Sphere Drones’ approval opens up drone flight testing

Drone flight operations company Sphere Drones has been granted a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Area Approval for its site near Wagga Wagga, NSW by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The BVLOS approval allows the business to demonstrate its BVLOS drone operations for customers, whilst further testing and developing its innovative HubX platform.

HubX is an off-grid enabled, self-sustaining and rugged mobile drone operations platform.

The platform allows companies and other drone users to conduct operations across the BVLOS area without the need for spotters or trained observers on-site as required for EVLOS/VLOS operations.

It also provides businesses from a broad range of industries including mining, agribusiness, utilities, emergency services and construction a pathway to adopt BVLOS operations.

The CEO of Sphere Drones Paris Cockinos said: “We’re proud of the dedication and effort the team has invested in regulatory and licensing work over the past few years, as well as their success in developing HubX to a stage where it met the requirements to gain approval.”

The BVLOS approval is Sphere Drones’ first BVLOS Area Approval and will see the company establishing a permanent demonstration site.

“It’s important to note that the current BVLOS approval does not extend to Remote Operations Centre (ROC) BVLOS operations.

“However, the Sphere Drones team are currently working towards incorporating a ROC into their BVLOS operations by the end of 2024.”

Picture: Sphere Drones