Palmerston North Aeroneers

Find out where you can and can’t fly drones in Palmerston North, if you need permission, and where to log your flight path. No matter where you fly your drone, you need to follow Civil Aviation rules.

Most of our city's urban areas, including parks and reserves, are in a controlled airspace. That is, airspace managed by Air Traffic Control because it's close to important flight paths.

You need air traffic control clearance if you want to fly your drone in controlled airspace, unless you are flying a shielded operation.

• Airshare website for CAA rules you must follow wherever you fly and to log flight paths when required
• Quick Reference Drone Flying Guide
• PNCC Parks UAV Drones Policy for full policy and maps.

In some of our parks, low level flying is allowed without getting clearance from air traffic control. To be a shielded operation, you must be flying your drone within 100m of an object like a building or a tree. You must also fly below the height of that object. However, you still have to log your flight plan.

Some of our parks are outside controlled airspaces, so you don't need air traffic control clearance. Council permission is given to fly in these parks as long as you follow the general CAA rules, including logging your flight. You must also stay at least 25m away from boundaries, playgrounds and formed paths. Please take care around animals, particularly in areas where dogs are allowed off a leash.

• Paneri Park
• Waitoetoe Park (be courteous and take care around dog walkers)
• Atawhai Reserve
• Summerhill Reserve
• Adderstone Reserve
• ANZAC/Te Motu o Poutoa
• Ashhurst reserves including the sportsfields at Ashhurst Domain (the rest of the domain is a no fly zone - see list of restricted parks below for more information)

There are two categories of no fly zones in Palmerston North: prohibited and restricted. You need special permission from Council to fly a drone in these parks. 

Flying drones at parks in the airport take-off and approach paths is prohibited. However, the Council will consider requests for permission case by case. Before you apply to the Council, you need clearance from air traffic control or a shielded operation exemption.

• Linklater Reserve
• Robert Reserve
• Frederick Krull Reserve
• Schnell Wetland Reserve
• Leander Reserve
• Jefferson Reserve
• Kelvin Grove Cemetery
• Parnell Heights Reserve
• The unformed road reserve between Pepper Tree Glade and Masefield Terrace

These are sensitive spaces. Casual flying is not permitted, though may be granted for special occasions or activities.

• The Square
• Central Energy Trust Arena
• Victoria Esplanade
• Any cemetery
• Otira Reserve and Linton Domain
• Ashhurst Domain campground, playground, cemetery, cafe or pony club spaces (you can fly a drone over the sportsfields)
• Memorial Park - the passive recreation end with duckpond, playground and paddling pool (you can fly a drone over the sportsfields)

All other parks are considered suitable for flying as long as you follow some general PNCC rules and comply with Civil Aviation Authority rules. You must also stay at least 25m away from boundaries, playgrounds and formed paths. Please take care around animals, particularly in areas where dogs are allowed off a leash.

If you follow the flow chart on page 2 of the document, you can't really go wrong.  

Safe flying everyone.