Government advice on COVID-19 and CAA information about continuing to operate as an aviation participant.
Government COVID-19 website(external link)
28 May 2020
Just a reminder to make your booking and renew your medical certificate 'soon as'. Don't wait until the COVID-19 provisions expire. Remember Medical Examiners have other patients as well, so make your appointment early.
A current Emergency Directive allows medical certificates with expiry dates between 26 March 2020 and 23 June 2020 to remain in force until 24 June 2020. But we anticipate that MEs will be extremely busy on or around the 23 June.
The Ministry of Health have advised that you can see your ME for an aviation medical examination under Alert Level 2, so what are you waiting for?
19 May 2020
This exemption extends the normal instrument rating currency requirements of CAR 61.807(a)(2) from 3 months to a maximum of 6 months. The exemption only applies to those pilots whose 3-month IR currency has lapsed or will lapse between 15 March 2020 and 30 July 2020. It anticipates the requirements of pilots needing to operate under IFR as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, and to ensure the currency of IR flight instructors and flight examiners to conduct essential currency checks for pilots whose currency lapsed before 15 March 2020.
The extension of currency is for 3 months or until 31 July 2020, whichever comes first. It’s recommended that when COVID-19 restrictions allow, IR pilots should aim to regain currency as soon as is reasonably practical. The granting of the extension is automatic and pilots do not need to apply to the CAA.
Any specific IR currency requirements under Parts 121, 125 and 135 are not covered by the exemption and must still be met. This exemption may be reviewed in light of any future fluctuations in COVID-19 restrictions.
20/EXE/113 Exemption from the requirement in Civil Aviation Rule 61.807(a)(2) [PDF 174 KB]
14 May 2020
For those pilots currently operating with a currency extension issued under this exemption, FAQs have been updated to include advice for those undertaking renewals now allowed by level 2, and confirms the start date that will be applied for the new currency period.
This exemption applies to those people required by Civil Aviation Rule Parts 61, 63, 65, 115, 121, 125, 135 and 137 to maintain currency of their licences and ratings, including those operating overseas under foreign authority validation, and have a flight review, proficiency check or rating that has expired or expires between 15 March 2020 and 24 June 2020. The exemption gives a 3-month extension from the original date of expiry of the licence, rating or operational competency review, within which period the privileges of that licence, rating or operational competency review may continue to be exercised. The 3-month currency extension applies automatically and no application to the CAA is required. A further extension may be considered in due course if Level 3 and 4 COVID restrictions remain in force for an extended period of time.
FAQs on the exemption to licence and rating currency requirements [PDF 41 KB] (updated 14 May 2020)
28 Apr 2020
Continuing Airworthiness Notice 05-011 and the related application form have been revised for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
24091-C19 Application for operation or maintenance of an aircraft during COVID-19 restrictions
22 Apr 2020
The government is now allowing some flying – but only that which is authorised by the CAA. Vector Online has been speaking to CAA specialists about what to do before taking an essential maintenance flight.
21 Apr 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions have had, as the Flight Safety Foundation says, "a previously unimaginable impact on our industry … if you are not feeling well, or in control, or you think you are not coping, congratulations, you are normal!"
21 Apr 2020
Due to the high volume of requests received for authorisation under CAN 05-011, the CAA cannot answer telephone enquiries on the status of individual applications. We are processing them on a first-in first-served basis, but prioritising applications from commercial operators. Your patience is appreciated, especially as staff are working from home.
Please use airworthiness@caa.govt.nz for all these applications (they are registered and tracked).
Here's a direct link to the form: 24091-C19 Application for operation or maintenance of an aircraft during COVID-19 restrictions
20 Apr 2020 (document dated 17 Apr 2020)
The carriage of cargo in an airliner passenger cabin
20 Apr 2020
Continuing Airworthiness Notice 05-011 Continuing Airworthiness of Aircraft in reduced operation due to COVID-19 Restrictions
CAA form 24091-C19 Application for operation or maintenance of an aircraft during COVID-19 restrictions
19 Apr 2020
The Director General of Health has approved the maintenance of aircraft under COVID-19 alert level 4 and other alert levels.
The CAA has been working for some time on an implementation plan to help facilitate this approval and will contact operators, and update this website, with full details Monday afternoon 20 April 2020.
Interim advice from the Ministry of Transport:
17 Apr 2020
We encourage aviation companies to read a new document published by the Flight Safety Foundation, visit: COVID-19 Safety Toolkits(external link).
The PDF document is titled ‘Pandemic: Non-medical operational safety aspects, supplemental materials'. Consider how it applies to your business.
It can be used as an aid to help identify new and emerging aviation risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and guide your decision-making. The ‘road map’ is divided into three sections that consider continuing, reducing, ending, and re-establishing operations. Each section is further split into the following topics:
15 Apr 2020
The CAA is aware of many participants’ concerns about the continuing airworthiness of their aircraft during level 4. We know this is particularly worrying to non-essential services and recreational pilots.
We’re working with the Ministry of Transport on a solution. We think this will involve some form of prioritisation, which as yet is undefined. Any solution will also need to ensure the level 4 public health, and health and safety, controls are maintained.
We’ll update this information as soon as we can. In the meantime, unless you are an essential service, please fully abide by the level 4 requirements. It will help keep us all safe and well.
09 Apr 2020
This page outlines the steps required to revalidate a lapsed New Zealand CPL or ATPL, taking into account the Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions.
Restoring a lapsed CPL or ATPL
27 Mar 2020
This Emergency Directive is issued in response to the situation created by COVID-19, and in particular, the increase to Level 4 of the COVID-19 alert system from 11:59 Wednesday 25 March 2020. This Emergency Directive is necessary to provide relief from certain requirements of Civil Aviation Rule Parts 61.35, 63.23 and 65.25, without compromising civil aviation safety.
Emergency Directive: Expiration of Medical Certificates [PDF 468 KB]
Emergency Directive frequently asked questions [PDF 226 KB]
CAA COVID-19 regulatory relief package
What we are doing to support you (26 Mar 2020, updated 05 and 07 Apr 2020, and 12 Jun 2020)
Overseas simulator training during government-imposed travel restrictions [PDF 55 KB] (26 Mar 2020 Rev 1)
20/EXE/56 Exemption from the requirements in Civil Aviation Rules, Parts 61, 63, 65, 115, 121, 135 and 137 [PDF 207 KB] (30 Mar 2020)
20/EXE/55 Part 92 Carriage of Dangerous Goods, rule 92.205 - Recurrent dangerous goods training (23 Mar 2020)
20/EXE/54 Part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules, rule 91.101(a)(1)(ii) - AEA modified isolation pod (Amendment #1 dated 23 Apr 2020 extends to 19 Sep 2020)
