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New Zealand is creating “regulatory sandboxes” to spur development in its advanced aviation and aerospace sector.
The NZ government says the new rules, to come into effect on 22 December, will make it easier for innovative aerospace solutions to be developed and tested without needing approval from the Civil Aviation Authority for each new iteration unless there are “substantial changes” to the operation.
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“As part of our world-class regulatory system, we’ve introduced a new rule allowing regulatory sandboxes – controlled environments where technology can be tested freely and safely,” Space Minister Judith Collins said.
“This will provide clearer pathways for the sector to test, trial, and grow, while ensuring strong safeguards remain in place.
“The change will directly benefit Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre, which was granted permanent Special Use Airspace earlier this year, alongside $5.85 million in operational funding.
“The advanced aviation sector is no longer emerging. It is here, and it is central to New Zealand’s economic and high-tech future. Our approach will attract global interest from those keen to take advantage of a safe and responsive regulatory environment.”
The country is also updating its rules around drone use to add clarity, with Associate Transport Minister James Meager saying they will “cut through red tape, reduce paperwork and make it much clearer when drones and other aviation technologies can be used and when they can’t”.
“More specifically, they clarify that drones can be used for low-risk work like surveying and mapping without certification, and they provide clarity and certainty for technical and higher-risk activities like agricultural spraying and top dressing,” he said.
“This is about backing our farmers and rural communities by reducing unnecessary regulatory burden, being clear about what’s allowed, and making sure new technology can be put to work safely and quickly.”
In Australia, CASA is developing an RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap to shape drone policy and regulation into the future, as drones and advanced air mobility become a larger part of the aviation landscape.
“We aim to create clear and risk-based rules along with simple, flexible and efficient authorisation pathways for emerging technologies,” the regulator said.
Airservices last year predicted Australia would see 60 million drone flights per year by 2043.
