![Keith Manch](https://mcusercontent.com/f87e4df3e4e99e9d7eb7b4c7e/images/02e37ca7-40f9-4b8d-b551-00d1b8861773.jpg)
From the Director of Civil Aviation, Keith Manch
Safety and security at the heart of the 'runway to recovery'
As we emerge from a global shutdown, it's never been more important for aviation regulators to ensure they have the correct systems and people in place to maintain safety and security.
At the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), we've worked to maintain, as far as possible, our capability to support safety and security both during the pandemic, and the recovery.
Although many operators have managed to ramp up their operations to satisfy pent-up demand, it takes time to retrain, refresh and recruit staff to get back to 80–90 percent, or even 100 percent, capacity. In doing this sometimes there may be pressures on businesses that could translate into increased risk. This is where the CAA comes into play through our regulatory oversight: audits, inspections, education and communication, interventions and visits from our aviation safety advisors.
We've worked to support aviation participants to maintain standards and to be ready when activity takes off – so that the industry can get back to doing what it does so well – providing passenger, tourism and cargo transport services domestically and internationally.
I'm conscious of the recent news headlines – both domestically and abroad – noting many delays at airports fuelled by air travel resurging and a lack of staff.
In the security area, we maintained a reasonable staffing level by seconding people from our airport operations to work in areas such as the Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities during the pandemic, and bringing them back now borders are opened, and activity is escalating.
The raft of recent public holidays – Easter, the Queen’s Birthday and Matariki long weekends, and just last week, the start of the school holiday season – have highlighted the pressures we’re all under. In all of this, one thing cannot be compromised – aviation safety and security.
Our mandate to enable a safe and secure aviation system has been spelled out very clearly in our recently released (01 July 2022) Statement of Performance Expectations (SPE) (PDF, 1.1 MB). This is a significant document explaining the work we do and how we go about doing it over the next year, for the benefit of New Zealand.
I encourage you to take a moment to read the SPE. I hope you can see the ongoing work we’re doing – and often without a great deal of visibility – is crucial to maintaining and enhancing the aviation system you’re part of.
The SPE is essentially a commitment from us to do the necessary mahi to maintain a safe and secure civil aviation system. It explains the ‘why, what and how’ of our approach, as follows:
The Authority works to ensure the safety and security of New Zealand’s civil aviation system through exercising leadership and influence, active regulatory stewardship, and professional regulatory practice. This supports our vision and purpose of a safe and secure aviation system – so that people are safe, and feel safe, when they fly.
The SPE also sets out the expectations of the Minister of Transport that we focus on aviation safety, security, emerging technology, resilience and security, improving environmental outcomes, financial sustainability, risk and assurance, our organisational culture and the implementation of the new Civil Aviation Bill when passed later this year (see below).
The SPE outlines an ambitious programme of work. It'll be drawing on the skills, experience and motivation of our staff, as well as on the active engagement of aviation participants, to deliver our joint interests.
Keith Manch
Director of Civil Aviation
|
|
The new Civil Aviation Bill
The Civil Aviation Act 1990 (the Act) governs the civil aviation system in New Zealand and sets the overall framework for aviation safety, security and economic regulation.
The Act has not substantially changed since it was enacted. Over the last 30 years, both the aviation sector and the regulatory environment have significantly changed.
The Civil Aviation Bill (the Bill) reflects recommendations from a 2014 review of the Act and the Airport Authorities Act 1966. It will replace both Acts with a single Act and presents an opportunity to deliver a modern and futureproofed Act for the next 30 or more years.
We’ve been involved in the policy decisions and drafting of the Bill. There are several key changes being introduced through the Bill.
Some examples include:
- Protecting some safety information (such as incident reports and information from flight data recorders) from use in prosecutions in order to encourage open and honest reporting.
- Improved drug and alcohol management, including new powers for the Director to undertake non-notified drug and alcohol testing, and a requirement for the Director to approve all drug and alcohol management plans.
- Better integration of unmanned aircraft (drones) into the legislative framework.
- More modernised inspection and investigation powers, and new enforcement tools such as injunctions and enforceable undertakings.
- The introduction of national security considerations in granting aviation documents.
- A requirement to publish a regulatory strategy.
