Sydney-based autonomous aviation company Carbonix has achieved Safety Assurance Integrity Level (SAIL) III certification for a drone.
The certification, achieved in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Carbonix believes to be a world first for this class of aircraft and represents, the company claims, a breakthrough in how Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations are assessed and approved.
Carbonix founder and CEO Dario Valenza said the milestone marked an important turning point for both Carbonix and the broader Australian drone sector.
“Australia has developed some of the world’s most advanced drone technology and this milestone shows what can be achieved when industry and regulators work closely together. It creates an important pathway toward safe, scalable autonomous aviation operations in Australia," Valenza stated.
In practical terms, the certification moves long-range drones closer to being treated like trusted aviation systems rather than experimental technology requiring repeated case-by-case approvals.
“Replacing crewed aircraft with long-range autonomous drones significantly improves safety, reduces fuel burn and delivers faster, higher-quality data for infrastructure operators," Valenza highlighted.
The SAIL III framework validates the maturity, reliability and engineering assurance of the drone system itself, making it a known quantity from a risk perspective. The framework forms part of an internationally recognised approach to autonomous aviation regulation designed to support increasingly sophisticated BVLOS operations.
As part of the certification process, Carbonix was required to demonstrate the reliability of: aircraft structure and propulsion systems; avionics and communications architecture; manufacturing systems and supply chain; and maintenance procedures and operational documentation
The certification creates a pathway toward scalable commercial drone operations across industries including mining, energy transmission, gas infrastructure, remote surveying and critical infrastructure monitoring.
Following the certification, Carbonix received BVLOS operational approvals across the Surat Basin in southern Queensland - an area roughly the size of Belgium - for operations over gas gathering and pipeline networks for energy customers.
The approvals allow Carbonix to conduct large-scale long-range inspection and surveillance missions traditionally carried out by helicopters, light aircraft and ground crews.
With the approvals now in place, Carbonix can fully leverage the Ottano’s long-endurance and full-range capabilities across expansive and remote operational environments.
This enables longer-duration missions, wider area coverage and more efficient asset inspections with reduced reliance on traditional crewed aviation and ground-based operations.