The Cook Islands’ capacity for cutting-edge environmental monitoring and national infrastructure survey work received a significant boost in October 2025, with a cohort of government staff, including the National Environment Service’s (NES) Sandee Cook and Benjamin Maxwell, successfully completing an intensive two-week Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Training and Certification programme.
The training was coordinated by the Pacific Community (SPC) and Climate Change Cook Islands (CCCI), with technical delivery by Fenix UAS and support from the CIS-PAC5 Project and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The course was designed to elevate local expertise in operating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, under the stringent requirements of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Rules (NZCAR) and Cook Islands Civil Aviation Rules (CICAR) Part 101 and Part 102, which govern flights in controlled or complex airspace. This certification is essential for the effective deployment of the Government’s new survey-grade UAV system, the Trinity Pro, to support monitoring, mapping, and infrastructure development initiatives across the Cook Islands.
The Training combined a week of remote-delivered theory with a week of hands-on practical flight exercises. Participants, representing agencies including ICI, EMCI, MOT, CCCI, MET, and NES, gained knowledge in aviation rules, flight safety protocols, and advanced UAV operations. The practical sessions focused on control skills, flight planning, and the operation of the Trinity Pro system, preparing the pilots to safely manage future survey missions.
