From the Director of Civil Aviation, Keith Manch
In February this year I had the pleasure of leaving the office on consecutive Fridays to:
- Attend the final day of the Flying New Zealand National Champs and the Awards Dinner, at the very impressive Omaka Aerodrome and Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, and;
- Along with the Chair of CAA’s Board, and senior representatives of the CAA and the Ministry of Transport, go to Kaitorete Spit (southwest of Banks Peninsula) to visit Tāwhaki’s operation. Tāwhaki is a joint venture partnership between Kaitorete Limited (representing Wairewa Rūnanga and Te Taumutu Rūnanga) and the Crown to create enduring opportunities and achieve positive outcomes for the whenua at Kaitorete, and for whānau, hapū and the wider community. It has a dual kaupapa to heal and rejuvenate the unique whenua at Kaitorete, and advance Aotearoa’s aerospace industry.
These experiences highlight the breadth of aviation activity in New Zealand, but more importantly, the passion that participants in aviation have for traditional and emerging forms of aviation, and how it contributes to our social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being.
The Heritage Centre is one of New Zealand’s golden nuggets for appreciating historic aircraft and sharing the stories of the men and women behind the machines. The National Champs bring together generations of aviation enthusiasts, with those generations appearing together on the podium to receive awards for everything from aerobatics to navigation. It also celebrates Young Eagles – our future leaders in aviation.
Tāwhaki also reflects a commitment to history and the future - Kaitorete Spit was formed 7000 years ago and is the home to threatened plants and animals. It is now also a home of New Zealand’s aviation future. Tāwhaki’s dual kaupapa reflects respect for the past and the future, in a uniquely New Zealand way.
Engagements like these are central to our role as an independent regulator – and personally they are stimulating and enjoyable opportunities. We are always seeking to engage to understand how aviation is happening and developing. This helps us meet our primary goal of ensuring aviation activities are safe and secure, and, as far as possible in this context, support and facilitate all participants to meet their goals.
Thanks to Rodney Maas and the Flying New Zealand team, and to Linda Falwasser and the Tāwhaki Board and team, for the opportunity to spend some time with you.
Keith Manch
Director of Civil Aviation
|
|
Civil Aviation Bill passes third reading
We’re delighted to share that the Civil Aviation Bill successfully passed its third reading in Parliament in late March. It’s important to note that the Bill provides for a 24-month transition period before the new Civil Aviation Act comes into force. This means that nothing changes immediately, and our current Act will continue to apply for a good while yet.
The new Act will modernise our legislative framework to take account of significant changes in the aviation and regulatory environment since our current Act came into force in 1990. This includes rapid technological changes, a heightened and more dynamic security context, environmental concerns, and evolved thinking around the role and approach of modern regulators.
While the Act will introduce some welcome changes to help the Authority and sector keep better pace with our operating environment, it also recognises that our fundamental regulatory underpinnings are sound. We will continue our work to protect and enable a safe and secure aviation system.
Here are a few examples of what the new Act will contain:
- Provision for new drug and alcohol management plans and associated random testing of workers performing safety sensitive activities.
- New powers for authorities to respond to drones being flown in a dangerous way.
- A framework to allow New Zealand to meet our internal aviation emissions obligations.
- New powers for the Transport Minister to make new rules about national security risks within the aviation system.
- New independent review process relating to decisions made by the Director of Civil Aviation.
We’ll be working closing with Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport and system users over the next two years to make sure everyone knows exactly what is changing and when.
You can keep up to date with progress on the Te Manatū Waka website.
|
|
CAA response to recent weather events
The CAA was heavily involved in the aviation response to both the Auckland floods in January that saw Auckland International Airport temporarily closed, and Cyclone Gabrielle, which destroyed parts of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne.
For both natural disasters, we had a representative in the Transport Response Task Group, which ensured we were representing aviation safety and security interests, and the right information was getting to the right people.
Summary of Auckland floods response
The CAA engaged with Auckland Airport about two occurrences – firstly the incident involving runway lights and an aircraft and then the subsequent flooding of the airport terminal and surrounding areas.
The runway lights incident is subject to a TAIC investigation.
Summary of Cyclone Gabrielle response
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) were the lead agency for the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne response initially. One of our Aeronautical Services team was the liaison between FENZ and CAA – this was a critically important role as we had established via NOTAM a restricted airspace in those regions. The restricted airspace was in place for a week, and was essential to allow the smooth coordination of emergency and rescue flights being made by fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
The CAA had two staff – Mark Houston in Napier and Neil Dodds in Gisborne – acting as the aviation liaisons on the ground. Having people located in the affected regions helped enormously with the coordination of flights and ensuring the safety of the airspace everyone was operating in.
