Expense worth it

Tim Whittaker will become Hawke's Bay's first official drone pilot

Hastings photographer and aviation enthusiast Tim Whittaker has become the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) - or drone - operator in Hawke's Bay to be certified by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mr Whittaker said he had been flying UAVs for more than five years, having built his first models from scratch.

He described it as a natural extension of his love of both photography and aviation.

Mr Whittaker is one of only 14 operators certified to fly UAVs in New Zealand.

He spent nearly four months gaining certification which will allow some extensions to rules including flying at night and flying over property if permission could not be obtained.

Mr Whittaker was required to submit an extensive security, personal and aviation record profile to the CAA.

He also had to submit equally extensive manuals based on operations, safety and maintenance which were compiled by a specialist Auckland-based company.

Mr Whittaker said the process cost him several thousand dollars, but would be well worth the investment.

With local authorities, police and emergency services now requiring certified contractors, he hoped to pick up more work from those sectors, as well as expanding areas of his own photography business.

Mr Whittaker's UAV had the capacity to create high resolution video and stills as well as 3D mapping.

Five months ago, the CAA set out two new sets of rules for the radio-controlled devices, such as a 400-feet (122m) height limit, no flying after dusk, no flying over people or property without explicit permission and not within 4km of an aerodrome - but certification allows some extensions to those rules.