Australia has long been a global pioneer in drone innovation, and today, we are witnessing the start of a transformative new chapter. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has introduced Temporary Management Instruction (TMI) 2025-03, a groundbreaking trial policy that marks a significant leap forward for the commercial drone industry.
At DJI, we believe this policy is not just a regulatory update—it is the key to unlocking the next level of operational capability for Australian businesses. We want to help you understand what this means, why it matters, and how it can accelerate your growth.
Historically, flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) required a complex, site-specific approval process. Operators often faced waiting periods of months to get permission for a single location.
Broad Area BVLOS changes the game.
Under this new framework, qualified Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC) holders can apply for a "broad area approval." Once approved, you are empowered to self-assess operational areas within that region.
Instead of asking for permission for every new site, you follow a set of standardized pathways (based on drone size and population density).
If your operation fits the safety criteria, you can authorize the flight yourself—reducing deployment times from months to potentially just days.
The demand for complex drone operations is growing rapidly, and the old "site-by-site" approval model was becoming a bottleneck. This policy was developed to:
Match Business Speed: Allow regulatory approvals to move as fast as commercial opportunities.
Enable Scale: Support "one-to-many" operations (one pilot controlling multiple drones), which is essential for scaling fleets in mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Maintain Safety: By shifting responsibility to a nominated "Responsible Person" within your organization, CASA ensures high safety standards are maintained without the administrative red tape.
For operators in sectors like public safety, mining, and utilities, this policy bridges the gap between compliance and capability.
Agility: When an urgent inspection is needed or a new project site opens, you can deploy immediately after your internal self-assessment. You are no longer locked into lengthy waiting periods.
Efficiency: You can run comparative trials across multiple sites simultaneously to optimize your workflows, accelerating your return on investment.
Certainty: With clear pathways (A1, A2, B1, B2) defined by CASA, you have a clearer roadmap for what is possible with your specific equipment.
We understand that with new opportunities come new responsibilities. Participating in this trial requires strict adherence to safety protocols, including the nomination of a "Responsible Person" and robust ground risk assessments.
We are dedicated to promoting this policy because we believe it is the future of our industry. Our enterprise platforms are built to meet the rigorous technical demands of these operations, from reliable connectivity to advanced redundancy.
Furthermore, we are collaborating closely with our national network of channel partners and regulation experts. They are ready to guide you through the application process, help you prepare your SORA documentation, and ensure your team has the training required to secure your Broad Area approval.
This represents a definitive milestone in the evolution of Australian aviation. We invite you to seize this opportunity to scale your operations safely and efficiently.
Safe flying,
DJI Enterprise Team