You need a Suitably Qualified Expert (SQE) to perform flight safety assurance functions for civil launch and return activities carried out from Australia. These functions give assurance the launch and/or return activity to be undertaken from Australia falls within the Australian Flight Safety Code.
An SQE may be an individual, company or organisation.
NOTE: SQE functions are distinct from individuals, companies or organisations with suitable qualifications and experience who provide written assessment of the adequacy of an environmental plan or cyber security strategy.
The Australian Space Agency's National Space Safety Office (NSSO) can provide advice and guidance on whether you need a suitably qualified expert and how to apply.
Process
Before applying you should read and understand the application guidelines.
You initiate a New Application in the Regulatory Applications Hub and submit general information about you, your organisation and your planned space activities.
You complete the Key Personnel and Application Cover page documents, found in the appendix of the guidelines, above. Submit these documents, along with any supporting materials outlined in section 4 of the guidelines, with your application form.
We check your application contains sufficient information as outlined in section 4 of the guidelines.
If your application is considered complete, we will accept the application and commence assessment.
If we consider your application incomplete, we will notify you and provide feedback. We take an iterative approach to the application process and understand there may be several iterations before an application is considered complete and accepted to undergo assessment.
We commence assessment of your application with consideration to the Supporting Information outlined in the guidelines, above.
We contact you to discuss next steps. Next steps may include a meeting with you.
We may request further information or clarification to support our assessment.
Once you have provided the required information, we will finalise our assessment and make a recommendation to the Minister (or their delegate).
The Minister (or delegate) decides whether to approve an SQE, taking into consideration advice from the Agency.
The Minister has discretion to seek further information from applicants and approved SQEs.
Costs and timelines
There are no fees for applying for SQE approval, or for having your application assessed.
Application timelines are typically about 3 months from when you have submitted sufficient information to commence the application process.
For more information, download and read the latest guidelines available at the top of this page.
Application criteria include
To be approved by the Minister as an SQE you, your company or your organisation will need to provide sufficient information to demonstrate you hold the requisite:
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engineering knowledge in the launch of space objects (including from aircraft), launch of high power rockets, and/or return of space objects, or similar activities
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computational analysis capability to calculate risk in accordance with the Flight Safety Code
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processes to identify, quantify and evaluate risk in accordance with the Flight Safety Code.
For more information, download and read the latest guidelines available at the top of this page.
Submit your application form
Find the application form within the guidelines at the top of this page
Submit your completed application form, along with relevant material, via the Regulatory Application Hub.
