Flying a drone over people—whether spectators at an event, crowds at a festival, or pedestrians in a city—is one of the highest-risk operational categories in New Zealand's aviation framework. The CAA Part 102 rules are explicit: over-people operations are prohibited by default and only allowed under strict exemptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Piyo: Can I fly over people at an outdoor wedding if they're all wearing helmets?
No. Helmets don't mitigate drone risk adequately. Full exemption still required. However, fewer participants = easier exemption approval.
Poppo: What if someone walks into my airspace mid-flight despite cordoning?
You're still liable. CAA will investigate why crowd management failed. Better physical barriers (fencing) than verbal warnings required.
Piyo: How long does over-people approval typically take?
Initial exemption: 12–16 weeks from application to approval. Expedited emergency scenarios may be 3–5 days (CAA discretionary).
Poppo: Can I get a blanket exemption covering multiple events?
Very rare. Most exemptions are event-specific or operator-facility specific. Blanket approvals require 3+ years demonstrated perfect safety record.
Piyo: What's the difference between "people nearby" and "people directly under drone"?
Huge difference for regulations. People nearby = easier exemption. Directly under = maximum scrutiny. Always minimize overlap if possible.
Automate Over-People Compliance with MmowW
Managing over-people exemptions, SORA documentation, and event-day safety checklists is administratively intensive. MmowW automates SORA tracking, exemption validity monitoring, and safety briefing documentation at just NZ$8.60 per drone per month. With MmowW, you get:
- SORA requirement checklists and templates
- Exemption expiry alerts and renewal reminders
- Pre-flight over-people safety briefing recordings
- Real-time event day documentation and incident logging
- Post-flight compliance reports for insurance and CAA