Pilot Training & Competency
- RPAS Pilot Certificate
- RPAS Aviation Law and Airspace
- Operational Competency Assessment
- 101 and 102 Pilot Training
Do you even need a 102 certificate?
Some organisations may tell you that you need a 102 certificate, when in fact 90% of people flying drones don’t need one. We created this article below to help you determine what you actually need, rather than what someone might advise you of, without having checked the rules.
What can you do as a Certified Part 101 Drone pilot (compared to uncertified) – a helpful article to help you determine what rules your drone activities fall under.
RPAS Pilot Certificate
Under New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Rules a pilot is required to complete a 102 course and certificate issued by an approved organisation if they wish to fly within 4km of an aerodrome.
CAA requires a pilot certificate for operations under Part 102.
The two day 102 RPAS course covers two days and is comprised of the RPAS Aviation Law course and competency assessment.
RPAS Aviation Law
RPAS Aviation Law segment provides the necessary training to satisfy the requirements under Civil Aviation Rule 101.12 for any person operating any unmanned aircraft to understand the airspace classification and comply with any applicable restrictions.
Aviation Training RPAS course covers the following topics:
- reading and understanding airspace classifications and VNC aviation maps
- safe and legal operation in the vicinity of aerodromes
- the requirements in Parts 101 and 102 for the operation of unmanned aircraft
- meteorology – aviation weather
- permissions and considerations of people and property
- hazard mitigation and minimisation
- human factors issues
- aviation radio awareness
Other associated topics that may be of specific relevance to a particular course will also be covered.
Operational Competency Assessments
An annual Operational Competency Assessment (OCA) is a standard feature of commercial manned aviation and is increasingly required (recommended and likely to become mandatory) for Part 102 operations.
This assessment is conducted as part of the competency requirement towards a UAV Pilot Certificate or independently as an annual OCA for Part 102 operators. The competency assessment is designed to assess the ability of the pilot to demonstrate competency in the following topics:
- airspace knowledge and procedures especially with regards to operating within 4km of an aerodrome
- appropriate assessment of the intended area of operation
- battery care and management
- distance considerations
- failsafe functions operations if applicable
- figure-of-8 flight
- flight planning including weather (meteorology considerations)
- hazard assessment and planned mitigation of any dangers or concerns
- knowledge of RPAS flight and digital systems
- loss of sight or signal considerations
- orientation and spatial awareness
- pre-flight checks
- rapid descent
- system failure of automated flight and manual handling
- take-off and landing
Additional areas of assessment may be included if specified in the operator’s exposition.
Pilot Training
We can provide customised training to a pilot who requires special industry specific training to achieve the standard required for an RPAS Pilot Certificate or Operational Competency Assessment. Everyone has different skill levels and different operations may require different training of drone handling. An example is Agricultural drones, where there may be more rotors and a chemical handling certificate to satisfy CAA’s requirements.