Advisory Circulars open for consultation

Advisory Circulars provide an acceptable means of compliance with Civil Aviation Rules.

To see a list of ACs we are working on and new ACs, please check here:

Advisory Circulars monthly report (29 November 2024) [PDF 239 KB]

To provide feedback on ACs, please see the list open for consultation below.

Advisory Circulars open for consultation

AC133-1, Revision 0, Helicopter External Load Operations [PDF 2.1 MB]

This is a new AC, relating to Part 133, Subparts B, Operating rules and related requirements, F, Instruments and Equipment, and G, Maintenance. It outlines CAA’s expectations of operators who are carrying out external load operations conducted under Civil Aviation Rule Part 133, Helicopter External Load Operations.

In summary, CAA expects evidence that operators are:

only using external load equipment that has been designed and manufactured and installed to the appropriate standards, and
maintaining and inspecting external load equipment to preserve the necessary operating safety margins.

The AC also highlights areas of concern that CAA inspectors have raised, and issues for operators to be mindful of when planning their operations and managing risks.

If you have any comments or feedback please send this via the Advisory Circular feedback form.

Comments close Tuesday 16 January 2025.

Advisory Circulars closed for comment

The ACs that have been put up for consultation since the beginning of 2023 are listed below, in numerical order.

AC00-1, Revision 3, Acceptability of Parts and AC43-3, Revision 6, Parts Documentation—CAA Form Two-New Zealand Domestic Part Label

We have updated these two ACs, to address a potential contradiction between Part 43 and AC 43-3 and AC00-1. Because the changes in AC00-1, clarifying the use of CAA Form Two, are reflected in changes to AC43-3, which is about CAA Form Two, we felt participants would find it more efficient to review the ACs together.

AC00-1, Revision 3, Acceptability of Parts [PDF 489 KB]

AC43-3, Revision 6, Parts Documentation—CAA Form Two-New Zealand Domestic Part Label [PDF 351 KB]

Revision 3 of AC00-1 clarifies some technical issues, as below:

Adding a rule reference in section 2.2, Part 43 – Maintenance practices
Clarifying section 2.4, Acceptable parts, and section 5.2, Determining eligibility, about the use of CAA Form Two
Deleting advice about finite life components in section 2.4, Acceptable parts
Deleting examples of unacceptable parts in section 2.5, Unacceptable parts, and.
Moving the section on finite life components from section 3.1, General, to new section 5.3, Conformity.

Revision 6 of AC 43-3 updates terminology and wording where needed to clarify guidance.

Comments closed Wednesday 11 September 2024.

AC00-1, Revision 2, Acceptability of parts [PDF 470 KB]

Revision 2:

clarifies eligibility of CASA Form 1 in sections 2.4, 3.1 and 5.2, and deletes clarification ‘formerly DA1’
deletes clarification ‘formerly JAA Form One’, after EASA Form 1 in sections 2.4, 3.1 and 5.2
deletes clarification ‘formerly TC24 0078’ after Transport Canada Form One in sections 2.4, 3.1 and 5.2
adds section 5.3 about the eligibility of CASA Form 1 for a CAANZ Part 145-certification organisation, and
deletes note about the incorrect rule reference as corrected in 2021.

Comments closed Tuesday 7 May 2024.

AC-002, Revision 2, Storage and distribution of aeronautical supplies [PDF 435 KB]

This AC is open for consultation for the first time since 2007. Revision 2 is a substantive update of this AC. It updates content throughout and removes information:

drawn from foreign guidance material, replacing it with direct reference to the source information, and

which could have contravened overarching guidance from organisations such as WorkSafe or the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), replacing it with reference to the relevant source data.

Lastly, it adds a Version History.

Comments closed Monday 28 October 2024.

