Published: 8 April 2025

Introduction

We have a new CASA Directions Instrument 20/25 to replace Instrument 22/22. This is a short but significant Direction around drone operations that acts as a bit of a clarifier to the Regulations.

The Instrument in its entirety is accessible here, and following is a bit of a summary and breakdown of the changes between the new version and its predecessor 22/22.

We will use the headings of the Direction for ease of translation and cross-checking.

1. Name

This instrument is formally titled, CASA 20/25 – Operation of Certain Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets – Directions Instrument 2025. 

We will call it ‘20/25‘ or ‘the new one‘ in this breakdown.

There is the addition of “rockets” in the title and other than that, that’s the title.

2. Duration

The old 22/22 ended 31 March 2025, with 20/25 kicking off on 1 April 2025, and which will be repealed on 31 March 2028. This means it is in play as at the date of this article.

3. Definitions

The main difference is that this section includes a definition of “rocket” and refers out the CASR for the definition, while noting that rocket includes a firework projective and a firework rocket. I’ll leave the rocket heads to work out the difference there.

We have a new and very interesting definition of a “safety zone” which is unpacked further down in the Direction – we will come back to this.

We also have a definition of “unmanned aircraft” which is a bit of a breakthrough as this term is not formally defined in in CASR or the Act. We have to reproduce the definition in all its glory as follows:

unmanned aircraft means any of the following:
(a) a tethered, or any other kind of, balloon, or a kite;
(b) an unmanned free balloon;
(c) an RPA;
(d) a model aircraft.

While it’s not ground breaking, it is the first time we’ve seen a definition of “unmanned aircraft” and lawyers go wild for definitions, as should drone operators because clarity is key.

4.  Application

The Direction applies to the same unmanned aircraft as before, and therefore continues not to apply to aircraft specified in 101.005(3) of CASR, and the Direction tells you that it does not apply to “certain indoor operations”.

When you duck across to CASR 101.005(3), for our purposes tells us that this Direction does not apply to the operation of a model aircraft indoors (typically a drone flown for sport or recreation inside). 

5.  Directions relating to the operation of RPA or model aircraft higher than 400 ft AGL

While the old Direction applied to all unmanned aircraft, the new Direction refers to RPA and model aircraft only. This is most likely because “unmanned aircraft” is now defined and it seems CASA only wants to apply the 400ft AGL rule to drones and not the other aircraft now captured under unmanned aircraft.

The rule is: a person controlling an RPA or a model aircraft must not operate the aircraft higher than 400 ft AGL.

However, this rule does not apply to an RPA or model aircraft if in accordance with an authorisation, exemption, approval, or by a RePL holder in accordance with a ReOC.

Pretty standard, nothing really new here.

6. Directions relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft or rockets over areas of public safety or emergency operations

This section now adds “rockets” to perhaps catch the mavericks that want to operate rockets over emergency operations.