Where do you fly your drone?

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LostBoyNZ

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Topic # 240195 25-Aug-2018 18:22

As a potential future drone owner, I've been looking up the rules regarding flying them here in New Zealand. All the rules of course seem fair enough, no problem there. Then when I went to go see where you can and cannot fly your drone, wow, there's a huge number of no fly zones. I shouldn't be surprised I guess, but it made me wonder if drone owners feel like they have lots of places to go use the drone, or if they feel a bit limited?

https://www.airshare.co.nz/maps is the page with the no fly area map on it. I also saw that most national parks are a no go, in that you can apply for permission, but it won't be granted because permission is only for emergency use or such.

Oblivian

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Reply # 2079154 25-Aug-2018 20:31

Those are the general 'be careful' coverage rules.

But there are individual ones that underlay those (but not inside un+controlled aerodrome space) - "Shielded Operation". Like keeping below treelines etc etc where normal airspace wouldn't normally be entered (same with flying kites etc)

A shielded operation must meet the below requirements:

An operation of an aircraft within 100 m of, and below the top of, a natural or man-made object; and

JarrodM

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Reply # 2079200 25-Aug-2018 22:14

I got a DJI Mavic Air a couple of weeks ago, just been doing shielded operations around my house or down at the park. Pretty much the whole area I’m in is controlled airspace so ATC authorisation is required for anything else. Look up your local council’s drone policy. Where I am they have no restrictions, just advised me to follow CAA rules.

LostBoyNZ

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Reply # 2079203 25-Aug-2018 22:28

Ah ok that makes sense yes, I suppose if a natural or man-made object is near by and above your drone, no aircraft is ever going to be in danger of hitting it.

Good advice, thanks! I see our place here is jusssssst outside of a restricted area. The other end of the street is inside it.

Tinkerisk

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Reply # 2079227 26-Aug-2018 07:57

With special permission around a huge aircraft on ground - for inspectional purposes before test flight.

Not the common way to fly drones and HIGHLY recommended NOT TO DO IT AT HOME!

Nope, English isn't my mother tongue. But that's why I'm here.

LostBoyNZ

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Reply # 2079236 26-Aug-2018 09:23

haha, sounds like a cool job though!

driller2000

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Reply # 2079261 26-Aug-2018 10:17

One person supports this post

You are looking at the right info ie. Airshare - re general guidance and No Fly zones etc.

As others have said - then check your local Council guidelines.

For me, in Auckland - it means local parks are OK (with limitations) - which is all good as I have several only minutes away.

Key thing is - don't be a dick - don't fly over private property, roads, buildings, near animals/stock etc.

And IMO - ALL other users have priority ie. if I am flying in a park and others start using it and i can't maintain decent separation distance I land and call it quits - esp seeing as I mostly fly FPV racing quads (160+ km/h capable).

LostBoyNZ

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Reply # 2079264 26-Aug-2018 10:32

Thanks, I see Christchurch City Council have a page which is helpful here: https://www.ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/photography/drones-and-remotely-piloted-aircraft-systems/#12/-43.5308/172.6363

Thankfully most areas I click on seem to be no consent required, phew!

Totally agree on don't be a dick! I cringe every time I see an article on someone doing something stupid with a drone, thinking it's just gonna make things harder for us responsible drone owners in the future.

Wheelbarrow01

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Spark NZ

Reply # 2079509 27-Aug-2018 08:12

I live in Christchurch too and apart from a short flight directly above my own house, I haven't used it in the city at all. Most of my use has been whilst boating down at Otematata/Lake Benmore - lots of wide open space and no people around to annoy.

Coil

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Reply # 2079518 27-Aug-2018 08:29

Nothing has ever stopped us from flying around Devonport Naval bases and parks. Never had an issue, Navy staff have watched us race drones and had no issue with it.
Sure its marked as a no fly zone and you are also not allowed to fly with in so many KM of defense land.

shk292

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Reply # 2079554 27-Aug-2018 10:08

It's interesting that at Taupo, because the whole lake is classed as an aerodrome, then if you follow the rules, you can't fly anywhere within 4 miles of the lake. An that's before you apply the zones for the various helipads etc. And in theory, because there is no fence around the lake, you can't use shielded operation.

There's a danger that if you make rules too onerous, people get used to ignoring them, and ignore the ones that really need to be obeyed.

Let's hope they don't decide the whole of the Inner Hauraki Gulf is an aerodrome because there are two float planes in Auckland

LostBoyNZ

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Reply # 2079961 27-Aug-2018 20:46

Wheelbarrow01:

I live in Christchurch too and apart from a short flight directly above my own house, I haven't used it in the city at all. Most of my use has been whilst boating down at Otematata/Lake Benmore - lots of wide open space and no people around to annoy.

Yeah I have to admit I wouldn't be much of a Christchurch City flyer either, I'm much more a scenery person.

Coil:

Nothing has ever stopped us from flying around Devonport Naval bases and parks. Never had an issue, Navy staff have watched us race drones and had no issue with it.
Sure its marked as a no fly zone and you are also not allowed to fly with in so many KM of defense land.

Wow, that's funny! I guess they know you're not about to fly it into a plane taking off at least.

shk292:

It's interesting that at Taupo, because the whole lake is classed as an aerodrome, then if you follow the rules, you can't fly anywhere within 4 miles of the lake. An that's before you apply the zones for the various helipads etc. And in theory, because there is no fence around the lake, you can't use shielded operation.

There's a danger that if you make rules too onerous, people get used to ignoring them, and ignore the ones that really need to be obeyed.

Let's hope they don't decide the whole of the Inner Hauraki Gulf is an aerodrome because there are two float planes in Auckland

Mmm agreed there. And the natural response to people ignoring them will be to make them more strictly enforced and add even more rules. I really hope that doesn't happen.

chewster

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Reply # 2079985 27-Aug-2018 20:59

Apart from following the CAA rules and getting landowner permission... don't fly near over people or cars or things that could get damaged or hurt - unless they haven given you permission.

When I see people flying drones over crowds of people it always strikes me as stupid. It just takes one kid sent to hospital from a glitching drone and the law will be seriously tightened up and you've wrecked it for everyone.