Sphere Drones has been approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Broad Area BVLOS Self-Assessment framework, marking a major milestone for Australia’s drone industry and reinforcing Sphere’s position as a leader in scalable, real-world BVLOS operations.
The approval allows Sphere Drones to self-assess areas to conduct operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), enabling faster, more flexible, and scalable drone operations across sectors such as mining, utilities, and infrastructure. It reinforces Sphere’s leadership in developing and deploying the systems, processes, and technology that make BVLOS operations practical, safe, and accessible for enterprise use.
At the core of this capability is HubX and HubT, Sphere’s remote operations system that integrates connectivity, power, and control into a deployable platform purpose-built for BVLOS missions. HubX and HubT enables live command and telemetry from the field to the Remote Operations Centre, making true remote drone operations possible at scale.
Elliot Cummins, Chief Remote Pilot at Sphere, highlighted the approval reflects years of work in safety, compliance, and operational excellence.
“This approval is a watershed moment for our business, our clients, and the industry as a whole. It means we’ve built the systems, processes, and mindset to operate beyond traditional limits, so our clients and the industry can deploy with confidence, scale faster, and capture value in places they simply couldn’t before.”
CASA’s Broad Area BVLOS Self-Assessment framework introduces a performance-based model that allows qualified operators to self-assess risk and streamline approvals. With only a handful of approvals granted nationwide, Sphere is helping define the next phase of safe, scalable BVLOS operations in Australia.
Paris Cockinos, CEO of Sphere said the approval is the culmination of years of innovation and investment in building Australia’s most capable BVLOS ecosystem. “This approval is a reflection of the years of investment, innovation, and collaboration that have gone into building Australia’s most capable BVLOS ecosystem. It’s not just about flying further; it’s about enabling businesses to operate smarter, safer, and with greater confidence in what’s possible. BVLOS is the future of enterprise drone operations, and we’re proud to be leading that transition right now.”
Cockinos’ recognition among Australia’s top entrepreneurs highlights the momentum behind Sphere’s growth, driven by a focus on local manufacturing, rapid deployment, and practical innovation that underpin its BVLOS capability.
What truly sets Sphere apart is its ability to manufacture, integrate, and deploy rapidly. Sphere can not only guide businesses through CASA’s approval process but, through Sidero Local, also deliver fully operational BVLOS systems on-site within a week. This approval underscores that speed, proving that Sphere can take a client from regulatory readiness to live BVLOS operations faster than anyone else in the market. This end-to-end capability minimises downtime, accelerates deployment, and ensures clients can start real-world missions with full confidence and compliance.
To support organisations preparing for BVLOS operations, Sphere has developed the Broad Area BVLOS CASA Trial Guide, the only comprehensive resource of its kind in Australia and the most efficient way for businesses to understand and navigate CASA’s new framework. The guide outlines the process, key risks, and practical lessons learned from Sphere’s real-world experience.
Beyond regulatory readiness, Sphere’s Flight Operations team delivers full-service BVLOS mission support, from planning and deployment to aerial data capture, processing, and delivery. This combination of compliance expertise, rapid manufacturing, and operational execution ensures clients can move seamlessly from approval to on-site operations.
“CASA’s new self-assessment framework marks the beginning of a new era for Australian drone operations,” said Paris Cockinos, CEO of Sphere Drones. “With our approval secured and systems proven in the field, we’re ready to help organisations fly further, faster, and smarter.”