AC00-3, Revision 2, Internal Quality Assurance – open for consultation [PDF 588 KB]

This is the first time this AC has been reviewed since 2007. Revision 2 of this AC is a complete rewrite and reordering of this AC. It also takes the opportunity to add an appendix, which provides general advice on how to run an IQA process. Lastly, it adds a Version History. While this AC is directly relevant for Parts 109, 140 and 149 organisations, other sectors who are running SMS may also find the guidance and tips useful in developing a robust SMS.

Comments closed Thursday 24 August 2023.

AC00-5, Rev 2, Parts Documentation-CAA Form One-Authorised Release Certificate marked up draft for information [PDF 376 KB]

This AC has been updated to reflect the new AC145-2, Technical Arrangement – Maintenance (TA-M) between New Zealand and Singapore – Advice for Aircraft Maintenance Organisations (AMOs), which provides guidance for approved New Zealand-based Part 145-certificated AMOs to perform maintenance on CAAS civil aeronautical products in accordance with the requirements of NZ Part 145

Comments closed Monday 17 April 2023.

AC43-10, Revision 7, Aircraft radio station – Form CAA 2129, Aircraft Radio Station Equipment Approval Levels [PDF 703 KB]

Revision 7 is the first time this AC has been updated since 2002 and provides clarification regarding the content of the form CAA 2129. We have also taken the opportunity to add a Version History.

Comments closed Friday 16 February 2024.

Proposal to revoke AC43-12, Non-aeronautical lead acid batteries

As part of our review of ACs, CAA has determined that this AC is no longer fit for purpose, as the acceptable standards are out of date, and the remaining guidance is either better suited to a webpage or can be found in manufacturers’ instructions.

We proposed to revoke this AC, unless participants were strongly in favour of its retention.

Comments closed Monday 26 February 2024.

AC61-1, Revision 13, Pilot licences and ratings – General – open for consultation [PDF 456 KB]

Revision 13 adds a requirement to provide evidence of remedial training in the event of a flight test failure, in the section on rule 61.21, Flight tests. This change reflects advice from CAA in a seminar for General Aviation participants in October 2023, where CAA and participants discussed the need for proper assessment of remedial training.

Comments closed Wednesday 03 April 2024.

AC61-10, Revision 13, Pilot Licences and Ratings [PDF 487 KB]

Revision 13:

Removes approved basic gas turbine knowledge exam equivalence for engineers with turbine engine aircraft ratings, and
Replaces CASA Boeing 737 Type Rating equivalence with multi-crew aircraft, and
Adds, in Appendices V and VII, a requirement for type training in helicopters and aeroplanes over 5700kg to include Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) recommendations and Operational Suitability Data (OSD) in the training syllabus.

Comments closed Monday 5 August 2024.

AC61-19, Revision 15, Pilot licences and ratings - Flight Examiner Ratings [PDF 477 KB]

Revision 15 is a substantive change which:

updates the section, Flight Examiner Rating Requirements
replaces content of Appendix I, Examiner Theory Course Syllabus
adds a new Appendix II, Practical Training, and
makes minor changes to align with current AC style.

Comments closed Monday 20 February 2024.

AC066-1, Rev 5, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence - General [PDF 757 KB]

Revision 5 of this AC adds a section in Subpart C, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Ratings 66.103(3), Overseas B1 Training Courses (Limited powerplant platform ratings). This explains the process which enables acceptance of international B1 courses to allow for a limited powerplant rating to be awarded when fitted to the specified airframe platform.

Comments closed Tuesday 20 March 2023.

AC91-06, Revision 2, Aircraft Technical Log [PDF 459 KB]

Revision 2:

makes format and stylistic changes, to align with current AC format
adds advice about using alternative formats to CA006 in accordance with rule 91.619(c)
updates Form CAA 400 in Appendix A, and
adds a version history.

Comments closed Thursday 26 October 2023.

AC91-11, Revision 3, Single Pilot IFR – open for consultation [PDF 694 KB]

Revision 3 is a substantive revision which:

deletes sections, including the Pre-amble, GPS (a sub-section of Crew Resource Management), and out-of-date paragraphs in the Checklists section, Appendix B
updates references throughout
updates throughout to align with current AC style, and
adds a version history.

