If you are planning a commercial UAS operation down under new proposed guidelines are on the table for simple RPAS flight.
Away from built up areas, within VLOS below 400' and outside of CAS. Much the sort of thing that might come into place in the USA eventually.
Its the first qualification in the civil sector that I know of that is so well defined. Fifteen units to pass.
http://www.suasnews.com/2012/03/13639/australian-level-one-rpa-pilot-qualification/
If you think things might happen like this soon in the USA you should look at the NextGen roadmap recently released. Some dates that are quite far away in there. I will let you read it for yourselves....
Comments
So tell me how you take an aerial photo of a house in the suburbs if you can't fly in populous areas? The restrictions on an RPA licence are the same as flying a model aircraft. I wonder if the UAS controller certificate will be available still once the RPA licence is available, as with a UAS controller certificate you can operate within 3NM of an aerodrome with ATC approval, and you can operate in controlled airspace with ATC approval, you can fly beyond VLOS if you pass your IREX and you can operate over populous areas with certain conditions. It appears that with an RPA licence you can no none of that, would would severely limit your commercial operations.
Yeah it's all, pun intended up in the air. But the CASA requirements are underlined which would be a framework to plan around should you be thinking about training others or demonstrating how your platforms comply.
From how I read it, the course doesn't guarantee you a RPA licence or authorisation of any sort. CASA can still add additional requirements at their discretion.