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Keith ManchTēnā koutou,

It’s been a busy month since I started in the Director of Civil Aviation role. My initial focus has been on meeting our teams at the Authority, getting up to speed with the issues facing New Zealand’s aviation sector, and engaging with my counterparts at other national aviation authorities as we deal with global issues, such as the return to service of 737 MAX aircraft.

Today I want to share my initial priorities as Director with you, as well as giving you some insight into my views on regulation, and the different sorts of regulatory thinking and problem solving approaches I want to increasingly see from our teams at the Authority.

My early priorities as Director

My first priority is to support the work we are doing to enable our leaders and managers to operate according to the culture that we need to succeed. This is important to ensure we have a safe, respectful workplace, but also has a significant effect on the way our teams interact with our participants and stakeholders.

As regulators we have a wide range of interactions every day with New Zealanders, whether they are pilots, engineers, or passengers travelling through one of our airport screening points. We are working to build a culture where our values inform everything we do – where being professional, respectful, transparent, collaborative and acting with integrity is hardwired into our regulatory practice.

My second priority is around building a clear and common understanding of our purpose and how we need to operate as a modern, integrated safety and security regulatory organisation. This involves ensuring our policies and operational activities are aligned in a way that exemplifies our values. It’s also about reinforcing that our regulatory focus must ultimately be on safety and security outcomes first and foremost. The rules are an important enabler of this, but are just one of many tools we use to influence safety and security in the aviation system.

Much of the aviation regulatory framework is built on prescriptive rules, and indeed some of these are not always fit for purpose. At times the rules will stop someone doing something that is perfectly safe but constitutes a technical breach. This is where it is important for our teams to increasingly use their judgement and discretion about how we continue to enable activity that is safe.

My view is that if we are to live up to our risk-based, intelligence-led mantra our people need to be empowered to apply their judgement and discretion in good faith, use their skills and experience, and draw on good information to enable good outcomes. Even prescriptive rules can often have multiple different interpretations and potential exemptions, and it is important that our teams think creatively about ways to ensure we are focused on achieving the safety and security outcomes we are striving towards.

Finally, our teams at the Authority need to ensure we have the right capability and capacity to work effectively and efficiently. It is important that our people have the resources and systems they need to operate in a timely and responsive manner, and can adapt to rapid changes in technology and our operating environment.

Over coming months I am looking forward to meeting with more of our participants and stakeholders and learning more about the challenges and opportunities currently facing the sector.

I am already seeing a strong determination from operators to operate safely – aviation comes with a long embedded safety culture and this is certainly something worth acknowledging from the outset – although we have different roles, the Authority wants the same safety and security outcomes as operators – we want harm and risks to be well managed and mitigated, and for New Zealand’s skies to be safe and secure.

Ngā mihi
Keith Manch, Director of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive

Simpler option for PPL medical certification coming soon


Private pilots will have a cheaper and more convenient medical option available to them from 5 April. Rule changes take effect on that date to update New Zealand’s medical regime for private pilots.

The rule change means driver licence medical certificates (also known as a DL9) will be able to be used as an alternative to the traditional class 2 medical for private pilot licence (PPL) holders.

DL9 medicals are significantly cheaper than class 2 medicals and are offered by most general practices. Unlike with class 2 medicals there is no charge from the CAA for administering these medical certificates – you simply need to send us a copy to store against your licence in our records.

This rule change and reform of PPL medical standards comes after a lengthy period of review and consultation with private pilots and representative groups.

PPL holders flying on a DL9 medical certificate will be able to exercise most of the privileges of their licence, but there will be some PPL privileges which will remain available only to those with a current class 2 medical, such as IFR and aerobatic ratings.

Significant amendments have been made following the release of the initial NPRM and as a result of the feedback received during the consultation process. Changes in the final rule include allowing PPL holders on a DL9 to fly multi-engine aircraft (up to 2,730 MCTOW), at night (within 25NM of a lit aerodrome), and in pressurised aircraft (but not exceeding 25,000 feet AMSL).

Please see here for a full breakdown of PPL privileges available on DL9 and class 2 medicals.

