Job Listing: Agricultural UAV Technical Operator

Pyka is seeking its first full time technical operator for a 250 kg fixed wing agricultural aircraft. In this role, you will be responsible for deploying the first ever commercialized large autonomous aircraft for agricultural operations. In addition to mission planning and chemical handling, you will work closely with our engineering team to identify and address areas for improvement in our system. Your feedback will be critical for defining the technical direction of our development and refining our service for our customers.

To find out more please read the attached job description.

ASMS welcomes Pyka to New Zealand

The Pyka Egret. 

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) is excited to welcome Pyka LLC to New Zealand. Pyka will be test flying their 'Egret 4' unmanned aircraft under a certification programme agreed with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. The Egret 4 has a wing span of 7.8m and maximum take-off weight of approximately 270kg, with 100kg being available for payload.

Once aircraft certification is achieved then Pyka intends to undertake commercial agricultural spray operations.

Simulated spray run (water only)

Our journey together began back in 2017 when we prepared Pyka's exposition for operation under New Zealand's Civil Aviation Rule Part 102. That journey has continued as we have provided regulatory advice, delivered pilot training and competency assessments, and will continue as we provide training for a UAV Agricultural Rating after aircraft certification and full Part 102 certification is achieved.

About Pyka
Based in Palo Alto, California, Pyka LLC (flypyka.com) is an autonomous electric airplane startup aiming to make agricultural chemical application fast, and precise, and easy – even over challenging terrain.

Congratulations to Fire & Emergency New Zealand

ASMS congratulates Fire & Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) on the first day of their existence as a new crown entity. FENZ (https://fireandemergency.nz/) has been formed from the amalgamation of the urban-focussed New Zealand Fire Service, the National Rural Fire Authority, and territorial fire authorities.

Scion Research Obtains Part 102 Certification

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Scion on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations. Scion is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute (CRI) that specialises in research, science and technology development for the forestry, wood product and wood-derived materials and other biomaterial sectors.

Scion utilises its UAVs to capture LiDAR and multi-spectral imagery for a variety of tasks. The technologies can greatly increase forest management efficiencies by allowing companies to track and guide workers on regular forestry maintenance and remediation, and issues such as fire prevention and control.

ASMS is pleased to have prepared Scion's exposition and application for certification. We integrated Scion’s existing health and safety procedures with procedures that we developed to provide a complete exposition. Attaining Part 102 certification is symbolic of Scion’s intent to complement their scientific expertise with best practice in their UAV operations.

About Scion
Scion’s purpose is to drive innovation and growth from the forestry, wood product and wood-derived materials and other biomaterial sectors sector to build economic value and contribute to beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand. Formerly the NZ Forest Research Institute, Scion employs approximately 340 people and has its head office in Rotorua. For more information, please visit www.scionresearch.com..

Further Information
For further information on Scion’s UAV operations see:

• Scion gets eye-in-the-sky head start, Bay of Plenty Times, 2 September 2016
• UAV and remote sensing, Scion website

Tiro 360 Part 102 Certification

Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) congratulates Tiro 360 Ltd on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations. Tiro 360's mission is to transform industries with better information, using a range of technologies to deliver information products that are visually powerful, highly accurate and instantly usable.

Tiro 360 provides a broad range of services backed up by proven expertise, including:

• topographic survey and mapping
• crop health and precision agriculture
• industrial inspection using specialised sensors
• applied use of GIS for analysis, asset management, and modelling
• data integration across multiple software and hardware platforms
• avionics design and electronic engineering

If specialised equipment is needed for your job they can design, build, and fly it.

ASMS is pleased to have prepared Tiro 360's exposition and application for certification. Privileges available under the certificate include operating at night, over persons or property, and within low flying zones.

Quadcam Drones Part 102 Certification

Maui A Platform vent stack lightening rod inspection
Photo: Quadcam Drones Ltd

Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) congratulates Quadcam Drones Ltd on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations. Quadcam's services include detailed inspection in the Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Utility industries, NDVI vegetation surveys and mapping, farm mapping, and general photography and videography.

ASMS is pleased to have prepared Quadcam's exposition and application for certification. Privileges available under the certificate include operating at night, over persons or property, and within low flying zones.

Interpine Part 102 Certification

Footage of a controlled rural fire burn.
Source: Interpine on Youtube.

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Interpine Group on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations.

Interpine Group is the first forestry and/or rural fire related UAV provider to obtain Part 102 certification. Privileges available under the certificate include operating at night, above 400ft AGL, over persons or property, and within low flying zones.

ASMS is pleased to have worked closely with Interpine Group on their certification application. We integrated Interpine Group's existing operating, maintenance, and safety procedures together with procedures that we developed to provide a complete exposition.

For more information see Interpine's post. To see more about Interpine's use of UAVs in rural fire, see this post, this post and associated Youtube clip of a controlled burn.

Weed Control by Drone

ASMS' client Flightworks expects to spring in to action with as warm and wet weather delivers ideal growing conditions for weeds. Utilising custom-built unmanned aircraft, Flightworks can precisely map the location of weeds and then precisely deliver spray to just the areas where it is required. This service is ideal when weeds are located in sensitive areas, such as estuaries and beside waterways.

Flightworks is certified under Civil Aviation Rule Part 102. As part of that certification, Flightworks was required to meet relevant requirements from the Part 137 agricultural operations rules, hold appropriate spray and chemical-handling qualifications, and demonstrate rigorous risk and safety management practices. As an additional assurance of competence, pilots are required to undergo and annual assessment administered by a CAA-approved Part 141 flight training organisation.

For more information on Flightworks' services and the benefits of utilising unmanned aircraft see the articles on Flightworks' website.