There has been huge growth in the development and use of UAV’s. You can see examples everywhere of aeroplanes and multi-rotor ‘helicopters’ in toy and electronic stores.

There’s also a lot of interest in their commercial use, such as in real estate aerial photography and power lines inspection.

But they are aircraft and present a number of safety risks, particularly close to controlled airspace and over densely-populated areas – what happens if they fail mid-flight? Aviation regulators around the world are grappling with how to integrate UAV’s into existing aviation safety systems.

Like all aviation ‘participants’, people who fly UAV’s need to know some safety rules, so everyone in the air and on the ground, gets home safely and their aircraft is not destroyed.

 

Civil Aviation Rules

Every person in New Zealand’s civil aviation community shares responsibility for the safety and security of everyone. The Minister of Transport creates the Civil Aviation Rules to make sure it happens.

Those rules are divided into groups of related rules called ‘Parts’.

The two Parts that relate directly to UAV’s are:

  • Part 101 Gyrogliders and Parasails, Unmanned Aircraft (including Balloons), Kites, and Rockets – Operating Rules, view the current rule here.
  • Part 102 Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certification – the objective of Part 102 is to prescribe the requirements for the certification and operation of unmanned aircraft outside of Part 101. View the current rule here

Operators of UAV’s also need to be aware of other rules that affect them, for example Part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules.

 

Part 102 Rule Brief

There are a number of organisation in New Zealand that can assist with obtaining your Part 102 certification. Email uavnz@aviationnz.co.nz to receive further information.