RPAS in Australian Skies Conference

Canberra, Australia, March 7-8, 2016

The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) industry is continuing to grow at a fast pace. Greater access to airspace remains a critical issue to the continued growth and viability of the sector.

The Australian Association for Unmanned Systems is hosting a “RPAS in Australian Skies” conference is bringing together the key stakeholders from Government, Industry, and Academia to raise awareness and generate discussion on this critical issue. The event will be held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on March 7-8, 2016.

“Achieving safe and efficient operations beyond visual line of sight and gaining greater access to non-segregated airspace remains one of the most critical issues for our members” says Dr Reece Clothier, President of AAUS.

“AAUS wants to take a leading role in addressing this critical issue for our industry, and the upcoming conference will bring together all of the key players for this to occur”, he said.

The conference format will include keynote presentations from CASA, Airservices Australia, Defence and Industry as well as open panel discussion sessions. Speakers include Director of Aviation Safety AVM (retd) Mark Skidmore (CASA), Scott Duffy (CASA), Paddy Goodall (Airservices Australia), GPCAPT Guy Adams (RAAF), WGCDR Matthew Bowers (RAAF), A/Prof Terry Martin and Prof Duncan Campbell (ARCAA), John S Walker (JS Walker Group), William Mahoney (Northrop Grumman), Scott Dann and Ken Loving (General Atomics), Jim Coyne (UAS International), Peggy MacTavish (Flight Data Systems), Paul Herrmann (Aerosonde), Brendan Williams (Insitu Pacific / Boeing), John Oddie (AvTech Aviation Solutions) and Kristian Cruickshank (Nova Systems).

An intended outcome from the conference is a whole of industry whitepaper identifying the issues and strategies relating to:

Equipage requirements for RPAS operations in non-segregated airspace
Realising operations beyond visual line of sight, and
Managing small RPAS operations at very low levels.

“Conference attendees will play an important role in shaping this white paper through their active participation in the panel discussions and question sessions. We intend to table this white paper with CASA and Government after the event”.

If your organisation has an interest in the RPAS industry, then you must attend this strategically important event. Register at aaus.org.au.

AAUS is Australia’s largest industry association representing unmanned systems across land, sea and air domains. It is a not for profit organisation with any revenue raised from events re-invested into the advocacy, education, networking, and outreach services it provides for the sector. More information: aaus.org.au