The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approval marks a major milestone for the industry and cements Sphere’s position as a leading partner for enterprise-scale remote missions, and confirms Sphere’s readiness to help enterprises move from compliance to capability faster than anyone in the market.
Sphere's Chief Remote Pilot, Elliot Cummins, says “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 represents a major shift in how operators achieve approval for remote operations. The new model allows qualified operators to self-assess risk through a streamlined, performance-based process, opening up new opportunities for industries like mining, utilities, and infrastructure. With only a select few organisations approved so far, Sphere is helping define the next phase of safe, scalable BVLOS operations in Australia.
"...Our clients and the industry can deploy with confidence, scale faster, and capture value in places they simply couldn't before."
- Elliot Cummins, Chief Remote Pilot (Sphere)
Paris Cockinos, CEO of Sphere and recently recognised by The Daily Telegraph as one of Australia’s 'Top 250 Young Entrepreneurs', said the approval represents 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," Paris commented. "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 leading entrepreneurs highlights the momentum behind Sphere’s growth, driven by a focus on local manufacturing, rapid deployment and practical innovation that now underpin its BVLOS capability.
While many are just beginning their BVLOS journey, Sphere’s technology, systems and operational experience mean we’re ready to help Australian enterprises fly safely today. Our Remote Operations Centre has supported continuous BVLOS activity across multiple industries, backed by HubX, HubT and Curo ROC technologies that deliver live command, control and telemetry from anywhere in the country. Combined with design and manufacturing through Sidero Local, we’ve built the systems and operational maturity to make BVLOS practical, not just possible.
"BVLOS is the future of enterprise drone operations, and we're proud to be leading that transition right now."
- Paris Cockinos, CEO (Sphere)
What truly sets Sphere apart is our ability to manufacture, integrate and deploy quickly. With Sidero Local, we can not only guide businesses through CASA’s approval process but also deliver fully operational BVLOS systems on site within days. This capability means clients can move from approval to live operations faster than anyone else in the market, with minimal downtime and maximum confidence.
To support other organisations making the same leap, we’ve 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 get up to speed with CASA’s new BVLOS framework. The guide breaks down the process, risk considerations and real-world lessons learned from our own operations, helping organisations of any size prepare and succeed under the new system.
For many organisations, gaining approval is just the beginning. That’s why our Flight Operations team pairs regulatory expertise with real-world operational delivery, turning paperwork into performance. From mission planning to aerial data capture, processing and delivery, we provide a full-service capability that brings BVLOS operations to life safely and reliably.
“CASA’s new self-assessment framework marks the beginning of a new era for Australian drone operations. With our approval secured and systems proven in the field, we’re ready to help organisations fly further, faster and smarter.” Paris says.
With our approval secured and proven systems in place, Sphere is ready to help organisations across Australia scale remote operations and capture value faster than ever before.
What's next? Explore the BVLOS Guide, or connect with our Chief Remote Pilot to start planning your next mission.