Pilots flying on a PPL with a DL9 medical will still need to meet all the other conditions of their licence such as a current BFR and having conducted three take offs and landings in the last 90 days if they are carrying passengers.
 

Recreational pilot licence class being retired


As a result of the changes and the acceptance of DL9 medicals for use by PPL holders, the recreational pilot licence (RPL) will be revoked from 5 April. There are currently 195 RPL holders with an active DL9 medical, and these pilots will be automatically issued with a PPL over coming months, if they don’t already hold a PPL.

Pilots with CPL or ATPL licences who have been exercising RPL privileges on a DL9 medical will be able to fly with the extended range of privileges available to PPL holders with a DL9 from 5 April. Please refer to the PPL privileges table for further information.

Current RPL holders should ensure the CAA has their correct contact details to help us to issue them with their PPL in April.

For more information please see the pending update to the Part 61 rule (PDF, 373KB), or feel free to contact our Licensing and Standards team through licensing@caa.govt.nz.
 
 

Managing human performance risks during COVID-impacted conditions

By Matt Harris, Chief Advisor Human Factors

The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic have had and continue to have significant impacts on the aviation industry and some of those impacts will be long lasting. Currently we find ourselves in an unprecedented time of uncertainty. This has highlighted the importance and the need to be aware of, and support, all aspects of the physical and psychological health and wellbeing of all aviation professionals.

People are critical to the successful operation of the aviation system and in order to support their performance and wellbeing, we need to understand what challenges people are facing. The risk to safe operations is that this period of uncertainty, change and disruption presents additional stressors. These may reduce a person’s capacity and ability to perform or monitor themselves as effectively as they would usually. This can impact the effectiveness of the reporting culture within an organisation, a critical element of our evolving aviation system.

It’s OK to not feel OK, but it’s really important that people feel able to speak up so that support can be provided, and situations where fatigue and/or wellbeing could be a risk to safe operations can be identified.

Support is key. Operators/employers should encourage their people to speak with their GP, AME, family, friends, or colleagues and to report any concerns via the standard reporting processes. Operators/employers should take a careful, non-discriminatory approach (with professional HR and medical advice) to their handling of these sensitive matters that ultimately can have negative flight safety outcomes.

Support networks such as the Peer Assistance Network (0800 PAN 100 or www.pan.org.nz) are an important resource to reach out to. The Ministry of Health also provide a raft of mental health and wellbeing resources on their website. In addition, ICAO recently released guidance that focuses on the management of operational safety risks posed by the challenges of flight crew working in the "new normal" of COVID-impacted conditions.

Aviation professionals should also report any safety concerns to the CAA. Improvements can only be made by gaining the valuable information from those people involved. Understanding the impact fatigue, anxiety and low mental and physical health is having on aviation professionals can help improve the management of these risks in the future.

To help mitigate the risks in the present, take time to think about what worked well previously and what strategies can be continued or reintroduced to ensure operations continue safely.

For more information on human factors visit the CAA Human Factors webpages.
 
 

Recruitment underway for the DCE Aviation Safety role


Do you know someone who could be our next Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Aviation Safety?

Recruitment for this key position at the Authority is currently underway, following the resignation of the previous DCE.

We’re looking for an experienced senior leader, ready to take on responsibility for leading the delivery of a wide range of regulatory functions which keep people safe in New Zealand’s skies. These functions include the work of our Certification, Investigation and Response, Licensing and Standards, and Monitoring and Inspection teams.

As a member of our Authority Leadership Team, the DCE Aviation Safety also plays a leadership role in our work to build a respectful and inclusive workplace culture, and helps inform the development of our regulatory policies and systems.

For more information, visit www.aviation.govt.nz/careers. Applications close 19 March 2021.
 


ADS-B already improving New Zealand aviation safety


The rules relating to using ADS-B in all controlled airspace came into force on 8 February. These rules set the date that use of ADS-B in controlled airspace becomes mandatory - 31 December 2022. This is a full year beyond the previously proposed date, with the relief being provided due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects felt by the whole sector.

