Drone safety importance

A growing use of remotely piloted aircraft systems has prompted CTC Aviation to take action for the safety of its trainees and instructors in the Hamilton area.

Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS, otherwise known as unmanned aerial systems or drones) are becoming more popular for both recreational and commercial use.

Readily available online or 'over-the-counter', drones can be purchased and operated without a licence or knowledge of the Civil Aviation Authority regulations, and this has caused concern for Hamilton-based airline pilot training company CTC Aviation.

Many drone operators have no aviation background, and are not aware that compliance rules exist for the safety of those in the sky or on the ground.

CTC Aviation chief operating officer - Ab initio Training (NZ) Peter Stockwell says this causes a real risk to aircraft operators like CTC Aviation who are sharing the airspace, and New Zealand needs a regulatory and licensing system in place to ensure drone users operate their devices safely and in accordance with accepted aviation rules and procedures.

Legally, a drone can be operated without air traffic control approval if it is within 400ft of ground level, in daylight, within visual line of sight, and outside 4km of an airfield. The concern for CTC Aviation and other airspace users is that, while there are limitations on their use in terms of how high and how far drones will operate, they can still potentially cause a significant risk to manned aircraft.

"We continue to make our trainees and instructors aware of these sorts of new threats. Obviously safety is fundamental for us and is always top priority," said Mr Stockwell.

The safety debate between drone users, aircraft operators and aviation regulators at a national and international level is nothing new. But Mr Stockwell said the issue came a lot closer to home when CTC Aviation learned that a local manufacturer of drones was operating on its doorstep.

"We have been engaging with the company building and operating devices in the area we are operating in. The aim is to learn about each other's activities and put in place safety procedures to avoid any incidents at a local level," he said.

Mr Stockwell says CTC Aviation aims to take part in the national discussion where it can be about the rules for safely operating drones in New Zealand.

The New Zealand CAA currently has a project underway to review the current regulations and 'Rule 101', which will include some minor changes to accommodate the different types and uses of drones.

New Zealand CAA general manager of general aviation Steve Moore explained that a certification rule would be introduced which means if a drone user wants to operate their device outside Rule 101, they can obtain approval to do so through certification.

"This will not give them unrestricted approval to fly beyond the Part 101 rules, but only where it is necessary for their operation and only after they have satisfied the New Zealand CAA through their exposition, or operations manual, that they have identified the hazards and taken appropriate risk mitigation to ensure the safety of the public and other airspace users," Mr Moore said.

"The New Zealand CAA does not want to stifle innovation, but public safety is paramount."