- A new function to provide for independent review of regulatory decisions made by the Director of Civil Aviation (the Director).
Once passed, there is an 18-month window before the new Act commences to allow time for implementation.
|
|
Licensing and certification – please allow time
The licensing and certification teams are experiencing an increased volume of applications to process as the aviation sector rebuilds post COVID-19.
Some people are submitting partially completed forms or using outdated forms. To ensure your application is processed as quickly and easily as possible please submit your application ahead of time, use the correct form and remember to add all the information the team require.
Incomplete applications or applications submitted with an outdated form will not be able to be processed and will be returned to the sender.
See aviation.govt.nz/licensing-and-certification/
Get our latest forms: aviation.govt.nz/about-us/forms/
|
|
Part 149 organisations – taking stock
Aviation recreation organisations – operating under Part 149 – play an important role in the aviation sector. Through their delegated authority they are pivotal in ensuring the safe operation and risk management of a very broad range of aviation activity involving many thousands of participants. Like most of aviation, this sector is not alone in undergoing a huge amount of change as new technology and more sophisticated recreational aircraft are developed.
It was timely that the CAA take stock of this important sector of aviation operations. The Authority commissioned an internal audit by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) to specifically look at how we interact with the sector, provide oversight of the activities involved, support Part 149 organisations, manage risk, and ensure safety.
This report has shown some clear areas of strength, identified some process gaps, and pointed to some areas of work to enhance safety and risk management.
We’re now developing a plan based around the report’s findings. We intend to engage with all Part 149 organisations and will work together to provide a level of safety assurance appropriate to the recreational sector. We’ll keep you up to date as this work progresses.
|
|
Safety by the numbers
We sometimes receive questions about the time it takes to complete an investigation.
When you take a look at the numbers below, you'll realise there's a lot of activity underway. Each of these investigations can require the in-depth work of more than one person, frequent consultation with external parties, interviews with witnesses, scientific testing of component parts, and more.
All these things contribute to the time it takes to complete a thorough investigation and to consult with people affected, and then release a final report.
We also work with other agencies, including the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and the Coroner, to assist them with their own inquiries.
As at end of June:
- 1 Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) investigations open
- 8 regulatory investigations open
- 597 occurrences registered by the CAA in June
- 13 occurrences assigned to Investigation and Response Unit in June
- 22 fatal accident investigations are currently open – 16 are CAA investigations, 6 are TAIC investigations
|
|
Working with another safety regulator
On 06 April 2022 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between us and WorkSafe. The agreement explains how we’ll work together in areas of common interest.
We’ve had a very good working relationship with WorkSafe over past years, ensuring open and transparent collaboration. This agreement will provide support to the joint work that occurs now and provide a useful framework for strengthening our collective efforts in the future.
The new MoU sets out five core outcomes:
- Parties have a clear understanding of each other’s operational boundaries
- Public messaging is coordinated and consistent
- Information, data and intelligence sharing supports effective regulatory operations
- Expertise is shared between the parties in areas of common interest
- Parties are willing and able to support each other in response to an event
WorkSafe is New Zealand’s primary workplace health and safety regulator with an aim of lifting health and safety performance, supporting New Zealanders to return home from work healthy and safe. It has three key roles: regulatory confidence, harm prevention, and system leadership.
We administer the provisions of the Health and Safety Work Act (HSWA) for the aviation sector, with our jurisdiction covering work to prepare an aircraft for imminent flight, work on board an aircraft for the purpose of imminent flight or while in operation; and aircraft as workplaces while in operation. WorkSafe administers HSWA in respect of the aviation sector in all other circumstances.
This is important because it shows why we need to work closely with WorkSafe, the agency with primary responsibility for the legislation.
The new and improved MoU, will support us to carry out our respective functions effectively and efficiently, including working towards the Government’s objectives to improve work health and safety outcomes.
|
|
Stakeholder survey completed
Our research company, Kantar Public, received 1,992 online survey responses to our stakeholder survey and conducted a further 14 in-depth interviews with industry stakeholders. The survey closed in mid-April. The results have been compiled into a detailed report which will be available from our website in early October.
