Source: http://www.droneworks.org.nz/flying-a-drone-in-queenstown.html
Timestamp: 2020-06-03 04:17:58
Document Index: 195282928

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 61', 'art 149', 'art 61', 'art 101', 'art 101', 'art_101']

Droneworks New Zealand - New Zealand Drone Law - Queenstown Based Drone Aerial Photography
NDVI For Vineyards
Flying a Drone in Queenstown
Droneworks New Zealand
The Rules of Flying a Drone In Queenstown
The following contains information both taken from the CAA website and our own personal interpretation of the laws surrounding flying a drone in New Zealand. It is important to remember that when operating a drone in New Zealand you are classified as "pilot in command" and your drone is classified as an aircraft. The responsibility is always that of the pilot in command and the advice offered here does not constitute a full understanding of the applicable laws. If in doubt - contact CAA. The following information pertains to both commercial and non commercial flights.
Queenstown and its surrounds are in controlled airspace, as outlined in red in the adjacent map. This airspace is extremely busy with all manner of aircraft. There are two options for flying in this airspace, Shielded and Un-Shielded.
The yellow area shown is A "Low Flying Zone", no drone operations can take place in this area unless the LFZ has been deactivated by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA).
Light Blue areas are 4km radius boundaries of aerodromes. Top operate within these zones you need the aerodrome operators agreement and also a CAA recognised Part 61 Pilots License or Part 149 License or Certificate. You do not need Air Traffic Control (Airshare) approval if operating outside the red, but inside the blue.
A shielded operation is a flight where your aircraft is within 100m of an object that’s capable of stopping it, like a building, or a forest of trees. In a shielded operation, the aircraft must fly no higher than the top of that object. A shielded operation allows you to fly within 4 km of an aerodrome, controlled and uncontrolled, and at night.
Un-Shielded:
Any flight that does not fit the above criteria of the above explanation.
To fly an Un-Shielded operation, inside controlled airspace (the red area) you need:
Approval from Air Traffic Control. This is done by planning your flight in advance at www.airshare.co.nz . You will receive a confirmation email once your flight has been approved and then you will need to call the Queenstown Air Traffic Control Tower before and after your flight. If inside the red area and also the blue area, see below.
Within 4kms of an aerodrome (the blue areas):
A CAA recognised training qualification. This can be; Part 61 Pilot License, Model Flying NZ Wings Badge (or equivalent) - or be accompanied by someone who holds one of the applicable qualifications*.
A Spotter. Someone with you to keep an eye on the surrounding airspace for traffic while you are concentrating on the drone. They can also be of use to keep your landing area free of curious bystanders*.
Approval from Air Traffic Control. This is done by planning your flight in advance at www.airshare.co.nz . You will receive a confirmation email once your flight has been approved and then you will need to call the Queenstown Air Traffic Control Tower before and after your flight.
Since August 2015 you are now required to gain consent for your flight from either the property owner, occupant or "person in control of the site" for any property that you fly above.
For instance, if you wish to fly from a residential property - let's say a friends house, over to the lake to take photos of a boat passing by you would need:
Consent from the property owner of occupant of your friends house.
Consent from the owner or occupier of every house / property under your intended flight path.
Consent from QLDC if your intended flight path crosses over any road way, footpath, park, reserve or any other property administered by QLDC.
Consent from Land Information New Zealand to cross the foreshore or Queen's Chain (in most cases).
Consent from the Harbour Master, as he is deemed the "person in control of the site" (the site being the surface of the lake)
Consent from anyone aboard the boat, or the boats owner if you intended to fly directly above it.
That is on top of meeting the Airspace Requirements, listed above.
Currently, Queenstown Lakes District Council do not give consent to anyone flying under CAA Part 101. You will need a 102 operators certificate.
Liability Insurance may be required by some land owners.
The information above is intended as a guide only for flying drones in the Queenstown area under Part 101 and is subject to change without notification. Persons wanting to operate a Drone / UAV / RPA in any instance should familiarise themselves with all applicable laws concerning such activities.
*We are current holders of an RPA Skills NZ Flight Management Certificate and are happy to oversee operations of non certificated individuals wishing to operate inside controlled airspace.
﻿https://www.caa.govt.nz/rpas/﻿
https://www.caa.govt.nz/rules/Rule_Consolidations/Part_101_Consolidation.pdf
https://www.caa.govt.nz/rules/ACs.htm - AC101-1
http://www.qldc.govt.nz/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-walkways/drones/
http://www.rpaskills.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/multirotorsnewzealand/
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will respond as soon as possible.
﻿Agricultural﻿