Australia

Drone footage has captured Australia’s east coast floods‘ full extent, with houses submerged and parts of cities no longer accessible. The flooding has already resulted in over 18,000 people evacuating from their homes, with 30 locations regarded as natural disaster areas in New South Wales.

Australian-listed Comet Resources has turned to drones to find high-grade copper at its Barraba Copper Project in northern New South Wales, Australia. Comet Resources has tasked drone service Airborne Geo Exploration (AirGeoX) with the job.

Boeing’s Loyal Wingman drone has taken to the sky for the first time after years of work, making it the first Aussie aircraft built in half a century. The test flight was done above the Woomera Range Complex in South Australia.

A trial funded by iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre will look into the feasibility of flying COVID-19 vaccines to living in remote Australia. The test is expected to occur in the Northern Territory and see the drones fly up to 250 km (155 m).

Surf Life Saving New South Wales (NSW) has sent its drones back up across Sydney’s popular beaches and parks to ensure COVID-19 rules are followed. The drones were first used back in November to prepare for the increase in activity around the festive season.

A surfer at Australia’s famous Bondi Beach dipped into the water with a shark swimming right under him earlier this week. Drone photographer Toby Nicol was there to watch it all unfold through the view of his drone.

Surfing WA is expected to receive $119,000 to make events safer and improve surfer rescue skills. This also includes new drones used to monitor the surfers during their heats and keep an eye out for any sharks near the event.

In Victoria, Australia, firefighters have welcomed a new aviation drone unit that will support fire fighting efforts on the ground. The newly announced unit will use DJI drones to improve situational awareness and search and rescue efforts.

A DJI Inspire 2 drone being used on a commercial photography job has crashed into a high-rise in Sydney, injuring an occupant. The drone pilot reportedly lost control of the drone after sending it up approximately 10 meters (32 feet).

Australia’s drone registration and pilot accreditation deadline is tomorrow, January 28, so we thought we would remind you to ensure those who are required to follow the new regulation have the chance to do so before receiving a large fine.

Western Australia’s regional police force have turned to drones to reduce response times in emergencies, making Albany the first town to have its police officers trained as drone pilots. The drones are set to respond to car crashes, search and rescue operations, and more.

Delivery drone company Volansi has signed a deal with Australia’s largest aerospace material manufacturer to promote Volansi’s drones in Australia and the world. The drones will be promoted to the commercial and defense services markets.

Sydney Water workers have turned to a specially equipped drone to suck water from a location and get tested back on land. The drone is being put to the test at nine locations to check the water quality after the recent downpours.

While it’s normal to hear about drones being used to aid in search and rescue missions worldwide, this story is a little different but still required a drone for a happy and safe ending.

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has sent out a reminder to all drone pilots to stay away from bushfires, with huge fines and possible jail time if you are caught. Every year Australia and the world receive a battering from bushfires, and firefighters don’t want to deal with drones.

Australian-listed drone startup Elsight has managed to secure $8.3 million in funding during its latest investment round. The money is expected to grow the company’s sales and marketing activities and further develop its Halo connectivity platform.

Aussie drone startup Aerologix has received $1.5 million in its pre-seed funding from private equity firm Nightingale. The company has created a platform that allows drone pilots and clients to connect for specific jobs. Think of it as the gig economy for the drone world.

Australian farmers located across New South Wales (NSW) will now access a one-day drone training course taken from their farms. The drone training course looks to familiarize farmers with the new high-tech helpers in hopes that they will begin using drones for more tasks.

Shoppers in Australia have been urged by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to look out for the drone safety advocate symbol when buying a new drone. The symbol indicates that the retailer and manufacturer have pledged to educate customers about when, where, and how they can safely use their drones.

The Australian drone registration deadline is looming, so we thought we’d share the info for those required to register and become accredited before going out to fly. This post is a MUST-READ if you are flying or wanting to fly your drone for commercial purposes in Australia.

Australian power grid operator TransGrid has turned to drones to install hardware onto powerlines, removing someone’s risk of falling from the top. The drones will also install wires in mountainous terrain throughout New South Whales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).