Part 101 Pilot Certificate Course
Part 101 Pilot Certificate Course
GST Exclusive
CAA Part 141 certified training organisation — certificate #TR104722
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Become a certified drone pilot with the Part 101 Pilot Certificate course. Covering the core CAA rules for flying safely and legally in New Zealand, DroneTrust gets you in the air with an online theory course and an in-person flight assessment. Get certified and start flying with confidence today.
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This course is the foundation every drone pilot in New Zealand needs. It covers the core rules for flying legally close to an aerodrome, whether you're flying for fun or for work.
On successful completion, you'll hold a Part 101 Drone Pilot Certificate, giving you the legal privilege to fly within 4km of an aerodrome, subject to the other standard conditions covered in the course.
If your plans extend to flying over people, beyond visual line of sight, or spraying crops, Part 101 is also the foundation the Part 102 course builds on - if you intend to do that, jump straight to our Part 102 course, all Part 101 content is included.
You need a Part 101 certificate if you intend to fly within 4km of an aerodrome or heliport. Outside of that, you're not required to hold a qualification if you keep to all of the following:
- Not flying in the hours of darkness (unless under a shielded operation)
- Not flying above 400 feet (120m) above ground level
- Not flying within controlled airspace beyond the 4km aerodrome limit
- Not flying over people without their permission
- Not flying over property without the landowner's permission (including roads and railways)
- Not flying an agrichemical spray operation
- Not flying a drone with an unladen weight greater than 25kg
Recommended for any pilot who wants a solid grounding in NZ airspace rules before flying near people or property, even if you don't strictly require it for the flying you currently do.
$695 covers:
- Full online theory, covering Civil Aviation Rules, airspace, altitude, and aerodrome operations
- One final exam, 80% pass mark, multiple exam attempts allowed
- One practical flight assessment with an approved examiner
- Nationwide flight assessment access, with 22 active examiners across 16 cities in New Zealand
- Issue of Part 101 digital certificate
Not included:
- A drone capable of manual ATTI/Rate mode selection, required for the flight test. If you need one, you can hire one from us after completing your exam.
Note: theory, exam, and flight test must all be completed within 12 months of purchase.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Read NZ airspace rules and Visual Navigation Charts (VNCs)
- Work out your drone's legal altitude limits, using height above ground (AGL) versus height above sea level (AMSL)
- Identify controlled and uncontrolled airspace, including special use airspace such as Visual Flight Rules (VFR) transit lanes
- Understand runway and aerodrome operating requirements
- Log flights and check local council rules using Airshare
- Locate air traffic control contacts before you fly
- Fly confidently in ATTI mode if GPS signal is lost
Final assessment: one online exam (80% pass mark) and a practical flight test with an approved examiner.