BVLOS drone operations in New Zealand

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of New Zealand. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• Legally possibleConditional
• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Authorisation typepermitYes
• Pilot requirementNot resolved
• Aircraft requirementConditional
• Risk assessment requiredConditional
• Standard scenario availableConditional
• Predefined pathway availableNot resolved
• Ground risk controlNot resolved
• Repeat or generic authorisationNot resolved
• Populated area pathwayConditional
• Digital applicationNot resolved
• Operational limitationsNot resolved
• ExceptionsNot resolved

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the part 102 category of operation.

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Applicability of Part 102

  Civil Aviation Rule Part 102 applies to a person who operates an unmanned aircraft other than in accordance with Part 101, and to a person who operates an unmanned aircraft in accordance with Part 101 and who wishes to apply for an unmanned aircraft operator certificate.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Beyond visual line of sight in enclosed areas

  A person may operate a remotely piloted aircraft beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) if the operation is performed in an enclosed area where escape is physically impossible and entry of people is controlled for safety.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  BVLOS in Enclosed Areas

  A person may operate a remotely piloted aircraft beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) if the operation is inside an enclosed area from which the aircraft cannot escape and entry to the area is controlled for safety.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  First-person view (FPV) operations

  A person may operate a remotely piloted aircraft using a first-person view (FPV) system only if a trained and competent observer maintains visual line of sight of the aircraft and surrounding airspace, and has direct communication with the pilot.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Requirement for Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate

  A person must apply for and obtain an unmanned aircraft operator certificate before operating an unmanned aircraft other than in accordance with Part 101.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Visual Line of Sight Maintenance

  A person operating a remotely piloted aircraft must maintain visual line of sight at all times, be able to see the surrounding airspace, and operate the aircraft below the cloud base.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Visual line of sight obstruction

  A person must not operate a remotely piloted aircraft or free flight model aircraft in a way that obstructs their visual line of sight as specified in a transport instrument, unless they meet the conditions specified in that transport instrument.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• Civil Aviation Rules Part 102 — Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certification (consolidation) — Airways New ZealandOpen
• Civil Aviation Transport Instrument (CATI) 101-1 — technical standards for Part 101 operations — Airways New ZealandOpen
• Civil Aviation Rules Part 101 — Gyrogliders and Parasails, Unmanned Aircraft (including Balloons), Kites, and Rockets — Operating Rules (consolidation) — Airways New ZealandOpen

Known limitations

• 7 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in New Zealand

• Do I need to register my drone in New Zealand?Registration in New Zealand depends on the aircraft and the operation: it applies once the published conditions below are met, each cited to the rule that sets it.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in New Zealand?Drone flights in New Zealand are held to a published general height limit of 121.92 m AGL. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in New Zealand?Drone flights near aerodromes in New Zealand are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone at night in New Zealand?No. A published rule in New Zealand prohibits night operations for the operations covered here.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in New Zealand?Whether an operation in New Zealand needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in New Zealand?Proof of competency is required. Published rules in New Zealand require the remote pilot to hold the competency described below before operating.

All drone laws in New Zealand