Costs

What it costs to become an ag drone pilot

DroneTrust's full Ag Pilot Pathway totals $13,424 excluding GST, and you only pay for the steps you still need. Here's how the numbers break down.[1]

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Total excl. GST$13,424

$15,437.60 incl. GST

Plus CAA certification charges: $312.40 an hour incl. GST, with 2 hours ($624.80) paid up front for a first Part 102 application. The final amount depends on how much inspector time your application takes.

Timing: expect 10 to 12 months end to end. Most of that is waiting for CAA certification, which is expected to take 8 to 10 months from submission, so apply early.

DroneTrust's published prices in NZD, checked 28 September 2026. Examiner travel for the Agricultural Rating may be extra. Not included: your drone and equipment, insurance, and any resource consent. See the full cost breakdown.

Price list

DroneTrust prices, step by step

NZD excluding GST, from DroneTrust's published pricing as at 28 September 2026.[1]

DroneTrust agricultural pathway prices
Step	DroneTrust product	Price (excl. GST)	Time
1. Operator certificate	Exposition Writing Service (Agricultural)	$3,500	CAA approval: expected to take 8 to 10 months from submission to grant[2]
2. Pilot qualification	Part 102 Drone Pilot Certificate	$1,295	Theory over a few weeks, then a flight test[2]
3. Chemical rating	Drone Pilot Chemical Rating	$4,000	14 to 18 hours online; most finish in 1 to 2 weeks[3]
4. OCA	Part 102 OCA	$629	Theory revision and a flight assessment[4]
5. Agricultural rating	Agricultural Rating	$4,000 + examiner travel	Two days with an instructor, then supervised flights[2]
Full Ag Pilot Pathway		$13,424	10 to 12 months end to end[1]

Members of the Agricultural Drone Association save $1,500 + GST on DroneTrust's exposition writing service.[1][5]

Beyond training

Other costs to budget for

CAA certification charges. $312.40 an hour including GST, since 1 July 2025. A first Part 102 application needs 2 hours ($624.80) paid up front, and further inspector time is charged by the hour. The CAA offers up to one hour of free pre-application discussion.[6][7][8]
NZS 8409:2021. The PDF costs $175.16 excluding GST from Standards New Zealand. Growsafe certificate holders can read it free online.[9][10]
Ground crew training. Growsafe recommends its Standard certificate for ground crew who mix and load.[11] Check Growsafe for current course fees.
The aircraft and equipment. Ag drones such as the DJI Agras T50 and T100 are large aircraft.[12][13] Get a quote from Aerolab, and budget for batteries, charging, mixing and PPE.
Insurance and consents. Resource consent costs only apply if your work can't meet your regional plan's permitted-activity conditions.[14]

Read more: the pathway, the chemical rating, FAQ and about Airex.

Ready to start your pathway?

DroneTrust, our recommended provider, can take you from your first pilot certificate to a fully rated agricultural pilot, or pick you up partway through.

Talk to DroneTrust

Sources

Checked on 28 September 2026. Rules change, so confirm anything important with the agency concerned. This guide is general information, not legal advice.