BARS Registrations: Why it Matters for Drone Operations in High-Risk Industries

In today’s risk-conscious business landscape, safety is not just a requirement, it’s a strategic advantage. Nowhere is this more evident than in the use of drones, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), in industrial operations. From mining and energy to large-scale infrastructure and remote asset inspections, drones are transforming the way we gather data, access hard-to-reach areas, and reduce on-site exposure.

But not all drone operations are created equal. The question many organisations are asking is: how do we ensure the highest levels of safety and compliance when engaging drone services?

The answer, increasingly, is BARS Registration.

Understanding the Basics: What is BARS? 

The Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) is an internationally recognised program developed by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) to provide a consistent framework for managing aviation risk in contracted operations. Designed for organisations that regularly rely on aviation support, often in complex, high-risk, or remote environments, BARS sets out the baseline for what safe, competent, and compliant aviation should look like.

Organisations that subscribe to the BARS program, known as BARS Member Organisations (BMOs), include many of the world’s leading resource and energy companies. For these BMOs, working with a BARS-registered aircraft operator is not just preferred, it’s often mandated. 

Not Just Compliance but A Commitment to Excellence

At Bureau Veritas, we are proud to hold BARS registration for our drone operations. This distinction reflects our commitment to upholding global best practices in aviation safety, risk management, and operational integrity. We bring this registration to our clients, enabling them to benefit from a partner who already meets the highest aviation safety benchmarks.

Why This Matters for Your Operations

In sectors where operational downtime and safety incidents come with steep consequences, organisations cannot afford to take shortcuts. With BARS registration, Bureau Veritas ensures:

• Safe and standardised operations, in alignment with CASA and other regulatory bodies
• Greater transparency and confidence in every mission
• Capability to work in VLOS and N-VLOS conditions, even in GPS-denied or confined environments
• Advanced drone inspections including visual, ultrasonic, gas detection, and multispectral imaging
   

Our fleet and pilots are equipped for everything from precision mapping and automated flight patterns to complex confined-space assessments, all within a BARS registration framework. This matters because it gives our clients an immediate advantage to reduced due diligence, faster onboarding, and assured compliance right from the start.

While BARS was originally developed with the aviation needs of the mining industry in mind, its relevance has expanded. Today, companies across oil & gas, infrastructure, defence, utilities, and renewables increasingly require BARS-compliant service providers to ensure risk-based governance across all contracted aviation activity.

As one of the few BARS-registered RPAS operators offering full-service drone inspections, Bureau Veritas is already supporting many of these organisations especially in Australia’s resource-heavy sectors.