Airways NZ and AirMap to trial UTM platform

Airways New Zealand (Airways NZ) and AirMap partnered (13-Dec-2017) to launch a three month trial of AirMap's unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) platform in New Zealand. Airways NZ called for drone operators to take part in the trials, with the AirMap platform to provide planning and management tools for both commercial and recreational drones. With AirMap's free iOS and Android apps, drone users will be able to seek necessary airspace and public landowner approvals to operate, file flight plans and access real time information about other aircraft in the area. Airways NZ CEO Graeme Sumner said the trial is an "important step in investigating how Airways could develop a UTM system", adding: "There is potential for New Zealand to become a test-bed for the UAV industry". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]