The depth and detail from many of the survey responses will help us with the way we work and engage with you from now on. We will run similar surveys at least every two years and report back on the work we have done in response to what you have told us.
A big thank you to all those who took the time to respond.
|
|
Two new additions to our Leadership Team
Earlier this year we welcomed Andrea Cooke – Deputy Chief Executive, People, Culture and Capability, and Mark Davis – Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate Services.
Andrea joined us from Immigration New Zealand following a career in human resources, people capability and change management roles across the Department of Internal Affairs, Oranga Tamariki and New Zealand Police.
“I’m looking forward to working with the leadership team and our people to continue to shape a positive culture across the Authority where we can work together to deliver our core functions. That means giving our staff the right support and development to make sure we have the capability and capacity to better meet the safety and security needs of the aviation sector, our participants and the public.”
Mark joins us from Te Tari Tiaki Pūngao (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) and has held a range of executive management roles across banking and investments, ICT, finance, and corporate governance. Mark will be leading our Finance, ICT, and Property and Infrastructure Teams.
“As a crucial part of supporting the sector post-COVID, we’ll be ensuring what we, the CAA do, is cost-effective and efficient, but at the same time ensuring a safe and secure aviation system so that people are safe, and feel safe, when they fly."
|
|
Important safety message
Recently the CAA released a safety message (PDF, 1.4 MB) regarding landing accidents and exercising good judgement. Since April, the number of landing accidents has continued to climb with two more, bringing the total up to 14. These are predominantly in the recreational aviation areas.
The safety message noted that these events are frequently the result of poor planning and lack of situational awareness. The accidents are often examples of a pilot deciding, “I will land,” rather than evaluating the conditions, approach path, speeds, heights, landing point, and continually assessing how that approach is looking.
These examples highlight the importance of exercising good judgement; as a pilot, why rush to land? Make room as required for other aircraft and ensure you are happy with the big picture. It is important to remember that the go-around is a normal flight manoeuvre. Practise and use it when the approach isn’t looking right!
Pilot behaviours and skills are often shown to be deficient after these accidents. If you see something that looks dangerous or non-standard, have a conversation with the pilot. This small interaction can make a big difference to another pilot’s attitude.
Since the increase in landing accidents was identified, it presents us all with an opportunity for a timely reminder that the flight is not over until the machine is shut down and everyone is out safely.
|
|
MetService update
The new Meteorology for ATPL Pilots by MetService meteorologist Greg Reeves has now been published, while reprints of updated PPL and CPL manuals are also available – see Meteorology for CPL, PPL & ATPL Pilots for more information.
A recent upgrade of the Milford Aerodrome automatic weather station has enabled full-aviation specification automated aviation weather reporting including cloud base, visibility and present weather. These reports are supplemented by two webcams sited at the aerodrome. The METAR-AUTO reports are available on MetFlight GA and Commercial, and MetJet, while the webcam images are available on MetFlight Commercial and MetJet.
A new full-specification automatic weather station installation is also going ahead at Santoft for the RNZAF.
The validity period of TAFs for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports, along with the TAF for RNZAF Base Ohakea, will be extended from 24 to 30 hrs from 31 August, to meet planning requirements for long-haul flights.
Below: Image from one of the new webcams at Milford
|
|
Volcanic Ash Advisory System
Given the ongoing elevated risk of a Mt Ruapehu eruption, the Authority is taking the opportunity to remind operators of the education and guidance material on the New Zealand Volcanic Ash Advisory System, intended to enable safe operations around our volcanic regions.
Information is available on our website, such as the Good Aviation Practice booklet Flying around volcanoes (PDF, 3.6 MB), a recent Vector article (PDF, 1.4 MB) on the same topic and through the resources in the volcanic hazard section.
In short, if you’re likely to be operating in any volcanic region of New Zealand, keep an eye on NOTAMs and SIGMETs, and consider downloading the GeoNet app and enabling volcano notifications.
|
|
Latest issue of Vector magazine
![Vector](https://mcusercontent.com/f87e4df3e4e99e9d7eb7b4c7e/images/8629334a-960d-e675-e3a7-aa201f5b383e.jpg)
The latest issue of Vector magazine was released in early June 2022. If you didn’t receive a printed copy, you can also access Vector online.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|