The Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) and the Australian Certified UAV Operators (ACUO) have announced an exciting new chapter for the uncrewed systems industry in Australia, uniting under a single banner to better represent and advocate for the sector. Effective immediately, AAUS will serve as the peak body for the uncrewed systems industry, while ACUO, after years of valuable contributions, will formally cease operations.

This unification signifies a strengthened and single voice for the Australian uncrewed systems industry, bringing together the collective expertise, advocacy, and resources of both organisations. AAUS, as the recognised leader in the sector, will continue to drive policy, innovation, and industry development, while preserving the legacy and contributions of ACUO.

“We are proud to announce this new phase for Australia’s uncrewed systems industry,” said Reece Clothier, President of AAUS. “By uniting with ACUO, we are creating a stronger, more cohesive body that will be better positioned to champion the interests of our members and drive forward the growth of this dynamic industry.”

Founded in 2009, ACUO has been instrumental in the development of Australia’s UAV operations, setting standards and advocating for the safe and responsible use of UAVs across various sectors. ACUO’s legacy is one of pioneering professionalism and shaping the early stages of the industry’s regulation and acceptance within Australia.

“We pay tribute to ACUO and its members for their tireless work in advocating for operators and the industry as a whole,” continued Dr Clothier. “Their legacy will live on through the ongoing work of AAUS, and we are committed to continuing the tradition of excellence they have established.”

Brad Mason, one of the seven founding members of ACUO, said, “We are all quietly proud of the foundations we laid. I want to personally thank all the ACUO management committee members over the years who volunteered their time for us and the development of our industry.”

“The Australian RPAS industry is incredibly innovative and the pace of development such that our consolidation is a logical next step to industry growth. I’m pleased to see the two organisations finally unite and I’m keen to see now what we can achieve together.”

As part of the unification, two of ACUO’s current committee members Aaron McKay and Danny Elassad will join AAUS.  Aaron, Managing Director and Owner of Aus Aerial Media will take a vacant seat on the AAUS Board and commented that “I’m proud to be able to continue to represent ACUO’s voice on the board of AAUS as the two associations unite. I feel that this union can only strengthen the Australian uncrewed systems industry.” Both Aaron and Danny will also be part of AAUS’ RPAS Advisory Group bringing valuable SME input to AAUS’ advocacy efforts.  

Moving forward, AAUS will continue to offer a broad range of support, networking, and advocacy services to members from across the broad uncrewed systems industry. This unification reinforces AAUS’s commitment to building a robust, forward-looking industry that contributes to Australia’s technological leadership on the global stage.