In a recent article, we talked about new drone owners in Canada requiring a drone pilot’s license starting June this year. In Australia, a similar endeavor will also take place. This will require all drone owners in the country to get a flyer’s license starting July 2019.
Australia Flyer’s License
Both programs in Canada and Australia are similar in practice. The licensing tests require drone owners to take an online course to check if they are competent to fly one. Drones weighing above 250 grams (basically every serious drone) needs a flyer’s license before it can lift off. Smaller ones, which are frequently nano drones for kids and indoor flying, are not included.
A Better Picture
The flyer’s license provides a number of data for the country. First, it paints a pretty solid picture of how many drone flyers there are in the country. Second, it ties the drone to a particular person – the owner. This creates more accountability for the owner, where their actions can lead to fines and even imprisonment in some cases.
A big cause for the tightening of drone regulations is due to airport incidences, especially in Australia. These plane-drone incidents create havoc globally, all because of irresponsible drone flyers. The threat of a drone colliding with a plane mid-air is a scary thought. It is closer to reality than one may think, hence we see stricter regulations. Drone registrations are also starting to crop up globally, leading to more accountable drone ownership.
Summing Up
If these measures can prevent drones from crashing down fully loaded planes, then a minor inconvenience should be worth it. The test to get your own drone flyer’s license if you are in Australia can be taken online. Testers believe that the registration and course can be completed within 15 minutes, which is not so bad when you think about it.
