Part 102 Drone Pilot Certificate Course

The Part 102 Drone Pilot Certificate is the first step for pilots who want to operate outside the standard Part 101 rules, under an organisation's Part 102 UAOC. DroneTrust, a CAA Part 141 certificated training organisation, gets you there with online theory you do at your own pace and a practical flight assessment with one of our 22 approved examiners across 16 cities in New Zealand.

The course covers everything in our Part 101 course plus the extra knowledge needed to fly under a UAOC, so there's no need to do Part 101 first. On its own, the certificate gives you the same privilege as Part 101: flying within 4km of an aerodrome. Flying over people, at night, agricultural spraying or beyond visual line of sight open up once you're flying under a UAOC with the right exemptions, and we can help with the rest of that pathway.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

• Read NZ airspace rules and charts, and work out your drone's legal altitude limits
• Tell controlled from uncontrolled airspace and know what that means for your flight
• Log flights and check local council rules using AirShare
• Find air traffic control contacts before you fly
• Plan and document a Part 102 flight, including checking NOTAMs and airspace supplements
• Apply basic meteorology and GPS fundamentals to flight planning
• Fly confidently in ATTI mode if you lose GPS signal

What's included:

• Full online theory covering Part 101 and Part 102 content
• Two final exams, 80% pass mark, resits included
• One practical flight assessment with an approved examiner
• Your Part 102 digital certificate

Once you're flying under a UAOC, you'll need an annual Operational Competency Assessment (OCA), sold separately.

The theory is fully online, so you can start any time and work at your own pace. Once you've passed the exams, you'll book your flight assessment with an examiner near you.

Got questions about the course or your pathway to a UAOC? Hit Send enquiry and we'll get back to you. Ready to go? Use the Provider's course page link below to buy directly from our website and start today.

No prior qualifications or experience needed. A Part 101 certificate is not a prerequisite, as that content is included.

For the flight assessment you'll need a drone that can switch to manual ATTI/Rate mode.

Theory, exams and flight assessment must all be completed within 12 months of purchase.

DroneTrust has been providing certified drone training in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and the United States since 2018. It is our mission to grow an industry of safe, knowledgeable and trusted drone pilots by providing quality training.

We provide drone training courses in a cost-effective and scalable way, so all drone pilots can learn the rules and up-skill to maximise their drone experiences and income-earning opportunities. The quality of our courses shows in the results - we have a 95.5% pass rate across more than 1,200 flight assessments in the last three years alone.

DroneTrust is a certified CAA Part 141 aviation training organisation #TR104722. Our courses are delivered online, meaning you can learn at your own pace at your own place. 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. Watching you succeed is our business. Note that the final practical assessment must be completed in person with an approved examiner.