New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority

The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) is a Crown entity that exists to promote safety and security in civil aviation.

The aviation industry in New Zealand includes:

• More than 14,000 licenced pilots, engineers, and air traffic controllers;
• Nearly 550 aviation operators, such as airlines, aerodromes, flying schools, and maintenance organisations;
• Nearly 4500 registered aircraft.

The CAA is governed by a five-member board appointed by the Minister of Transport to represent public interest in civil aviation.

How the CAA Works

In New Zealand’s civil aviation system, every participant shares a responsibility for safety and security. The CAA does not oversee every flight. Aviation organisations, pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and aircraft owners are each responsible for meeting the statutory safety and security standards.

The Civil Aviation Rules set the minimum standards for entering, and operating within, the system. It is in the best interests of all aviation participants to perform to a standard above the minimum.

The Rules are developed in consultation with the aviation community and apply to the:

• Licensing of pilots, maintenance engineers, and air traffic controllers;
• Certification of aircraft and parts;
• Certification of organisations to carry out aviation activities such as airlines, tourist flight operators, maintenance companies, and air traffic control;
• Quality assurance systems that operators are required to use for operations and maintenance.

An individual or organisation must be granted an aviation document by the Director of Civil Aviation in order to operate within the civil aviation system.

The CAA conducts surveillance to ensure the standards in the Rules are being met, and the Director can remove a participant from the system, or impose conditions, if they operate outside the Rules.

Some accidents and serious incidents are investigated by the CAA in order to learn what happened and prevent a recurrence. Data collected on accidents and incidents is analysed to identify trends. The CAA also produces a range of safety publications and runs safety seminars for the aviation community to promote safety and raise awareness.