job, it must be registered and its...
Drone registration and operator accreditation
With more drones in Australian skies, mandatory drone registration and operator accreditation are on the way to help make flying safer and more enjoyable...
Shark spotter drone warns surfer
Summer is officially nearly two months away, but drones are already proving their worth in detecting sharks near Australian beaches.
Drone footage emerged last week...
Preparing for the bushfire season
In the wake of the devastating 2019–20 bushfire season, fire crews and emergency services across the country have been busily preparing as summer approaches.
In...
Test your knowledge on drones
How well do you know the rules about flying your drone? For instance, can you fly over a crowded beach to get that great...
Drones watch over beaches
If you’re at a popular beach this summer, you may see a drone flying overhead. And if you manage to spot the operator, you might...
Drone safety is personal for Meg
Aviation seemed the furthest thing from Meg Kummerow’s rural childhood in the Central Burnett region, of central western Queensland. ‘My background is in agriculture:...
Drones—what’s next?
It is the year 2030 at a busy coastal international airport. From the top of the terminal building, commuter drones taxi incoming passengers to...
US Air Force unveils robot pilot
A robot flew a Cessna 206 for two hours on 9 August as part of a US Air Force project to develop a drop-in...
Changes to drone safety app
CASA is changing the way we provide information about where you can legally operate your drone in Australia. CASA will retire its Can I...
CASA will consider Uber Air proposal on merit
Melbourne commuters could be travelling in a pilotless flying taxi by 2023, and CASA is working with the organisation involved in this ambitious project....
Drone delivers human kidney for transplant
There’s a new entry on the growing list of things drones do: live organ transfers.
Last month a drone delivered a human kidney for transplant...
Tomorrow’s drones taking off into ‘cloud’
Remotely piloted aircraft of the future would fly in the cloud, experts told the Australian Association for Unmanned Systems Exploring an Unmanned Future conference...
Change in the air for drones
CASA is reviewing how it manages remotely piloted aircraft systems as the sector evolves and grows
When Flight Safety Australia first discussed drones, the story...
Drone registration consultation opens – have your say
Consultation is now open on CASA’s proposed new registration and accreditation scheme for drones.
We are introducing a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) registration and RPA...
Boeing reveals drone network plans
Boeing is teaming up with an artificial intelligence software developer SparkCognition to produce and develop a sense-and-avoid traffic management system to integrate drones and...
DJI drone safety bulletin
CASA has issued a safety bulletin with a difference. It’s for drones.
The bulletin, RPAS-SB-18/01 Issue 1, applies to DJI drones fitted with TB50 and...
Challenge sums up years of drone history and growth
To see how far unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have come in the past 12 years look no further than Dalby, on the Queensland...
What drone is right for you?
Thinking of getting into droning? Wouldn’t mind spending some time flying an aircraft remotely? Is it as fun as it looks? What’s the best...
Boeing drone to fuel navy jets
The US Navy has picked Boeing to supply unmanned tanker aircraft. The navy last week awarded a $US805 million ($A1.1 billion) development contract for...
More than a ‘noisy tape measure’
Remotely piloted aircraft systems are adding speed and accuracy to aircraft accident investigation
Use the words ‘drone’, ‘accident’ and ‘investigation’ in the same sentence and...
Keep your drone away from bushfires
A drone flown over a Northern Rivers bushfire on Saturday caused the NSW Rural Fire Service to ground all firefighting aircraft in the area.
Flying...
Drones on the range in wild bird round-up
Engineers at Caltech, the California Institute of Technology, have developed software they say enables drones to herd birds, potentially reducing the risk of birdstrike...
Rules apply when you fly—CASA’s new drone safety animation
Drones provide hours of flying fun but understanding the safety rules is essential before taking off.
With drones more popular than ever, the Civil Aviation...
High-flying aircraft to run on sunshine for a year
Defence and aviation giant BAE Systems is developing an unmanned aircraft that can fly for up to a year.
BAE Systems has signed an agreement...
A billion aircraft: the future of drones
If US futurist Thomas Frey is right, in only 12 years drones will be as ubiquitous as cars. Frey says there will be 1...
Test your drone knowledge
Do you fly a drone for fun? Do you know the rules so you can fly safely? Test your knowledge with the new CASA...
Video shows safety side of dynamic drone industry
If you want to make your living out of flying drones, or just want a summary and overview of a dynamic new sector of...
Drone hotspots
Contributor and licensed remote pilot Craig Newlyn tracks down some places where drones and manned aircraft need to take particular care
Drones are everywhere and...
Drone rescue a world first
A drone rescued two swimmers from a NSW beach yesterday in a mission believed to be the first of its type.
Lifeguards from Surf Life...
Boeing to test refuelling drone
Boeing will demonstrate an unmanned aircraft capable of refuelling carrier-based US Navy jets, according to an announcement from the company.
The US Navy has been...
