MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Unveiled today with launch partners QBE Australia and the Nine Network Australia, The UASI Standard will help provide greater safety and risk assurance to the general public, while also offering risk comfort to anyone engaging the services of drones and unmanned systems and those sharing the skies with the rapidly growing fleet of drones worldwide.
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Unveiled today with launch partners QBE Australia and the Nine Network Australia, The UASI Standard will provide greater safety and risk assurance to the general public, anyone engaging the services of drones and unmanned systems and air carriers/passengers sharing the skies with the rapidly growing fleet of drones worldwide.
Former head of Qantas Safety and now Chairman of Sydney based consulting company UAS International Mr Ron Bartsch announced during the launch, ‘the new standard developed by UAS International is based on and meets the compliance requirements of the latest International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidance material’.
Operators in compliance with this standard will be used by leading organisations. UAS International is proud to announce Australia’s Premier Television Broadcaster The Nine Network as the lead partner. MEDIA RELEASE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) INTERNATIONAL
UAS International Pty Ltd Suite 3, 7 Wongala Crescent Tel +61 2 9980 9792 Fax +61 2 9980 7715 www.uasinternational.com
‘Regulatory framework in the world of unmanned aircraft (drones) has simply not kept up with technology’ Bartsch emphasised. National Aviation Authorities who are still developing their UAS state safety programs are also expected to adopt the standard.
Launch partner QBE Australia has been underwriting Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) risks for more than 10 years and is the only Australian-based insurer with a dedicated UAS underwriter. As part of the initiative, QBE will reduce premiums of those operators who meet and maintain compliance to the new safety standards.
“QBE is delighted to be UASI’s exclusive insurance partner in this exciting initiative,” said Julian Fraser, National Relationship Manager – Aviation, QBE Australia. “We’ve invested heavily to build significant expertise in the UAS area and have been working closely with the industry to determine how we can best manage the issues the rapid and unregulated growth in this segment is creating.
“We believe the UASI Standard will play an important role in alleviating concerns of our customers and the community about drone operations, as well as providing comfort to organisations engaging UAV services.”
UAS International Technical Director Mr Jim Coyne, who previously represented CASA on the Unmaned Aircraft System ICAO advisory panel discussed the growth expected in this sector at today’s launch. ‘In just ten years’ time this $4b industry is tipped to grow tenfold. With around twenty licenced operators two years ago and now over 200 today in Australia, companies engaging UAS Operators and regulators are struggling to keep pace rapid technology developments with no guidelines in place to monitor operational safety, risk or ongoing proficiency of operators’.
Similar aviation safety standards have shown to be successful in airline and business aviation operations on a worldwide scale, an example being the International Standard for Business Aviation Operations (IS-BAO) which is a minimum requirement for engagement by many Fortune 500 companies in America and has been adopted as an acceptable means of compliance within the aviation legislation of some ICAO contracting states.
About UAS International:
UAS International Pty Ltd specialise in tailored solutions relating to the emerging issues regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems. UAS International provides UAV sales, consulting and training services in the area of UAS’ across the Asia Pacific. The team at UAS International has extensive experience working with Aviation government departments and regulatory agencies and were responsible for issuing the world’s first civilian UAS Operating Certificate. UAS International is also a corporate member of Australian Association for Unmanned Systems (AAUS).