Shielded Operations Near Aerodromes Barrier Requirement

In plain language

If you are flying within 4km of an airfield under shielded operation rules, there must be a physical barrier (like a building or hill) between your drone and the airfield that is taller than your flight altitude to block the drone if it flies away.

Requirement as structured

CAA NZ states that to conduct a shielded operation within 4km of an aerodrome, there must be a physical barrier between the aircraft and the aerodrome that is higher than the aircraft to prevent it from flying towards the aerodrome during a fly-away.

Original regulatory text

49. A shielded operation allows an operator to fly an RPA near a vertical object with reduced risk to other aviation participants. Examples of vertical objects for shielded operations include trees, buildings, pylons etc. 50. The objects (shields) mitigate some of the potential risks posed by RPAS to other aviation participants, as general aviation participants are unlikely to be operating that close to an object. 51. Shielded operations allows an operator to fly an RPA close to an object (within 100 metres) and not higher than 10 metres (about 33 feet) above the top of the object. 52. Shielded operations need to be considered in two situations: 22 December 2025 16 a) Controlled airspace: operations within controlled airspace can be carried out without prior authorisation from ATC, if the entire operation is shielded. b) Within 4km of aerodromes: RPAs may be operated within 4km of an aerodrome (but outside its boundary) without needing to meet other qualification, approval and supervision requirements if the operation meets two criteria: • The operation meets the distance and height criteria stated above, and • There is another barrier between the RPA and the aerodrome, which is higher than the RPA and could stop the RPA from flying towards the aerodrome in the event of a fly-away or some other technical error.

Applies when

operation

VLOS