Comments closed Wednesday 24 April 2024.

AC91-17, Revision 2, Light Hazards on Aircraft [PDF 327 KB]

Revision 2 changes the title of the AC from Laser Strikes on Aircraft to Light Hazards on Aircraft. It also adds the following:

New section 6, Other light hazards.
A note under section 7.
A sub-section 9.4 on other hazards such as bright lights.

Comments closed Monday 27 May 2024.

AC92-2, Revision 4, Carriage of Dangerous Goods [PDF 1.4 MB]

Revision 4 adds five new sections:

Section 3: Carriage of DG for the airworthiness and operational requirements, and company material
Section 8: Carriage of DG for Search and Rescue (SAR)
Section 9: Carriage of DG during Part 115 flights
Section 10: Carriage of DG during Part 137 flights, and
Section 14: Loading of DG cargo.

We have also amended the notes section in Table 6.1, Ammunition, by deleting the maximum quantity per passenger weight.

Comments closed Monday 19 August 2024.

AC99-1 Initial Issue, Drug and Alcohol Management Plans and Testing – open for consultation [PDF 749 KB]

This draft advisory circular is associated with the Notice for Proposed Rule-Making (NPRM) 24-02.

The objective of this proposal is to develop rules to support, and give effect to, the provisions in the Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 Act) for drug and alcohol management plans and testing.

To assist understanding of the 2023 Act provisions, and effect of the rules, a draft advisory circular has been developed. As well as providing answers to questions you may have on the drug and alcohol regime being introduced, it contains a draft DAMP template, designed to reduce the administrative cost to participants.

Comments closed Friday 10 May 2024.

AC100-1, Revision 3, Safety Management [PDF 3.3 MB]

This AC has been revised, to fix typos and other minor errors, and remove out of date rules references and transitional provisions.

Comments closed Tuesday 13 June 2023.

AC102-1, Revision 1, Unmanned Aircraft - Operator Certification [PDF 811 KB]

Revision 1 is a comprehensive revision which:

removes the FAQ section and out-of-date transition provisions (rule 102.27)
focuses on the intent of the rule – for operators to assess and manage aviation risks and create procedures to ensure their operation is conducted safely, and
adds three appendices:
- Appendix I – Guide to ISO: 31000 – Risk Management
- Appendix II - Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA), and
- Appendix III – Examples of sets of exposition documents.

We were also interested in participants’ views as to whether any of the checklists would sit better on a dedicated page on the CAA website, rather than in this AC.

Comments closed Tuesday 02 April 2024.

AC105-1, Revision 3, Parachuting — Operating Rules [PDF 181 KB]

This AC has been revised for the first time since 2017. Revision 3 is not a substantive revision, but corrects format and style to align it with current AC format.

Comments closed Wednesday 20 September 2023.

AC109-1, Revision 5, Regulated Air Cargo Agent – Certification – open for consultation [PDF 777 KB]

Revision 5 is a substantive update which:

Expands advice on the acceptance and ongoing oversight of known customers in New Zealand's air cargo and mail secure supply chain.
Adds subheadings to clarify the intent of rule parts.
Adds more detail to an acceptable form of compliance for Regulated Air Cargo Agents (RACAs) to ensure their obligations as a Part 109 certificate holder are being met, with particular reference to rule 109.61.
Updates the sections on Internal Quality Assurance and Occurrence Reporting.
Adds appendices, including: a template for known customer register, an example of a known customer security programme, and general guidance on elements of a strong security culture.

Comments closed Sunday 24 September 2023.

AC115-7, Revision 1, Adventure Aviation — Special Aircraft Operations [PDF 254 KB]

This AC has been updated as part of a systematic revision of ACs. Revision 1 is the first update since 2016. It updates format and style to align with current ACs, moves a table to Appendix A, to make it easier to read, and adds a Version History.