Drone Pilot Certificate Course (101)
Course details
About the course
The Part 101 Drone Pilot Certificate covers the core rules every drone pilot in New Zealand flies under, whether you fly for work or for fun. Holding it lets you fly within 4 km of an aerodrome, subject to the other standard conditions covered in the course.
Outside that, you don't need a qualification to fly within the Part 101 rules. Plenty of people still do the course for a proper grounding in airspace, or because their employer asks for it.
If you're heading toward flying over people, beyond visual line of sight or spraying, go straight to the Professional Drone Pilot Certificate Course (102) instead. It includes everything in Part 101.
What you'll learn
- NZ airspace rules and Visual Navigation Charts (VNCs)
- Working out your legal height limits, above ground (AGL) versus above sea level (AMSL)
- Controlled, uncontrolled and special use airspace
- Runway and aerodrome operating requirements
- Logging flights and checking local council rules on Airshare
- Finding air traffic control contacts before you fly
- Flying in ATTI mode if you lose GPS
Fees: $695 excl GST. Includes the online theory, one online exam (80% pass mark, resits allowed), one flight assessment and your digital certificate.
Duration: Most people finish the theory in 2-3 weeks. 12 months from purchase to complete everything.
Delivery: Theory online and self-paced. Flight assessment in person with one of our 22 examiners across 16 cities.
Buy online: dronetrust.co.nz/products/part-101-pilot-certificate-course
Entry requirements
No prior qualification needed. You need to be at least 16.
For the flight test you'll need a drone that can be switched manually to ATTI or Rate mode. If yours can't, you can hire one from us after passing your exam.
About the provider
DroneTrust is a CAA Part 141 certificated aviation training organisation (TR104722). We've been training drone pilots in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and the United States since 2018.
The theory for our certificate courses is online and self-paced, so you can start the day you enrol and study around work. This makes it a convenient, affordable exercise, and throughout that time, you can be confident we are here to support you and help you achieve your desired outcome. Each certificate then finishes with a practical flight assessment in person, with one of our 22 examiners from Northland to Southland. Before you meet, your examiner is told how your exam went and which areas you found harder.
Our courses run from the Part 101 and Part 102 Drone Pilot Certificates through to specialist ratings for agricultural spraying, chemical handling, night flying and building cleaning. We also help organisations write the exposition they need to apply to the CAA for their own operator certificate (UAOC).
You can buy any of our courses online at dronetrust.co.nz and start straight away. Not sure which one you need? Send us an enquiry and we'll help you work out your pathway.