The aviation industry played a pivotal role in the initial rescue effort and subsequent recovery activities; the hard work and professionalism demonstrated by all the pilots and crews involved is worthy of note.
|
|
Non-passenger screening (NPS) update
NPS is a separate and distinct layer of security that seeks to prevent acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation.
Any non-passenger (e.g. airport worker, contractor), together with their items carried, and vehicles prior to entering, or while within the Security Enhanced Area (SEA), may be subject to screening and other security controls. These are to ensure they are authorised to enter and remain in the SEA, and that they are not carrying prohibited items which could be used to carry out or facilitate an act of unlawful interference.
The Authority have been working closely with industry over the last year to enhance NPS and ensure it achieves the intended security outcomes.
This has resulted in improvements around how NPS is delivered and remains an ongoing priority for the Authority. AvSec, as the Authority’s aviation security deliverer, has been working closely with our security designated airports to assess our biggest areas of risk, and how we can continue to strengthen NPS, and how as airports continue to grow, these changes remain sustainable. Some of the changes include additional NPS screening points, along with a change in how screening is delivered.
This has had a significant flow on effect to security culture at our airports, and has reinforced the importance of working together as an airport community to achieve positive security outcomes. The level of collaboration (me mahi tahi) between airport partners has been overwhelmingly positive and demonstrates our commitment to professional regulatory practice.
|
|
Dangerous goods course
We're running dangerous goods (DG) courses throughout New Zealand to provide training and qualification for the carriage of DG.
The two-day course is targeted particularly at Part 135 and 137 operators who carry DG as part of their normal business, and is applicable to all personnel involved in the handing of DG.
Private pilots and other commercial operators also require DG training and should consider attending.
Topics include:
- carriage of DG for passengers and crew
- carriage of DG under exceptions contained in Part 92 and the ICAO Technical Instructions
- carriage of DG as cargo including packing, shipping, and accepting DG.
The course is not designed for personnel who want to be DG specialists, rather it is designed for operators who carry common DG items as listed in AC92-2.
The course is a significant step up from previous DG awareness courses in the knowledge and skills required to handle DG safely and in compliance with Civil Aviation Rules and ICAO Technical Instructions.
A certificate of qualification in accordance with CAR 92.203 will be presented on successful completion of the course.
Events
- Christchurch (CAA office, Christchurch Airport) - 11-12 Apr 2023
- Christchurch (CAA office, Christchurch Airport) - 13-14 Apr 2023
- Queenstown (Copthorne Queenstown Lakefront) - 06-07 May 2023
- Queenstown (Copthorne Queenstown Lakefront) - 08-09 May 2023
Register for one of the workshop dates above via our online payments portal. Go to 'education courses and workshops' and follow the prompts.
Workshop fee
The workshop fee is $375 including GST. Accommodation and travel costs are your responsibility, but morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are provided.
Health, safety, and wellbeing
Only attend if you're physically well and free from any obvious symptoms of infectious illness, such as cough, cold, sore throat or fever.
If you have any symptoms that could be COVID-19, but you're otherwise well, please conduct a rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to the workshop to confirm you're COVID-free.
Questions
Email certification@caa.govt.nz if you have any questions about the DG course.
|
|
ADS-B Grant Scheme
The ADS-B Grant Scheme will be wrapping up on 30 June 2023.
The CAA led, government backed, scheme has been running since March 2019, and with the ADS-B mandate in place since the end of 2022, the scheme is now coming to an end. There is still plenty of time to apply, but please be aware that an ADS-B installation must be complete, the aircraft is flying and operating the ADS-B system (to allow detection of acceptable ADS-B data by Airways), and a claim has been submitted before 30 June 2023 to be eligible to receive a grant.
Additionally, if an aircraft has already claimed a grant for ADS-B OUT, it can still claim for an ADS-B IN installation if it has recently upgraded. And don’t forget - as of 31 December 2022, it was mandatory for all aircraft entering controlled airspace to be ADS-B equipped and transmitting acceptable ADS-B data.
As of the start of March 2023, there has been 2,742 applications and 2,117 claims processed so far, worth approximately $5.9M. There are still plenty of funds available, so get in as soon as possible to reserve your funds.
If you have any general inquiries about ADS-B and the application process, please email adsb.grants@caa.govt.nz, and for any technical inquiries please email adsb@caa.govt.nz.
|
|
Emerging Technologies Unit
Before Christmas 2022, the CAA indicated we would be setting up a foundational Emerging Technologies Unit (ETU). That has been accomplished and the ETU team has started work.