We have received several accounts recently of pilots utilising their combined ADS-B OUT and IN suites to safely and efficiently deconflict from other aircraft also using ADS-B. In addition to pre-emptive deconfliction, it has long been recognised that situational enhancers like ADS-B IN improve the effectiveness of pilots’ lookouts by making those aircraft on the system easier to acquire, thus leaving more time to scan for unknowns.

We encourage owner/operators to consider both ADS-B OUT and IN for the significant safety benefits in ALL airspace, not just what will be mandated beyond 31 December 2022.  However, to avoid a bottleneck in workshops the closer we get to the mandate, we recommend securing an installation space as soon as possible.
 

Financial assistance still available for ADS-B installs


Don’t forget that the ADS-B Grant Scheme is available to assist owner/operators financially with equipping with ADS-B. Up to $2500 + GST is available for installing ADS-B OUT, and a further $500 + GST for ADS-B IN. Even if you are yet to equip, you can still apply to enter the scheme if you are planning to equip within the next 12 months. Visit the ADS-B Grant Scheme web page for more information.
 
 

Regional Air Traffic Services Review


Prompted by an Airways NZ Ltd review of air traffic services at seven regional aerodromes, CAA Aeronautical Services is continuing to work through the assessment and evaluation of aeronautical studies submitted by the associated aerodromes to determine if the provision of ATS is still appropriate at these locations.

So far the team has received two aeronautical studies – those relating to the proposed withdrawal of service from Invercargill Airport and Milford Sound Piopiotahi Aerodrome. We anticipate receiving the remaining aeronautical studies in coming weeks.

The assessment of the aeronautical studies includes a period of consultation with aerodrome and airspace stakeholders and other interested parties. This is followed by an independent regulatory assessment of any conclusions and/or recommendations made within the study, with specific emphasis on the status of air traffic services provided.

We will continue to update stakeholders as this process continues.
 


Welcome to ICAO’s ‘Year of security culture’

The International Civil Aviation Organisation has designated 2021 as the Year of Security Culture, seeking to encourage and support enhanced security practices and behaviours.

In announcing the year’s focus, ICAO Secretary General Dr Fang Liu emphasised the importance of everybody playing their part in fostering a mature security culture:

“From industry leaders to frontline workers, and from taxi drivers to those working in airport retail outlets, everyone should be engaged as security is everyone’s responsibility.”

When it comes to security, it is often simple things that make a big difference, such as checking people’s identification, ensuring access is well controlled to secure areas, and that people are encouraged to speak up about security issues or incidents.

Throughout the year we will be putting a strong focus on security culture, and will be providing information about different types of risks, physical security policies, and advice on how to embed positive security behaviours in aviation organisations.

We will also be working within the Authority to build greater awareness and understanding of how security plays a vital role in fostering trust and confidence in New Zealand’s aviation sector.

Keep an eye out for more information on the CAA website and in the next edition of Vector.
 



Must-read new Vector Online stories for owners and maintainers of radial-powered aircraft


Sometimes there’s just not enough room to fit all the stories we want into an edition of our safety magazine Vector.

That’s why you’ll see us publishing an increasing number of ‘Vector Online’ stories over the next few months.

These are fantastic stories which we would feature in the print edition of Vector if only we had a bit more room!

In February we published two Vector Online stories which will be of particular interest to the owners and maintainers of radial-powered aircraft.

These stories were both written by one of our airworthiness inspectors, Brendan Odell, and run through some of the pitfalls and quirks of radial engines, as well as tips on how to keep these older engines going. Read them both here:  
 

Online licensing payments now available


Online payments are now available for Part 61, 65 and 66 licence applications and amendments.

Please note: This service is for payments only. Licence applications will still need to be emailed or posted, with reference made to the receipt number that you’ll be issued on completion of successful payment.

Please follow the instructions in the online payment portal. We suggest that you fill out the licence application first, then ensure your payment selections align with what you are entitled to, and are applying for.
 
 

Upcoming safety education workshops


Our next safety education workshop sessions are coming up in March 2021. Many of these are already fully booked, but we have more planned for May 2021.

To find out more, check out the links below.  
 

Recent news and reports from the Authority

 
 

Updated CAA contact details now online


And finally, this week we updated the Contact Us page on our Aviation.govt.nz website.

Find our updated contact details here.
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