--- title: Xplorate Secures National-First BVLOS Approval Across 58,000 km² in Queensland description: Xplorate has been granted a national-first BVLOS approval covering 58,000 km² of Queensland’s Surat Basin—larger than Switzerland—enabling safe, long-range unmanned drone operations across major energy assets. image: https://blog.xplorate.io/hubfs/Xplorate%20Phase%203%20Approval.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-national-first-bvlos-approval-across-58000-km-in-queensland#main-content) [![](https://blog.xplorate.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Xplorate%20logo_borderless%5B16%5D.png?width=983&height=236&name=Xplorate%20logo_borderless%5B16%5D.png)](https://xplorate.io/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-national-first-bvlos-approval-across-58000-km-in-queensland#contact) [Contact us](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-national-first-bvlos-approval-across-58000-km-in-queensland#contact) 17/10/25, 1:15 pm # Xplorate Secures National-First BVLOS Approval Across 58,000 km² in Queensland [Feny Soviani](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/author/feny-soviani) Share: [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-national-first-bvlos-approval-across-58000-km-in-queensland) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-national-first-bvlos-approval-across-58000-km-in-queensland) ## Xplorate Secures National-First BVLOS Approval Across 58,000 km² in Queensland # **A new benchmark for unmanned aviation in Australia** Xplorate has achieved a historic milestone with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) granting approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations across an extraordinary **58,000 square kilometres** of Queensland’s Surat Basin. This new authorisation, issued under *CASA.BVLOS.0097*, represents one of the **largest and most complex BVLOS approval ever awarded in Australia**, and covers an area **larger than the entire country of Switzerland**. This achievement cements Xplorate’s position as **Australia’s BVLOS operator of choice** and demonstrates the company’s ability to safely and effectively operate drones in **mixed airspace environments**—a national first. ![Xplorate Phase 3 Approval](https://blog.xplorate.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Xplorate%20Phase%203%20Approval.png?width=2093&height=1331&name=Xplorate%20Phase%203%20Approval.png) --- ## A Game-Changer for Australian Industry The approved area encompasses the **majority of assets** across the Surat Basin, giving Xplorate capability to deliver large-scale, long-range aerial operations across one of Australia’s most strategically significant energy regions. BVLOS flight operations enable Xplorate’s advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft, including the **SwissDrones SDO 50 V3**, to operate far beyond the pilot’s line of sight—by both day and night. This allows for **continuous, wide-area monitoring of critical infrastructure**, including pipelines, well sites and processing facilities, with far greater safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness than traditional inspection methods. “This approval is not just about scale; it’s about trust and capability,” said **Ronnie Fahy, Chief Executive Officer at Xplorate**. “CASA’s confidence in our systems and safety framework enables us to deliver unmanned operations over an area larger than a European nation, and to do so safely within mixed airspace. This is a transformational step for Xplorate and for Australia’s RPAS industry.” --- ## Setting a New Standard for BVLOS Operations The Surat Basin BVLOS approval is a **pioneering example of safe, integrated drone operations** in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. It will allow Xplorate to undertake extended missions for clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors, capturing high-resolution data over vast distances and delivering actionable insights faster than ever before. For the broader industry, the approval demonstrates that **large-area BVLOS operations can be conducted safely** within Australia’s regulatory framework—paving the way for expanded applications in energy, utilities, environmental monitoring and emergency response. --- ## Building the Future of Aerial Intelligence This approval will serve as a **template for future BVLOS expansions** as Xplorate continues to scale its operational footprint across Australia. By working collaboratively with CASA and industry partners, the company is establishing the regulatory and operational foundation for **next-generation aerial intelligence**—where long-range, automated flight is the norm rather than the exception. “We’ve proven that complex, high-value operations can be achieved safely under Australia’s aviation framework,” Fahy added. “The Surat Basin approval is the first of many, and our goal is to extend these capabilities nationwide.” --- ## About Xplorate Xplorate is an Australian RPAS and data intelligence company delivering **long-range aerial surveillance and asset inspection** services for the energy, infrastructure and government sectors. By combining cutting-edge BVLOS flight capabilities with **AI-driven data analytics**, Xplorate provides clients with faster, safer and more sustainable solutions for monitoring critical assets. ## Related posts [![](https://blog.xplorate.io/hs-fs/hubfs/_MG_3293-1.jpeg?height=200&name=_MG_3293-1.jpeg)](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-multi-year-bvlos-approval-across-the-cooper-basin?hsLang=en-gb) ## [Xplorate secures multi-year BVLOS approval across the Cooper Basin](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-multi-year-bvlos-approval-across-the-cooper-basin?hsLang=en-gb) [Feny Soviani](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/author/feny-soviani) 25/6/26, 1:01 pm WEST PERTH, Western Australia, 24 June 2026. Xplorate Pacific Pty Ltd, a leader in remotely piloted... [Read more](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-multi-year-bvlos-approval-across-the-cooper-basin?hsLang=en-gb) [![](https://blog.xplorate.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Xplorate%20Payloads%202025.07.png?height=200&name=Xplorate%20Payloads%202025.07.png)](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/stacking-sensors-how-multi-payload-drone-missions-scale-pipeline-inspection-like-never-before?hsLang=en-gb) ## [Stacking Sensors: How Multi-Payload Drone Missions Scale Pipeline Inspection Like Never Before](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/stacking-sensors-how-multi-payload-drone-missions-scale-pipeline-inspection-like-never-before?hsLang=en-gb) [Ronnie Fahy](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/author/ronnie-fahy) 10/7/25, 3:30 pm Legacy Pipeline Inspections Weren’t Designed for Scale — Until Now For decades, pipeline... [Read more](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/stacking-sensors-how-multi-payload-drone-missions-scale-pipeline-inspection-like-never-before?hsLang=en-gb) [![](https://blog.xplorate.io/hs-fs/hubfs/631BEC44-37D9-4B41-A559-4644AA221BA7-1.png?height=200&name=631BEC44-37D9-4B41-A559-4644AA221BA7-1.png)](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-major-oil-and-gas-industry-partnership-for-the-third-year?hsLang=en-gb) ## [XPLORATE SECURES MAJOR OIL AND GAS PROJECT FOR THE THIRD YEAR](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-major-oil-and-gas-industry-partnership-for-the-third-year?hsLang=en-gb) [Ronnie Fahy](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/author/ronnie-fahy) 25/3/25, 2:30 pm Perth – Xplorate Pacific, leading Perth-based data intelligence company using cutting edge [Read more](https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-major-oil-and-gas-industry-partnership-for-the-third-year?hsLang=en-gb) linkedin-in icon --- 83 Havelock St., West Perth, WA6005 [![](https://blog.xplorate.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Xplorate%20logo_borderless%5B16%5D.png?width=983&height=236&name=Xplorate%20logo_borderless%5B16%5D.png)](http://www.xplorate.io) Copyright © 2024, ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Feny Soviani", "url" : "https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/author/feny-soviani" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-17T05:15:29.838Z", "datePublished" : "2025-10-17T05:15:29.000Z", "headline" : "Xplorate Secures National-First BVLOS Approval Across 58,000 km² in Queensland", "image" : [ "https://blog.xplorate.io/hubfs/Xplorate%20Phase%203%20Approval.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.xplorate.io/blog/xplorate-secures-national-first-bvlos-approval-across-58000-km-in-queensland", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.xplorate.io/hubfs/Xplorate%20logo_borderless%5B16%5D.png" }, "name" : "Xplorate Pacific Pty Ltd" } } ```