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CAA Part 101 Pilot Online Certificate Course

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Course details

CAA Part 101 Pilot Online Certificate Course

About the course

Learn to fly drones safely, confidently, and legally under New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Rules.
The Part 101 RPAS Pilot Certificate is your first step into professional drone operations, whether you’re capturing aerial imagery, inspecting assets, or starting a commercial drone career.

This course teaches everything you need to know to operate within 4 km of an aerodrome, understand airspace rules, and complete real-world flight planning and safety checks.
Delivered by NZ Drones Academy, an official CAA-approved Part 141 training organisation, you’ll learn from industry experts who have trained pilots for NZ’s leading UAOC operators.

What You’ll Learn
CAA Part 101 Rules & Responsibilities – understand the 12 key rules, the 400 ft height limit, line-of-sight requirements, night and shielded operations, and landowner permissions.
Hazard & Risk Minimisation – identify hazards and apply practical mitigations to ensure safe operations.
Operation at or Near Aerodromes – learn the requirements for operating within 4 km of an aerodrome, reading AIP Vol 4 aerodrome plates, and following circuit procedures.
Airspace & Navigation – read Visual Navigation Charts (VNCs), recognise controlled and restricted zones, transit lanes, and special use airspace.
Weather & Flight Planning – interpret METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs and NOTAMs to make go / no-go decisions.
AirShare & Aviation Resources – use AirShare and Flight Advisor for planning and airspace authorisations.
Systems & Safety Management – manage battery care, maintenance logs, GPS awareness, meteorology basics and Part 12 reporting
Human Factors & Communication – apply the IMSAFE checklist and standard phraseology for safe operations.


Entry requirements

There are no formal prerequisites for this course. Learners should have basic computer literacy and access to a drone for practical experience.
Participants must be at least 16 years of age and able to understand and apply New Zealand Civil Aviation Rules (Part 101).
A good standard of written and spoken English is recommended to ensure full understanding of aviation terminology and safety concepts.

About the provider

NZ Drones Academy is a CAA-certified Part 141 Training Organisation (TR103670NZ) providing professional drone training across New Zealand. Our courses help students gain recognised UAV pilot certifications under Part 101 and Part 102, combining online learning with practical flight assessments.

With training developed by experienced commercial operators, NZ Drones Academy focuses on safety, compliance, and hands-on skills that prepare graduates for real-world careers in aerial surveying, agriculture, film, inspection, and emergency response.

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