AAUS - Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems

AAUS UAS Industry Scholarship After being grounded in Australia due to COVID in 2020, Taylor Taylor took the opportunity to start a new chapter. She began her journey with her first full-time role at Georgetown State School, later enrolling with Rural Biz Training to complete an Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Sciences. Now based on a cattle property in Far North Queensland, she’s fully embraced the rural lifestyle and its future potential. In 2022, Taylor joined Gulf Savannah NRM, where she has taken on a variety of roles, including soil monitoring, weed control, and property evaluations to support properties across Far North Queensland. Her team leader encouraged her to apply for the UAS Industry Scholarship, a joint initiative by the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems and Airservices Australia to promote diversity in the uncrewed sector. This scholarship enabled Taylor to pursue her Remote Pilot License (RePL) training, a significant step in broadening her agricultural expertise. “The scholarship has been a game-changer for me. Before this, I had little experience with drones, but the training has given me both the skills and confidence to use this technology effectively,” Taylor shared. “Now, I can conduct safe, compliant flights and map areas like erosion sites, gullies, and waterfronts with precision. These skills are already enhancing my work at Gulf Savannah, allowing us to make more informed decisions for sustainable land management. I’m excited to see how this expertise will help us create lasting impacts in Far North Queensland.” Recently, Taylor applied her new skills in a project using LIDAR-equipped drones to map three significant gullies. The data collected will guide upcoming erosion control initiatives and allow for more informed project proposals. Congratulations to Taylor on your scholarship success! Her journey from South Africa to Australia’s outback continues to shape her passion for sustainable agriculture and community support. We look forward to seeing how she uses these skills to make an impact in Far North Queensland. #AAUS #Airservicesaustralia #RPAS #VTOL #remotepilot #scholarship #training #RePL #drones Luke Gumley

AAUS UAS Industry Scholarship After recently graduating with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Queensland, Jack Anderson is already making waves as the General Manager of Isidore, a Brisbane-based startup pioneering powered tethered drones in the communications sector. Jack’s interest in composite materials and uncrewed systems led him to join Isidore as an engineering intern over two years ago, and he has since proven himself as both a technical and business asset. Jack’s journey has now been further empowered by his successful application for the AAUS UAS Industry Scholarship. His motivation? To overcome the complex regulatory challenges within the UAV sector, which Isidore navigates with its long-endurance tethered drones. Through the scholarship, Jack has now obtained his Remote Pilot License (RePL), a milestone that opens doors to greater operational autonomy and efficiency. The UAS Industry Scholarship, a collaboration between the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) and Airservices Australia, aims to foster growth and diversity in the uncrewed sector by supporting training costs up to $5,000 for each recipient. Jack’s scholarship has equipped him with skills and regulatory knowledge that will be transformative for Isidore. He can now conduct demonstrations and system tests without waiting on external pilot support—an invaluable advantage for the startup. Reflecting on the experience, Jack shared, “The RePL course has demystified so much of the regulatory side and given me confidence in every interaction, from product sales to mission planning.” With new skills and a license to fly large drone systems up to 25kg, Jack is excited to continue developing in the unmanned space, where he sees enormous potential for growth. Congratulations to Jack on this achievement, and we look forward to following his continued contributions to the uncrewed sector! #AAUS #Airservicesaustralia #RPAS #VTOL #remotepilot #scholarship #training #RePL #drones

The Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) and the Australian Certified UAV Operators (ACUO) have today announced an exciting new chapter for the uncrewed systems industry in Australia, uniting under a single banner to better represent and advocate for the sector. Effective immediately, AAUS will serve as the peak body for the uncrewed systems industry, while ACUO, after years of valuable contributions, will formally cease operations. This unification signifies a strengthened and single voice for the Australian uncrewed systems industry, bringing together the collective expertise, advocacy, and resources of both organisations. AAUS, as the recognised leader in the sector, will continue to drive policy, innovation, and industry development, while preserving the legacy and contributions of ACUO. “We are proud to announce this new phase for Australia’s uncrewed systems industry,” said Reece Clothier, President of AAUS. “By uniting with ACUO, we are creating a stronger, more cohesive body that will be better positioned to champion the interests of our members and drive forward the growth of this dynamic industry.” Founded in 2009, ACUO has been instrumental in the development of Australia’s UAV operations, setting standards and advocating for the safe and responsible use of UAVs across various sectors. ACUO’s legacy is one of pioneering professionalism and shaping the early stages of the industry’s regulation and acceptance within Australia. “We pay tribute to ACUO and its members for their tireless work in advocating for operators and the industry as a whole,” continued Dr Clothier. “Their legacy will live on through the ongoing work of AAUS, and we are committed to continuing the tradition of excellence they have established.” Brad Mason, one of the seven founding members of ACUO, said, “We are all quietly proud of the foundations we laid. I want to personally thank all the ACUO management committee members over the years who volunteered their time for us and the development of our industry.” “The Australian RPAS industry is incredibly innovative and the pace of development such that our consolidation is a logical next step to industry growth. I’m pleased to see the two organisations finally unite and I’m keen to see now what we can achieve together.” As part of the unification, two of ACUO’s current committee members Aaron McKay and Danny Elassad will join AAUS. Aaron, Managing Director and Owner of Aus Aerial Media will take a vacant seat on the AAUS Board. #RPAS #advocacy #uncrewedsystems #unification #AAM #innovation Reece Clothier Anthony Patterson Leigh Simpson Andrew Crowe Paul Hardy Renee Bartolo Vic Grosjean, MEng Mitch Deam Keirin Joyce Natasha Santha Philip van der Burg Warren Ludwig Aaron McKay Danny Elassad Jonathan King Brad Mason Joe U. Tom Pils Greg Tyrrell

