Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/New Africa

The Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) has published the results of its most recent annual remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) industry survey.

The survey, which was open to everyone involved in the Australian RPAS industry, attracted feedback from 145 organisations, including included ReOC holders, excluded category operators, manufacturers and service providers.

Many of the survey results were consistent with the previous year’s survey, with some of the highlights being:

• While the Australian RPAS industry comprises entities ranging from sole traders to multi-national corporations, a large percentage of survey respondents were from organisations with fewer than 10 staff members.
• There is a growing number of organisations operating in the excluded category.
• Most organisations use multi-rotor drones in the very small and small weight categories, for line-of-sight operations.
• Although most common uses currently are education, sporting events, news and media, and real estate, within the next few years the most common uses are expected to also include defence, research, transport infrastructure, and mining, oil and gas.
• Few organisations are using CASA’s streamlined BVLOS standard scenarios.
• There has been an increased use of fixed-wing drones.
• Regulatory red tape is seen as being the largest risk for industry, followed by the introduction of local government regulations and societal concerns regarding privacy.

The full results can be read online.

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