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.
You’ll complete:
- An open-book theory quiz (minimum 80 % pass mark)
- A Practical Operational Competency Assessment (OCA) conducted by a CAA-approved assessor
Successfully passing both assessments earns you the NZ Drones Academy RPAS Pilot Certificate (Part 101) — authorising you to operate drones within 4 km of an aerodrome or airport, in accordance with CAA Part 101 rules.
Your certification is valid for two years nationwide.
- Online (Self-Paced): Study anywhere in New Zealand with interactive modules and quizzes.
- Classroom Course (1 Day): In-person training with live instructors and hands-on assessment.
- New drone pilots seeking formal qualification
- Media & photography professionals wanting aerodrome access
- Farmers, surveyors & construction operators wanting to fly legally under Part 101
Practical Approach
Our training is built for real flying. You’ll learn to apply Part 101 rules in everyday operations — from safe mission planning and airspace checks to hands-on control in real-world conditions.
Confidence
Gain the knowledge and tools to interpret New Zealand’s airspace, read aeronautical charts, and operate safely near controlled aerodromes with full regulatory awareness.
Pathway to Advanced Ratings
Start your aviation journey here. Completing your Part 101 certificate builds the foundation for professional training under Part 102, unlocking advanced commercial drone operations.
