More drones likely in agriculture industries

The Civil Aviation Authority has issued five new 'rule part 102' operating licences. Photo / Grant Morrell

New certifications are likely to boost drone use in New Zealand's agriculture industries, say aviation experts.

The Civil Aviation Authority has issued five new 'rule part 102' operating licences following a rule change on August 1.

Drone operators can now fly at night, over private property and at heights above 120 metres if certified under the updated rules.

About 40 drone pilots have already received training for the certification from Helicopter Pilot Training, an aviation school and the second certified operator.

"We're supporting them all the way through the 102 certification and I should imagine their businesses will receive their certification in the next month," said chief executive Phil Maguire.

The trainees came from real estate backgrounds, but Mr Maguire said mining surveyors and professional photographers had also expressed interest.

Yamaha Motors received the first certification under civil aviation rule part 102 on August 1.

Business development manager Geoff Lamb said the company's unmanned crop-spraying helicopter had already garnered interest in Taranaki and Tauranga.

"We will want to take the machine around those places," Mr Lamb said.

"We want to sell in New Zealand so the idea for us is to get our one helicopter out and flying."

CAA senior communications advisor Mike Eng said the new certification would likely mean more drone use in agriculture and other industries.

Flightworks, a private air charter service, was certified to use drones for chemical spraying and high-resolution mapping.

General manager Hamish Kendall said he believed this technology could help the Department of Conservation eradicate harmful weeds.

"It's an alternative to abseiling or helicopters, but also one that can access dangerous or steep places such as wetlands or geothermal areas."

Mr Kendall said the 102 certification allowed Flightworks to fly close to objects other operators would generally avoid.

"The CAA rules don't cover all activities. Instead, you understand the risks and create a system around that.

"We designed our way of flying to make sure we can manage those risks," he said.

Mr Eng said the new certification allowed operators to bypass "anything in rule part 101" provided applicants can present the CAA with a plan to mitigate potential safety risks.

"We might say you don't have to ask for people's consent if you're a responsible operator and we can see you know what you're doing," Mr Eng said.

"As the technology matures we think people will be able to make better safety cases."

Other licenced operators to date are Incredible Images Ltd in Auckland's Mt. Wellington and Natural Solutions Marine and Terrestrial Ecologists Ltd in Tauranga.