CASA Rolling Out New Monitoring Equipment At Major Airport Across The country

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) plans to roll out new drone monitoring equipment at major airports across the country early in 2019, according to the agency's communications manager.

The AFP news service reports that CASA Communications Manager Peter Gibson said in an interview that the technology has matured to a point where a drone can be identified, along with its serial number and the location of its operators. "We can identify therefore who is flying it," he said.

Australia plans new drone registration requirements in 2019, and along with new technology, the year will see a "drone safety crackdown," Gibson said. He referenced the recent incidents that closed down Gatwick Airport for 36 hours at the height of the busy holiday travel season.

Gibson said that the drone registration scheme will be introduced mid-year. New mobile tracking technology will be used in "known drone hotspots" such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge, where a "concerning" number of drones have been operating in a restricted area.

The new rules will come with hefty fines of up to $7,000 (U.S.) for each infraction. "In 2019 it could be very expensive doing the wrong thing with your drone," Gibson said.

(Public Domain image from file)

FMI: Source report, www.casa.gov.au