[LINK] Recreational Drone Registration

[Roger Clarke]

[The Gatwick kerfuffle has finally convinced regulators that they need 
to be seen to be doing something.

[I wrote in 2014-16:
http://rogerclarke.com/SOS/Drones-PAR.html#RDR
 >Rather than establishing a convenient online registration mechanism 
with virtually no beneficial effect, XXXX could have instead imposed 
onerous conditions, thereby creating a strong incentive for drone 
operators to join a club and bring themselves within an environment that 
makes information available, and brings with it both a sense of 
responsibility and insurance coverage. ...

[XXXX was the (US)FAA, but the same can now be said for CASA.

[The requirement for "owners to complete an online course to learn the 
rules of drone safety" is okay, but it will be interesting to see how 
they make it stick.  (My proposition was that they should hook into 
existing infrastructure, and stimulate or commission clubs to run the 
courses).

[The claim is made that:
 >Communication can now be sent to drone owners regarding important 
safety issues, such as reminders to not operate a drone above a bushfire.
[That depends on whether the registration process includes a relevant 
contact-point, and maintenance processes for changes to contact-points.]


Drone crackdown coming in 2019
More surveillance and registration for recreational drone owners.
Edward Pollitt
Jan 08 2019 11:33 AM
https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2019/drone-crackdown-coming-in-2019.html

Australian drone owners can expect stricter rules and regulations in 
2019, as the civil aviation authority begins a nationwide crackdown.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has revealed it is bolstering 
surveillance capabilities, while also implementing a new registration 
and accreditation scheme for recreational drones weighing over 250g.

CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson explained the changes will help the 
government to keep the skies safe.

“It will not only help us keep the drone sector safe, but we will do it 
in a way that offers benefits to people who have drones through 
supplying ongoing safety support information to them,” he told 
Information Age.

It comes after Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom was closed down in 
December, following drone sightings near the runway.

The incident resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled and is 
believed to have cost the airport and airlines upwards of £20 million 
($AU35.78 million).

All current recreational drone owners and those purchasing a new drone 
will have to register their device.

The online registration will involve a “nominal fee” and will require 
owners to complete an online course to learn the rules of drone safety.

The fines for failing to register a recreational drone are still being 
determined.

Surveillance updates

The changes will also see CASA update the surveillance technology used 
to monitor drones.

Gibson explained this initiative is mainly “to get a handle on how many 
people are flying drones around”.

The portable surveillance equipment will firstly assess drone activity 
around major Australian airports, before then checking popular drone 
hotspots, such as Sydney Harbour.

“The technology allows you to identify where the controller is, so you 
can see the drone in the air and the controller on the ground,” Gibson said.

“We would be able to identify the people doing the wrong thing.”

Is this a crackdown?

While Gibson described the changes as a “drone safety crackdown”, the 
changes are also designed to help CASA communicate with drone owners 
more effectively, he explained.

“It gives us a way of directly communicating with people, so we’ll be 
able to offer ongoing support and information in terms of safely 
operating drones,” he said.

Communication can now be sent to drone owners regarding important safety 
issues, such as reminders to not operate a drone above a bushfire.


-- 
Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA 

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University