Australian drone users only know 72% of the rules

Did you know the average Australian drone users only knows 72% of the safety rules? The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) shared this statistic across its social media accounts.

Drone flyers know 8 out of 11 safety rules

According to CASA, drone flyers are aware of about 8 out of the 11 crucial safety rules. This awareness level is well above what we expected, yet there is still room for improvement as it is likely those that complete hte safety rules quiz are more knowledgable than those that buy a drone and start flying without even thinking about the rules.

Australian drone rules

Understanding and adhering to these safety rules is vital for ensuring a safe and enjoyable flying experience for all. The 11 rules for flying drones recreationally in Australia are:

1. You must not fly your drone higher than 120 metres (400 feet) above ground level.
2. You must keep your drone at least 30 metres away from other people.
3. You must only fly one drone at a time.
4. You must keep your drone within visual line-of-sight. This means always being able to see the drone with your own eyes (rather than through a device, screen or goggles).
5. You must not fly over or above people or in a populous area. This could include beaches, parks, events, or sport ovals where there is a game in progress.
6. Respect personal privacy. Don’t record or photograph people without their consent – this may breach other laws.
7. If your drone weighs more than 250 grams, you must fly at least 5.5 kilometres away from a controlled airport, which generally have a control tower at them. Use a drone safety app to find out where you can and can’t fly.
8. Remember, you must not operate your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person or property.
9. You must only fly during the day and you must not fly through cloud or fog.
10. You must not fly your drone over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway. This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire or firefighting efforts, or search and rescue.
11. If you’re near a helicopter landing site or smaller aerodrome without a control tower, you can fly your drone within 5.5 kilometres. If you become aware of crewed aircraft nearby, you must manoeuvre away and land your drone as quickly and safely as possible.

You can test yourself, if you are inside or outside of Australia on the CASA Know Your Drone website here.

Source: CASA