How to apply for, renew, or amend an agricultural aircraft operator certificate

Our Certification teams are consistently carrying heavy workloads and because of this, you can expect delays with your application(s). To help us process your application smoother, please plan ahead, get applications in early, ensure that your applications are on the current (not outdated) forms, and that they’re complete with all appropriate information.

All agricultural aircraft operators must hold a certificate under the:

Civil Aviation Act 2023, s8 application for aviation document and s9 grant or renewal of aviation document
Civil Aviation Rules, Part 137 Agricultural aircraft operations

The assessment process takes time. How long depends on the complexity of your operation and the accuracy of the information you provide. Make sure your application form and documents are complete because we’ll only start our assessment once they are.

CAA forms

Advisory circulars

It’s useful to contact us before submitting your application, so we can discuss your proposed operation and the application and assessment process. Early engagement also helps us to plan and schedule the assessment.

Application for the issue of an agricultural aircraft operator certificate

1. Use 24137-01ISSUE to apply

Email us your completed application for issue and documents to certification@caa.govt.nz

You have to submit your application at least 90 days before the proposed start date of your operation, but our assessment can take longer.

No payment is required at the time you apply. We’ll invoice you during and at the end of the assessment for CAA’s hours taken at the CAA standard hourly rate.

2. Documents required for your type of operation

You must also email us the documents below (if required for your type of operation) with your application for issue.

If your operation is a registered company, incorporated society, or limited partnership

Companies Office certificate of incorporation

Types of operation

Documented procedures for:
- Wand spraying
- Agricultural pilot training
- Agricultural pilot competency checks

Senior persons (fit and proper person (FPP) requirements) ⓘ

For each senior person, either FPP questionnaire or FPP declaration, and the information required
For a proposed new chief pilot, a completed 24137-02 [DOCX 223 KB] Part 137 nomination of chief pilot

See the table below about which FPP form to use and the information required. Note: The government agency reports can take 8 weeks or more to get.

Also check your proposed senior persons meet the qualifications and experience requirements of Part 137 Appendix C.

FPP form to use	Information required
24FPP questionnaire must be completed by a senior person: who is a new senior person, or if their last FPP questionnaire is dated more than 5 years ago, or if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago, but their FPP questionnaire information and required information has changed	CV Proof of identify Proof of address for service Criminal conviction check (Ministry of Justice) Traffic safety offence history report (Waka Kotahi)
24FPPDEC declaration is completed by a senior person if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago and their FPP questionnaire information and required information hasn’t changed ⓘ	Updated CV

FPP form to use

Information required

24FPP questionnaire must be completed by a senior person:

who is a new senior person, or
if their last FPP questionnaire is dated more than 5 years ago, or
if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago, but their FPP questionnaire information and required information has changed

CV
Proof of identify
Proof of address for service
Criminal conviction check (Ministry of Justice)
Traffic safety offence history report (Waka Kotahi)

24FPPDEC declaration is completed by a senior person if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago and their FPP questionnaire information and required information hasn’t changed ⓘ

Updated CV

Operator safety management documentation

Proposed safety management documentation (which can be one document with sections or separate documents), setting out the information required by rule 137.160, including for your system of safety management under rule 100.3

Read advisory circular AC100-1 Safety management.

Rule checklists

Completed 24137-06 [DOCX 205 KB] Part 137 safety management rule checklist
Completed 24092-02DG [DOCX 220 KB] Part 92 carriage of dangerous goods rule checklist

It's important to keep your rule checklists up-to-date to support your renewal and amendment applications.

3. Prepare for a site inspection

Make sure your documents are available and up-to-date and senior persons are available to be interviewed. Your senior persons must fully understand the functions and duties of their role and your organisation’s safety management documentation.

Application for the renewal of an agricultural aircraft operator certificate

1. Use 24137-01RENEWAL to apply

Email us your completed application for renewal and documents to certification@caa.govt.nz

You have to submit your renewal application at least 60 days before the expiry date on your current certificate, but our assessment can take longer.

No payment is required at the time you apply. We’ll email you invoices during and at the end of the assessment for CAA’s hours taken at the CAA standard hourly rate.

2. Documents required for proposed amendments

You must also email us the documents below for proposed amendments (if required for your type of operation) with your application for renewal.

If your operation is a registered company, incorporated society, or limited partnership and the legal name has changed

Companies Office certificate of incorporation

Types of operation

Your documented procedures (highlight or Track Change proposed amendments) for:
- Wand spraying
- Agricultural pilot training
- Agricultural pilot competency checks

Senior persons (fit and proper person (FPP) requirements) ⓘ

For each senior person, either a completed FPP questionnaire or FPP declaration, and information required
For a proposed new chief pilot, a completed 24137-02 [DOCX 223 KB] Part 137 nomination of chief pilot

See the tables below about which FPP form to use and the information required. Note: The government agency reports can take 8 weeks or more to get.

