Drone operational authorisation 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.

• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Trigger statedConditional
• Issuing authorityConditional
• Application modelpermitYes
• Risk assessmentYes
• Standard scenario routeConditional
• Declaration routeConditional
• Generic or organisational privilegeConditional
• ValidityConditional
• Repeat operationsNot resolved
• Digital applicationConditional

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

  Application Process and Fees

  An applicant for an unmanned aircraft operator certificate must submit an application to the Director in accordance with section 73 of the Act and pay the specified fee.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate

  An application for an unmanned aircraft operator certificate must be submitted to the Director with the appropriate fee, and must include the applicant's name, New Zealand address, operations specification details, and an exposition.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Approval Required for Specified UAS Functions

  The specified functions for which the Director approves an approved person or organisation under Civil Aviation Rule 101.202 include issuing a pilot qualification for operating remotely piloted aircraft and appointing persons to give instruction to operators of remotely piloted aircraft.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Approval requirements for aircraft between 15 kg and 25 kg

  A person must not operate a remotely piloted aircraft with a gross mass between 15 kg and 25 kg unless the aircraft and its modifications are constructed, inspected, approved, and operated under the authority of an approved person or organisation.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Approved Person or Organisation Functions

  In Subpart of Civil Aviation Rule Part 101, an approved person or organisation is a person or organisation having appropriate expertise in the design, construction or operation of remotely piloted aircraft, or appropriate knowledge of airspace designations and restrictions, and who has been approved by the Director to perform one or more specified functions.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Authorisation for Drones Between 15kg and 25kg

  The specified functions of an approved person or organisation under Civil Aviation Rule 101.202 include authorising the construction or modification of remotely piloted aircraft greater than 15kg (but not greater than 25kg), inspecting and approving the construction of such aircraft, and authorising their operation.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

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

Known limitations

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on operational_authorisation.risk_assessment; the binding position is published.
• 1 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.
• Is BVLOS drone flight allowed in New Zealand?BVLOS in New Zealand runs through a defined authorisation pathway rather than an open permission: the published conditions below set out what that pathway requires.
• 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