Drone Pilot Chemical Rating
Drone Pilot Chemical Rating
GST Exclusive
CAA Part 141 certified training organisation — certificate #TR104722
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Become certified to apply chemicals from the air with the Chemical Rating course. Covering ten CAA-aligned modules built on the Threat and Error Management framework, DroneTrust gets you the knowledge you need entirely online. Get certified and take the next step in your Ag Pilot Pathway today.
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This course prepares you for your Chemical Rating certification, required for drone operators carrying out aerial application of chemicals in New Zealand. It's built to the CAA's AC61-16 (Revision 6, 5 April 2025) Appendix 1 syllabus, the accepted standard for Chemical Rating training.
Every module runs on the Threat and Error Management (TEM) framework, the same safety thinking used across aviation, so you'll learn to spot threats and catch errors before they become incidents. It's not a memorisation exercise: you'll work through real scenarios, interpret weather and drift data, and make the same operational calls you'll face in the field.
This course is entirely online. You'll complete all ten modules, their quizzes, and a final exam (80% pass mark) to earn your Chemical Rating. There's no practical component required to receive your Chemical rating.
It's a required step in both the Ag Pilot Pathway and the Aerial Asset Management pathway - you need to hold your Chemical Rating before you can take your Agricultural Rating - now available directly through DroneTrust. Your Chemical Rating is valid for five years, after which the course must be completed again.
This course is for you if:
- You're on the Ag Pilot Pathway or Aerial Asset Management pathway and need your chemical handling qualification
- Your existing Pilot Chemical Rating is expiring and needs to be renewed.
Good to know: you don't need to complete it in one sitting. Work through the modules at your own pace - most operators finish over one to two weeks.
$4,000 covers:
- Full online course across ten modules, an estimated 14-18 hours total
- Scenario-based exercises, visual interpretation tasks, and quizzes in every module
- A final exam, 80% pass mark
- Your Pilot Chemical Rating - Unmanned
Note: course must be completed within 12 months of purchase. Your Chemical Rating stays valid for five years, after which the course must be completed again.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Apply the Threat and Error Management (TEM) framework to real chemical operations and site-specific risk assessments
- Classify agricultural chemicals and understand their formulations, hazardous properties, and adjuvants
- Apply aerial application fundamentals, including calibration, dispersal systems, and technique
- Operate and maintain spray equipment and its safety systems
- Assess weather and drift conditions to make sound application decisions
- Carry out decontamination, notifications, record keeping, and emergency procedures
- Apply toxicology knowledge, exposure routes, PPE, and safe handling practices
- Use GNSS/GPS/GIS systems, track logs, and flight planning tools
- Apply civil aviation rules, hazardous substances law, and environmental requirements
- Operate RPAS fertiliser spreading systems, including material calibration and off-target application avoidance
Each module ends with a quiz to consolidate what you've learned, followed by a final exam (80% pass mark) to complete the course.