Also check your proposed senior persons meet the qualifications and experience requirements of Part 137 Appendix C.

24FPP questionnaire must be completed by a senior person:	Information required
who is a new senior person, or if their last FPP questionnaire is dated more than 5 years ago, or if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago, but their FPP questionnaire information and required information has changed	CV Proof of identify Proof of address for service Criminal conviction check (Ministry of Justice) Traffic safety offence history report (Waka Kotahi)

24FPPDEC declaration is completed by a senior person if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago and their FPP questionnaire information and required information hasn’t changed, AND either: ⓘ	Information required
there’s no change to their functions and duties, or	N/A
you propose to amend their functions and duties	Updated CV

Operator safety management documentation

Your proposed safety management documentation (highlight or Track Change proposed amendments)

Note:

You can use 24137-07 [DOCX 205 KB] Part 137 safety management documentation amendment summary sheet to assess if your proposed amendments affect your approval specifications or require CAA’s prior acceptance.
Your safety management documentation (which can be one document or separate documents), sets out the information required by rule 137.160, including for your system of safety management under rule 100.3. Read advisory circular AC100-1 Safety management.

Rule checklists

Completed rule checklists (highlight or Track Change proposed amendments and any changes since the issue of your last certificate):
- 24137-06 [DOCX 205 KB] Part 137 safety management rule checklist
- 24092-02DG [DOCX 220 KB] Part 92 carriage of dangerous goods rule checklist

It’s important to keep your rule checklists up-to-date to support ongoing compliance and renewal applications.

3. Prepare for a site inspection

Make sure your documents are available and up-to-date, and that senior persons are available to be interviewed. Your senior persons must fully understand the functions and duties of their role and your organisation’s safety management documentation.

Application to amend an agricultural aircraft operator certificate

1. Use 24137-01AMENDMENT to apply

Email us your completed amendment application form and documents to certification@caa.govt.nz

You’ll need to do so well before the proposed amendment is to apply.

Use 24137-07 [DOCX 205 KB] Part 137 agricultural aircraft operator safety management documentation amendment summary sheet to assess if you need to complete the amendment form.

If your certificate is due to expire, consider including the amendment details in your renewal application, rather than using this form.

No payment is required at the time you apply. We’ll invoice you during and at the end of the assessment for CAA’s hours taken at the CAA standard hourly rate.

2. Documents required for proposed amendments

You must also email us the documents below for proposed amendments (if required for your type of operation) with your completed application for amendment.

If your operation is a registered company, incorporated society, or limited partnership and the legal name has changed

Companies Office certificate of incorporation

Types of operation

Your documented procedures (highlight or Track Change proposed amendments) for:
- Wand spraying
- Agricultural pilot training
- Agricultural pilot competency checks

Senior persons (fit and proper person (FPP) requirements) ⓘ

For a proposed new senior person or proposed amendment to a current senior person’s functions and duties, either a completed FPP questionnaire or FPP declaration, and information required
For a proposed new chief pilot, a completed 24137-02 [DOCX 223 KB] Part 137 nomination of chief pilot

See the tables below about which FPP form to use and the information required. Note: The government agency reports can take 8 weeks or more to get.

Also check your proposed senior persons meet the qualifications and experience requirements of Part 137 Appendix C.

24FPP questionnaire must be completed by a proposed senior person:	Information required
who is a new senior person, or if their last FPP questionnaire dated more than 5 years ago, or if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago, but their FPP questionnaire information and required information has changed	CV Proof of identify Proof of address for service Criminal conviction check (Ministry of Justice) Traffic safety offence history report (Waka Kotahi)

24FPPDEC declaration is completed by a proposed senior person if their last FPP questionnaire is dated less than 5 years ago, and the FPP questionnaire information and required information hasn’t changed, AND either: ⓘ	Information required
there’s no change to their functions and duties, or	N/A
you propose to amend their functions and duties	Updated CV

Operator safety management documentation

Your proposed safety management documentation:
- Sections amended (if one document) and highlight or Track Change proposed amendments, or
- Documents amended (if separate documents) and highlight or Track Change proposed amendments

Note:

You can use 24137-07 [DOCX 205 KB] Part 137 safety management documentation amendment summary sheet to assess if your proposed amendments affect your approval specifications or require CAA’s prior acceptance.
Your safety management documentation (which can be one document or separate documents), sets out the information required by rule 137.160, including for your system of safety management under rule 100.3. Read advisory circular AC100-1 Safety management.

3. We may require a site inspection

Depending on your proposed amendments, we may require a site inspection.

Make sure your documents are available and up-to-date, and if there are proposed amendments to senior persons, make sure they are available to be interviewed. Your senior persons must fully understand the functions and duties of their role and your organisation’s safety management documentation.

Ask us about air operations

If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email certification@caa.govt.nz