[Peetwo]

Drone Wars Update: CC warns against using Purdy -

Comardy Capers once again proves how out of touch with reality he and his Fort Fumble minions truly are when it comes to drones, via the Oz: 

Aviation safety watchdog’s warning to anti-drone vigilantes

’CASA has no interest in discouraging the responsible development and controlled deployment of effective counter-drone technologies’.

• The Australian
  
• 12:00AM August 11, 2017
  
• [size=undefined]ANNABEL HEPWORTH
  
  Aviation Editor
  Sydney
  @HepworthAnnabel
  [img=0x0]https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/author/d4b891a093ad6ddc703117011dc4fd61/?esi=true&t_product=the-australian&t_template=s3/austemp-article_common/vertical/author/widget&td_bio=false[/img][/size]
  

The aviation safety watchdog has warned against “unlawful vigilantism” by people to jam or destroy drones they feel have intruded on them.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has sounded the alarm about sophisticated “counter-drone” technologies used in a “dangerous and unlawful” way in response to drones...

Do you think Old MacDonald, from the back of Burke, is going to think twice about blowing a drone out of the air with two barrels from the Purdy, just because Dr A and wingnut Carmody say it is unlawful? - next they'll be saying it is unlawful to be thinking of going flying while under the influence...    

Meanwhile it is quite legal to be sipping a Chardy heavily under the influence and at the same time operating a drone while at a BBQ in the local park - UDB!

Update: Via Oz Flying & FF.

CASA is seeking feedback on how to regulate drones such as this quadrotor. (Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation)

CASA seeks Comments on Drone Regulation
11 August 2017

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today released a discussion paper reviewing regulation of drone operations in Australia.

DP1708OS is part of a review started in June to review CASA's approach to regulating Remotely-Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations, and canvasses several topics and options including registration, experience and training, geo-fencing and counter-drone technology.

According to CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody, the rise of drone use has presented National Aviation Authorities around the world with similar issues to those encountered in Australia.

"Globally, aviation safety regulators are facing the same kinds of challenges: to maintain high levels of safety without unnecessarily impeding progress or unduly constraining commercial opportunities to use a technology capable of a multitude of beneficial humanitarian, economic and recreational applications," he said in his foreword to the DP.
...

"I recognise the need for existing aviation safety requirements to be reviewed, critically assessed and updated in response to emerging risks, new technologies, international regulatory developments, and the advice and views from other government, industry and community stakeholders. Therefore I look forward to [the] responses to this discussion paper."

The CASA RPA review is different to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (RRAT) inquiry into the safe use of drones, but CASA expects the outcome of their review will provide information to that inquiry.
DP1708OS is available for download from the CASA website.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...SpzoDEs.99

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&..

Discussion paper - review of RPAS operations (DP 1708OS)

Closes 22 Sep 2017
Opened 11 Aug 2017
Contact
RPAS Branch

131 757
regulatoryconsultation@casa.gov.au

Overview

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to introduce legislation governing the operation of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), commonly referred to as drones. Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) was introduced in 2002 in response to the need for an effective regulatory framework within which the development of this rapidly evolving technology could progress without compromising the safety of other airspace users and people and property on the ground.

Since that time the RPA sector in Australia, as elsewhere in the world, has experienced enormous growth, driven by advancements in technology that continue to fuel commercial and recreational consumer demand, while providing easier access to increasingly sophisticated devices at relatively low cost. As of 24 July 2017 there were 5,870 remotely piloted aircraft licence (RePL) holders and 1,106 remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC) holders in Australia. The vast majority of RPA owners and operators are recreational users who require neither a RePL nor a ReOC. It is estimated that there are at least 50,000 drones being operated in Australia today, mostly for sport and recreational purposes.

Globally, aviation safety regulators are facing the same kinds of challenges: to maintain high levels of safety without unnecessarily impeding progress or unduly constraining commercial opportunities to use a technology capable of a multitude of beneficial humanitarian, economic and recreational applications. Responding to these challenges, CASA introduced important amendments to the regulations that took effect in September 2016.

Why We Are Consulting

While reducing the regulatory burden on some commercial uses of RPA, the regulations continue to require all drone operators to comply with the basic safety requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the regulations. In fact, the recent amendments to Part 101 of CASR included a set of generally applicable standard operating conditions designed to enhance the high level of safety already provided under the existing rules. The Notice of Final Rule Making for these amendments is expected to be released shortly.

We recognise, of course, that departures from these requirements—deliberate or unintentional—can heighten those risks, and that effective action to address, and where possible to prevent, such departures is essential. To that end, CASA has continued with a major education program about the safe and compliant operation of RPAs. CASA’s drone safety awareness campaign is estimated to have reached more than a million people through our social media channels. It also includes targeted advertising through other media to explain the regulations for recreational and sub-2kg (very small) RPA users.

I recognise the ongoing need for existing aviation safety requirements to be reviewed, critically assessed and updated in response to emerging risks, new technologies, international regulatory developments, and the advice and views from other Government, industry and community stakeholders. Therefore, I look forward to your responses to this discussion paper.

I appreciate your commitment in time and effort in providing comments on these important issues, and I thank you in advance for your contributions.
 
Shane Carmody
Chief Executive Officer and
Director of Aviation Safety
 
 
A copy of the discussion paper is provided below. You can read it on this screen using the scroll bar or save it to your computer using the popup options. 
 
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Related

• Drones fact sheet 1.1 MB (PDF document)
  

• Flying drones / remotely piloted aircraft in Australia
  
• Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
  
• Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (includes Part 101)
  
• Terms of reference for CASA's drone safety review
  

MTF...P2