Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) and Drones

With recreational Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA) (this includes UAVs/UAS/Drones) ownership "exploding" into the thousands over recent years, the potential damage caused during a mid-air collision between one of these aircraft and a firefighting aircraft, presents a very real threat to the safety of aerial firefighting operations.  Even a small drone could bring down a helicopter if it collided with the tail rotor or engine intake, or a fixed-wing aeroplane if it hits the propeller.

There are a number of important regulations operators of RPAs must comply with, whether they are flying them for recreation or commercial purposes.  More information on these regulations may be sourced via the Civil Aviation Safety Authority website www.casa.gov.au/rpa.

In the event that a RPA is detected operating in the vicinity of a fire, CFS may suspend aerial firefighting operations until it is considered safe to resume.  If aerial firefighting operations are suspended, the CFS will instigate an immediate media alert to request that the RPA operator cease operations, or if members of the community are aware of the RPA operator, to immediately contact police.