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This mixed airspace approval – a first of its kind in Australia – covers the Surat Basin and enables Xplorate to operate its SwissDrones SDO50 across the majority of major energy assets in the region. Xplorate is now the only operator with such broad BVLOS access, positioning the company as the BVLOS operator of choice in Australia’s RPAS industry.
This approval is unprecedented in its scope and regulatory significance. It authorises Xplorate’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft (SwissDrones SDO 50 V3) to fly beyond visual line of sight both by day and by night, at altitudes above 400 ft AGL, across a vast mixed airspace. This means critical infrastructure – from gas pipelines winding through remote outback areas to dispersed well sites, remote facilities and powerline networks – can be monitored more efficiently, safely, and frequently via SDO50.
The approval significantly expands Xplorate’s operational range and capacity for long-distance missions, allowing around-the-clock aerial surveillance and inspection services.
Ronnie Fahy, CEO of Xplorate Pacifc, welcomed the milestone:
“This is a tremendous day for Xplorate and for unmanned aviation in Australia. Securing the first BVLOS approval of this scale and complexity shows the trust regulators have in our safety standards and technology. We’re proud to lead the way – covering an area bigger than an entire European country with our aircraft – and this firmly establishes Xplorate as the go-to BVLOS operator in Australia.
More importantly, it means we can deliver unparalleled value to our clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors, monitoring assets safer, faster, and smarter than ever before. This achievement is a testament to our team’s expertise and CASA’s progressive vision for safe BVLOS RPAS integration.”
Xplorate’s new BVLOS privileges will immediately benefit both industry and the broader community. Energy operators, Poweline owners and Search & Rescue bodies in the region can now leverage Xplorate’s services to inspect remote facilities and areas 24/7 without costly ground convoys or manned aircraft, reducing risk and operational expense.
The approved airspace spans both sparsely populated outback and sections of complex airspace, demonstrating that large-scale RPAS operations can be carried out safely alongside other airspace users. As the only company in Australia with this approval, Xplorate stands ready to support additional industries (such as utilities, govt. and environmental monitoring) with long-range RPAS services, heralding a new era of mixed-airspace BVLOS operations in the country.
About Xplorate: Xplorate Pacific Pty Ltd is an Australian Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and data intelligence company specialising in long-range aerial surveillance and asset inspection.
Xplorate operates advanced drones and sensors to deliver end-to-end intelligence solutions for infrastructure, energy, and government clients. By combining cutting-edge BVLOS flight capabilities with AI-powered data analytics, Xplorate provides safer, more efficient, and greener monitoring of critical assets.
For more information, visit www.xplorate.io
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