CASA publishes update to its AAM development roadmap for Australia

Australian safety aviation regulator CASA has today published its regulatory roadmap update for Advanced Air Mobility in Australia.

In the Immediate term  (2024 to 2026) “we expect the volume of RPAS flights to increase due to the rise in goods delivery services,” says CASA.” Advances in technology will make RPAS more efficient, affordable, and capable of flying longer distances. This is likely to boost the use of larger RPAS in the commercial sector. Meanwhile, we expect the use of RPAS and model aircraft for sport, recreation, and education to remain strong. There will be greater demand for approvals of commercial operations beyond the standard operating conditions, and advanced operations we have not assessed before. The focus will likely shift toward implementing systems and services to support more complex operations in shared airspace.”…

In the near term (2027 to 2029) CASA expects AAM operations to launch in Australia. “This will introduce the first commercial applications, including passenger transport in urban areas. Approval processes for small to medium RPAS will become clearer and more aligned with national and international regulations. This will help pave the way for Australian-registered RPAS and AAM aircraft to start international operations during this period. The industry will look to certify piloted AAM aircraft by type. It is likely that further planning and development will progress for vertiports and other supporting infrastructure. The AAM sector will start showing its benefits through trials, education, and demonstrations.”…

In the medium term (2030 to 2033) “By 2030, most currently known use cases for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) are expected to be mature with expansive access to lower-level airspace and supporting regulations in place. Technologies enabling extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations in shared airspace, across both urban and rural environments, will be commonplace. As operations mature, better data will be collected to improve safety assessments processes and systems. Requirements for training will change as more complex operations introduce new technologies and increasing levels of automation. Competencies and skillsets will need to evolve from what has been learned before.  Research and development activities will continue with testing of even more complex operations and larger platforms, as well as higher levels of autonomy. The commercial advanced air mobility (AAM) sector will continue to mature. It will expand to include multiple scheduled passenger transport applications supported by safe and efficient transport routes. The first fully autonomous aircraft may be introduced on a limited scale”.

In the long term  (beyond 2034) “we expect to see higher numbers of RPAS of different designs, purposes, and capabilities operating in the airspace. This technology will offer further efficiencies for labour-intensive operations. Advancements in technology will also increase the diversity of aircraft. This will blur the lines between RPAS, AAM and traditional aircraft. Hybrid designs will emerge as operators see the commercial benefits these new technologies offer. As the AAM sector grows, we will see highly automated vehicles entering service on a small scale, gradually expanding over time.”

“This is really exciting news for Australia”, said Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of Skyportz. “This policy confirmation by CASA provides a green light for the property development industry to start planning for this revolution in the way we move people and goods”’ said Newton-Brown.

“The vertiport infrastructure is the missing piece of the puzzle for this industry. Without new vertiport landing sites in places people want to go, the aircraft will never fulfil their potential”.

Skyportz says it aims to break the nexus between aviation and airports and enable commercial and industrial property developers to host vertiports. Over 400 property sites have expressed an interest in hosting a vertiport in Australia.

“We envisage that those properties with vertiports will attract higher rents as businesses demand to have drone freight and air taxi services for customers”, said Newton-Brown

“However, this is an emerging new industry, so we need the support of Government and our safety regulator CASA to help guide development”.