In a positive move for industry Airservices Australia and Wisk have this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help both organisations gain insights into the future airspace management needs of Advanced Air Mobility operations, such as air taxis, The arrangement will enable aerospace manufacturer, Wisk, to share expertise which will pave the way for safe advanced air travel in the coming decades. As part of this MOU, Airservices Australia will be conducting a series of workshops and simulations aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of how Advanced Air Mobility systems will seamlessly integrate with Airservices systems into the national airspace.  You can read more about the partnership on the Airservices Australia website https://lnkd.in/grZkhuzr

AAUS would like to congratulate our Executive Director Greg Tyrrell on his appointment to the General Aviation Advisory Network (GAAN). The GAAN serves as a platform for industry representatives to collaborate, identify opportunities to address challenges, trends, and issues affecting the general aviation industry, including the RPAS and AAM sectors, and contribute to policy development The Minister for Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Catherine King also announced Former Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Executive Manager and current CEO of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) Rob Walker GAICD FRAeS has been appointed the new chair of the minister's General Aviation Advisory Network, after the retirement of previous chair Andrew Andersen. We would also like to acknowledge and thank AAUS Board President Reece Clothier for his contributions as he steps down from his position on the advisory network. #GAAN #advisorynetwork #collaboration #RPAS #AAM #generalaviation #CASA #DITRDCA https://lnkd.in/ghiV6ceb

Thank you so much to Jackie Dujmovic and her team at Hover UAV for opening their facility yesterday to students and industry. It was a fantastic evening for everyone involved. It was amazing to see Hover's new risk assesment tool SORA-Mate in action. Thank you to Dylan Bishop for his presentation explaining the SORA process and showcase how SORA-Mate can be used to streamline the SORA Risk Assessments for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Keep an eye on our socials and website for future networking events. #networking #memberevents #bvlos #SORAmate #drones #rpas #approvalprocesses

Angela Garvey - Navigating Aviation, supported by the General Aviation Advisory Network (GAAN) and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, are conducting an important research study on mental health, culture and wellbeing in the general aviation community. As members of the RPAS sector within this community AAUS encourages you to provide your experiences and insights to help shape the future of our industry. https://lnkd.in/gDfJ8emE All responses are anonymous. Findings from this study will be used to advocate for policy reform, initiate meaningful conversations, and break down stigmas associated with mental health and diversity in the aviation field. #Survey #generalaviation #mentalhealth #RPAS

Reminder to anyone on the Gold Coast! Have you registered for next weeks AAUS networking event, hosted by Hover UAV. Join Jackie Dujmovic and her team at Hover for an exciting afternoon as we hear from local companies such as Profly Cinema and learn about their experiences and strategies in navigating the current approval processes including Operations Over and Near People (OONP) and BVLOS to successfully transform their business. Plus get ready for some friendly competition on the drone simulators. A special shoutout also to Luke Chaplain from SkyKelpie, who will demo his cattle mustering simulator, and Christopher Hills from Hands Optional with his amazing no-hands flying simulator. Attendees will also have the chance to check out Hover's Drone Remote Operations Centre and the latest Drone-in-a-Box technology. Registration is free for members, non-members are able to attend at a cost of $45 Registration: https://lnkd.in/gJTb7PFP #networking #drones #BVLOS #OONP #goldcoast #approvals

AAUS' member Sphere Drones is running a series of demo days around Australia showcasing the potential of LiDAR for use in mapping and surveying. Learn more about the technology and how to integrate it into your projects at these events being held in Perth, Sydney and Townsville in October. Registration is essential for demo days (see the links in the post below) #LiDAR #mapping #surveying #drones #rpas #AAM #BVLOS #demodays

Hover UAV and ANRA Technologies have today launched SORA-Mate, an automated risk assessment tool for drone operators in Australia, New Zealand and the wider APAC region. SORA-Mate was developed to automate the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) process. By streamlining submissions and ensuring compliance, SORA-Mate simplifies the regulatory journey for both operators and regulators, improving application accuracy, reducing delays, and making it easier for operators to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights. Hover UAV are running an information webinar this Wednesday, with a live demonstration of SORA-Mate, showing how it simplifies the BVLOS approval process. See below for futher details and the link to register. #SORA #BVLOS #approvals #regulatory #innovation #emergingaviation #newtech #technology