AirMap has joined forces with Airways New Zealand to bring digital airspace authorization to New Zealand’s drone community.
Drone operators can now use AirMap’s iOS and Android apps to request airspace approvals required by New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority at Christchurch, Queenstown, and Wanaka airports, and on public lands in the Christchurch City, Selwyn, and Queenstown Lakes District Council, including parks and reserves.
During the three-month trial, participating locations will use the AirMap airspace management dashboard to approve flight plans and share real-time updates with drone operators about the location of events, community gatherings, emergencies, and more. This information is published immediately to the AirMap platform so that drone operators can plan safer flights and stay up-to-date on changing airspace conditions before and during their missions.
Drones are already contributing to New Zealand’s economy, assisting rescue and recovery missions and taking on inspections for public utilities, construction sites, and more. Drone flights in the country’s controlled airspace have increased 20 times over the past three years, reports AirMap.
