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Aeronautical Model Control Short Range Devices GURL
With this licence you can own and operate remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) — such as drones and model aircraft — without needing to pay for a licence in your own name.
About this General User Radio Licence (GURL)
With this licence you can own and operate remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) — such as drones and model aircraft — without needing to pay for a licence in your own name.
You share the licence frequencies with other users.
Licence
You can view this GURL in the Register of Radio Frequencies (RRF) under Licence number 270426(external link).
For the terms and conditions and operating frequencies for this GURL, see the Gazette notice(external link).
Fees
$0.00 — there's no fee for a General User Radio Licence (GURL). All fees associated with this licence are paid for by Radio Spectrum Management (RSM).
Your responsibilities
You must follow the terms, conditions and restrictions of the licence, which include operating on the correct frequency and within the power limits. The most commonly used frequencies are:
- 433 MHz or 2.4 GHz for remote control.
- 5.8 GHz for video and audio links.
You must not operate in a way that causes interference to other radio services. The Civil Aviation Authority and AirShare websites have more information about your responsibilities when operating your RPAS.
- Civil Aviation Authority website — Unmanned Aircraft(external link)
- AirShare website — Register and log your flights(external link)
Your equipment
Your equipment must comply with the relevant radio standards and relevant technical parameters for this licence.
Licence conditions
Set up your equipment according to the conditions of the licence.
Check whether your RPAS equipment will work on New Zealand frequencies, and within the correct power limits. As most drone equipment is developed overseas, it often exceeds the frequency and power limits required here. Your equipment’s operating system will determine the frequency you operate in.
Radio standards
Make sure your equipment complies with the relevant radio standards — found in the Radiocommunications (Radio Standards) Notice.
Product compliance Gazette Notices
Compliance labelling
If you bought your equipment in New Zealand, and it's labelled with an RSM-approved RCM mark or R-NZ label, you can start using it immediately.
If it doesn’t have NZ-approved labelling, check our list of products and equipment you can't use in New Zealand. It may be banned for use here.
Products and equipment you can't use in New Zealand
If you bought your equipment online or overseas, you may not be able to set it up to operate on New Zealand frequencies. Go back to your supplier and ask for equipment with an approved RCM mark or R-NZ label.