Drone, UAV, UAS or RPAS? Drone Terminology Explained
By Rachel SimpsonShare
Drone, UAV, UAS, RPAS, UA — these words get used as if they mean the same thing, and mostly they do. But they are not identical, and in New Zealand the term the regulator uses matters, because it is the one that appears on your certificate.
UAV vs drone vs UAS vs RPAS: the short answer
They all describe the same technology from different angles. The difference is whether you mean the aircraft alone, or the whole system around it.
| Term | Stands for | What it actually refers to |
|---|---|---|
| Drone | — | The everyday word. Covers anything uncrewed that flies, from a toy quadcopter to a military aircraft. Not a technical term, and not used in the Civil Aviation Rules. |
| UA | Unmanned Aircraft | The aircraft itself, and nothing else. No controller, no software, no pilot. |
| UAV | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | Effectively the same as UA — the flying machine on its own. The most common technical term internationally. |
| UAS | Unmanned Aerial System | The aircraft plus everything needed to fly it: controller, ground station, software, data link. |
| RPAS | Remotely Piloted Aircraft System | A UAS with a human pilot in command. The distinction is the pilot: an RPAS is flown by a person, whereas a UAS could in principle be autonomous. |
So a drone is a UAV; a UAV plus its controller and software is a UAS; and a UAS with you flying it is an RPAS.
Which term does New Zealand use?
New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority uses RPAS. That is why the qualification is called an RPAS Pilot Certificate rather than a drone licence or a UAV licence — the certificate is about a remotely piloted system, and the pilot is the point.
You will still see "drone licence" everywhere, including in job ads. It is not wrong as everyday language, it just is not the legal term. There is no such thing as a drone licence in the Civil Aviation Rules; there is a Part 101 RPAS Pilot Certificate and a Part 102 RPAS Pilot Certificate.
Does the difference matter in practice?
For everyday conversation, no. For three things, yes:
- Searching the rules. The Civil Aviation Rules use "unmanned aircraft" and "RPAS". Searching for "drone rules" will miss the actual rule text.
- Insurance and contracts. Policies and tender documents usually specify RPAS or UAS. A certificate described in different words can hold up a claim or a procurement check.
- Buying training. "UAV training" and "drone training" are marketing terms. What you need to check is which Part — 101 or 102 — a course actually certifies you for.
New Zealand drone terminology: the acronyms you will meet
Aviation is full of acronyms. Here is a quick reference for the ones that come up in New Zealand drone operations.
CAA (Civil Aviation Authority): A Crown entity responsible to the Minister of Transport, operating under the Civil Aviation Act 1990. New Zealand's regulator for all airspace users, from large airlines to individual drone operators.
Airways New Zealand: A State-Owned Enterprise responsible for the safe movement of aircraft through 30 million square kilometres of airspace. Its Flight Information Office maintains NOTAMs.
Part 101: The CAA rule setting out general requirements for airspace users. Rather like the Road Code — it applies to everyone. Completing a Part 101 RPAS Pilot Certificate gives you the knowledge of these rules and allows you to operate within 4 km of an aerodrome with the operator's approval.
Part 102: The CAA rule covering operations that go beyond Part 101 limits — a drone over 25 kg, flying unshielded at night, over Department of Conservation land, over property without the owner's notification, over people without permission, or aerial spraying and bait dropping. Read the full guide to Part 102 and UAOCs.
RPAS Pilot Certificate: The CAA-recognised certificate issued on completing either the Part 101 or Part 102 course and passing a practical assessment with a registered examiner.
UAOC (Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate): Issued to an organisation, not a pilot. It carries the privileges that let that organisation's pilots operate outside the Part 101 rules. Each is unique to the operation it covers.
Exposition: The documentation the CAA approves when issuing a UAOC — effectively a series of manuals covering privileges, pilot training, competency checks, standard operating procedures, reporting and maintenance. It is a live document, and it must be renewed every 5 years.
Prime Person: The nominated senior person with overall responsibility for the safe operation of a UAOC, providing frontline compliance and oversight.
OCA (Operational Competency Assessment): The annual assessment CAA requires of Part 102 pilots operating under a UAOC, demonstrating they remain competent.
ATTI mode (Attitude mode): Where the drone's GPS positioning is disabled or lost, so it no longer holds a stable hover and drifts with the wind, requiring manual control. Your drone needs selectable ATTI mode for the practical assessment. More on ATTI mode, and how to practise it.
ATC (Air Traffic Control): And an ATC clearance is approval from a controller to fly in their controlled airspace.
NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions): A notice of any irregularity in the National Airspace System, issued by Airways New Zealand and used by everyone from drone operators to military pilots.
AirShare: The application used to plan and log each flight.
LiDAR: A detection system working on the principle of radar, but using laser light. Common in survey and mapping work.
Still unsure which certificate you need?
The terminology matters less than the Part number. Take the course quiz and we will tell you whether your work needs Part 101 or Part 102.