The ETU is a coordinating bridge between CAA regulatory functions and our emerging technologies aerospace and aviation stakeholders, to provide the most effective ongoing interface possible. In addition, ETU will research and develop new and improved processes for the CAA to use internally, all with the aim of enabling the safe and effective integration of emerging technologies into the civil aviation system.
The team is the initial touchpoint for novel aviation system entrants and will collaborate with industry to help facilitate mature applications that can be progressed.
To support this, a new Emerging Aviation Technologies section of the Authority website has been launched.
This includes a portal by which innovators can contact the ETU directly and receive a speedy response.
|
|
Intelligence team developments
The Authority has a strategic objective of being an intelligence-led and risk-based regulator. In support of this we have developed our intelligence operating model and put in place a new structure to deliver that model.
This has involved the creation of two new teams – Information, Research and Analytics, and Regulatory Intelligence – drawing on the skills and experience we already had in the organisation, and we anticipate filling some new specialist roles in this area by 1 May 2023.
The aim of these two teams is to deliver enhanced information services and systems, and provide actionable intelligence products that identify risks and provide a nuanced understanding of the aviation operating environment. This will support us to work more effectively across the organisation and the industry in support of safe and secure aviation.
|
|
Reminder: check your contact and aircraft ownership details are up-to-date for end of the financial year
As the end of the 2022/23 financial year approaches, we ask operators and owners to ensure the details we hold are correct. If you need to update your details or aircraft registration, please use these links:
Questions can be emailed to aircraftregistrar@caa.govt.nz.
Also, a friendly reminder that Registration fee and participation levy payments are invoiced in July 2023, so it is important aircraft ownership details are correct then.
|
|
Digital campaigns
In December 2022, we started two digital safety and security campaigns on social media and Google.
The first topic was how batteries can be taken on a commercial aircraft. This was in response to batteries being the #1 item that is relinquished from passenger bags by AvSec - 190,000+ were removed in 2022. Over the last twelve months, we had received an increase in the number of powerbanks, AirPods and hearing aid chargers being removed because they were in checked rather than carry-on bags, as per lithium battery carriage rules.
The second campaign was part of a wider industry campaign about passengers being prepared to fly over summer – as it was predicted to be an exceptionally busy travel period. Auckland Airport, Customs and MPI ran their own versions of external communications but we were all agreed on using similar messaging.
Both campaigns have seen significant success in the digital space, and in February we refreshed the ads and extended their run until end of April 2023.
Metrics:
- The Battery campaign created overall website visits (CAA website) to jump from 27K to over 64K (135% increase), and the Screening campaign helped drive traffic from 7K to 20K (181% increase) over the holiday months.
- The Battery campaign reached over 376k Facebook and Instagram users.
- The Battery ads reached 49k people on Google and from that, 31% of those people clicked through to the website – this is a huge amount, given Google usually sees a conversion rate of 1.97%.
- The Screening campaign ads were popular as they were animated. The ad people clicked through the most was a combination ad of laptops and laced up shoes.
- To support the Screening campaign we issued this press release – Most common items Aviation Security removes from passenger bags – and Karen Urwin from AvSec was interviewed by media outlets, including Radio New Zealand and More FM.
These are examples of the ads that ran Dec/Jan/Feb.
![](https://mcusercontent.com/f87e4df3e4e99e9d7eb7b4c7e/images/809864fb-1fb1-5a19-98a9-24c068b7dccb.jpg)
|
|
Safety education publications update
Our safety education team has been busy updating some core educational publications.
Revised Good Aviation Practice (GAP) booklets:
Revised poster:
Download digital copies or order printed copies here.
Vector magazine (Autumn issue):
Our Autumn issue of Vector magazine rolled out in early March 2023. If you didn’t receive a printed copy, read a digital one here:
The Winter issue will be out in early June 2023.
In the meantime, check out our online Vector articles: Vector Online
|
|
News in brief
- Joe Hall has joined the Aviation Safety Group as Chief Advisor Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA). Joe will be responsible for establishing and building the HSWA capability for our people across the organisation.
- At the end of last year, Dr Dougal Watson retired from the CAA. Recruitment for the PMO position will occur shortly. Dr Claude Preitner will continue as Acting PMO in the meantime.
- This year Aviation Security will be installing and operating new x-ray machines at its screening points throughout New Zealand. The new machines are Smiths Detection HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX computed tomography (CT) x-ray machines. The HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX meets international regulatory requirements in both the USA and EU and ensures the highest level of security.
- Reminder to sign up to our email notifications service alerting you to changes relating to rules, airspace, and airworthiness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|