Sphere Drones has reached a significant milestone with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority granting its flight operations team a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Area Approval for its site near Wagga Wagga, NSW.
This approval positions Sphere Drones to drive commercial drone adoption in Australia, which is expected to reach 60 million flights annually by 2043.
The BVLOS approval marks Sphere Drones’ first step in demonstrating its BVLOS drone operations for customers, further testing, and developing its innovative HubX platform.
This platform is an off-grid-enabled, self-sustaining, and rugged mobile drone platform that enables operations across the BVLOS area without the need for on-site spotters or trained observers.
Sphere Drones CEO Paris Cockinos expressed pride in the team’s dedication and effort in regulatory and licensing work, stating: “It’s truly a testament to our team’s focus and hard work.”
Elliot Cummins, Chief Remote Pilot of Sphere Drones, added: “It’s fantastic news for us as a business, our clients, and the wider industry. We’re proud to have achieved this approval; it’s the first of many to come.”
One of the most significant benefits of this approval is the ability to conduct operations across the BVLOS area without on-site spotters or trained observers, as required for EVLOS / VLOS operations.
This advancement opens doors for industries such as mining, agribusiness, utilities, emergency services, and construction to adopt BVLOS operations quickly, leading to efficiency gains and cost savings.
The BVLOS approval also paves the way for the development and deployment of HubX for extended durations.
The company aims to incorporate Remote Operations Centre (ROC) BVLOS operations by the end of 2024, continuing to set standards for safety and innovation in the industry.
With its pioneering BVLOS operations through HubX, Sphere Drones is not only leading the way in unlocking the full potential of drone technology but is also setting new standards for safety, efficiency, and innovation.
This milestone represents a significant advancement for drone-in-a-Box solutions across Australia, showcasing Sphere Drones’ commitment to innovation and sustainability in the drone industry.