AirShare is New Zealand’s uncrewed aircraft traffic management (UTM) system, helping Airways New Zealand safely and efficiently integrate uncrewed traffic into the airspace.
AirShare is used by recreational and commercial drone operators throughout New Zealand to identify safe places to fly, log drone flights, and request authorisation to fly in New Zealand airspace.
Since its launch in 2014 as New Zealand’s drone user hub, AirShare has supported Airways to reduce risks related to uncrewed aircraft, enhance situation awareness for air traffic controllers (ATCs), and reduce ATC workload.
Airways worked alongside the uncrewed aircraft industry group UAVNZ, and the Civil Aviation Authority to bring AirShare to life for New Zealand drone operators.
Airways has used AirShare in our tower operations across New Zealand since 2014. AirShare helps us to manage drone operations by providing accurate information to air traffic controllers. Drone operators can log their flight details into AirShare which then generates information for our controllers in the tower.
This information allows us to make timely decisions and approvals on safe areas and altitudes for drones to operate in the vicinity of the aerodrome, which in turn assists with managing the workload involved in drone operations.
As New Zealand’s air navigation service provider, Airways manages one of the largest airspaces in the world and provides air traffic management services that are safe, modern, technologically advanced, reliable and efficient.
Airways’ air traffic services team is located across 19 control towers and two operating centres, safely guiding over 400,000 flights through our skies every year. Airways has used AirShare in their tower operations across New Zealand since 2014, helping to safely and efficiently integrate uncrewed traffic into the airspace.
The Airspace Manager module provides real-time display and management of nationwide uncrewed aircraft activity – giving controllers situational awareness, and enabling them to manage drone flight requests and communicate with pilots, and helping to reduce ATC workload.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates civil aviation in New Zealand. If you fly a drone then you must comply with CAA regulations. The Minister of Transport establishes the rules that all pilots, engineers, aircraft operators, airlines, air traffic controllers, aerodrome operators, and regulated air cargo agents follow to keep aviation safe and secure.
The CAA checks that these rules are being complied with and have the power to take action if they are not. The CAA also monitors safety and security performance throughout the aviation community so that they can direct safety efforts where they are needed most. The CAA also produce safety publications and run safety seminars for the aviation community.
The UAVNZ industry group works to advocate for and professionalise the uncrewed aerospace sector in New Zealand.
UAVNZ aims to maximise the benefits from uncrewed aircraft (UA) technologies and develop a world-class UA industry in New Zealand. They are driven by the industry, managed by volunteers from the industry, and progress initiatives important to the industry.
Since February 2023, UAVNZ and AirShare have been partnering to improve the platform in line with industry requirements. UAVNZ provides an official feedback channel to AirShare, who have been regularly making updates as part of this partnership. UAVNZ recognises the value that AirShare provides to the industry ecosystem and will continue to support AirShare in delivering value to the industry.