Developing a Modern, Tiered Competency Framework for Australia’s RPAS Workforce
Australia’s RPAS industry is expanding rapidly, with drones now used for increasingly complex tasks across agriculture, mining, emergency services, infrastructure inspection, and more. As the sector grows, so does the demand for a timely and robust set of competency requirements that accurately reflect the skills needed to conduct diverse and sophisticated drone operations safely and effectively.
This project will deliver a modern, RPAS competency framework that defines clear tiers of operator capability. These tiers will align to:
- RPAS types and technical complexity
- Operational risk levels
- Industry-specific needs
- Advanced activities such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and multi-drone missions
The framework will be designed to integrate with existing aviation qualifications and supported by an international scan, extensive industry consultation, and a comprehensive safety risk analysis. The final deliverable will provide CASA with a detailed proposal to inform the future of RPAS licensing as the sector continues to mature.
Australia’s drone industry has outgrown the current Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) system, creating a widening gap between what drones can do and what operators are formally trained and authorised to perform. As drones take on more complex, high-risk, and commercially valuable roles, the absence of a modern competency structure is impacting industry safety, operational efficiency, and innovation.
A tiered competency model will:
- provide guidance for industry to map the skills required for different RPAS systems, based on system capabilities and complexity.
- support safer, more consistent operation practices
- create structured and attractive career pathways
- help industry to keep pace with fast-moving technological advancements.
For CASA and the broader aviation ecosystem, this work also supports a smoother transition toward the future licensing reforms in the RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Roadmap. By laying the groundwork now, this project strengthens safety of RPAS operations, and positions Australia to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.
The project will deliver:
- A draft Tiered Competency Framework for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
- A final report for DEWR, including:
- The proposed tiered competency and licensing framework
- Evidence based analysis of global practice, industry needs, safety data, regulatory requirements, and qualification alignment to ensure the framework is practical, defensible, and future-focused.
- Mapping to current nationally endorsed drone qualifications:
- AVI30419 Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot)
- AVI40422 Certificate IV in Aviation (Remote Pilot – BVLOS)
- AVI59922 Diploma of Aviation (Chief Remote Pilot)
- Recommendations for integrating career pathways within the broader aviation and RPAS ecosystem
The project will use a structured, research-driven approach, including:
- A review of international tiered RPAS competency models to identify best practice approaches.
- Compilation and analysis of industry safety risk data for RPAS operations.
- Examination of competency and licensing models from allied and adjacent industries.
- Stakeholder and CASA interviews, supported by desktop research, to identify competency needs and regulatory requirements for each tier.
- Assessment of alignment between the proposed framework and existing nationally endorsed RPAS qualifications.
- Validation of the final framework through subject matter experts, an advisory group, or targeted focus groups.
The project is due to be completed by 22 March 2027.
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Haidee Whiteley Project Manager M: 0427 385 159 |