Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has published a new summary of the consultation on the draft guidance for drone airworthiness under the Australian Specific Operational Risk Assessment (AusSORA).
The annex is mainly intended for drone designers, manufacturers, operators, system integrators, engineers, and consultants involved in preparing compliance to support AusSORA applications. The annex forms part of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility Regulatory Roadmap.
Respondents supported the overall direction of the annex and its alignment with AusSORA. They also asked for clearer and more practical guidance.
Specifically, feedback called for clearer guidance on acceptable evidence, flexible compliance pathways and supporting materials, such as examples, templates and checklists.
Several respondents noted that unclear evidence expectations could lead to conservative implementation, with some concerned that SAIL III and IV requirements might resemble traditional certification. CASA said that it intends the annex to remain risk-based and proportionate, with requirements scaling by SAIL level and robustness. “Higher SAIL levels will bring increased airworthiness expectations but, these are not intended to replicate the rigour of type certification, particularly at SAIL IV and below,” the authority said on June 30.
Given the broad stakeholder support for the annex, CASA said the guidance will proceed as planned with targeted refinements.
For more information
CASA
Image: CASA
