Download the PDF consolidation of Part 115 [PDF 417 KB]
This Part prescribes the requirements for the certification and operation of a person conducting an adventure aviation operation.
In this Part—
Adventure aviation aerobatic operation means an adventure aviation operation that incorporates aerobatic flight:
Adventure aviation formation flight operation means an adventure aviation operation that incorporates formation flight:
Ground crew member means a person who is necessary for the safety of an adventure aviation operation that has been assigned by the holder of an adventure aviation operator certificate for ground-based duty and has been trained in accordance with the operator’s approved training programme.
Simulated military operation means an adventure aviation operation comprising one or more aircraft carrying out manoeuvres such as a mock dogfight or tail chase, or one or more aircraft carrying out a military flight profile:
A person must not perform an adventure aviation operation except under the authority of, and in accordance with the privileges of, an adventure aviation operator certificate that has been issued by the Director under the Act and this Part.
An applicant for the grant of an adventure aviation operator certificate must complete the approved CAA form and submit it to the Director with—
(1) the applicant’s exposition required by rule 115.79; and
(2) the details for the operations specifications specified in rule 115.13(b).
An adventure aviation operator certificate may be issued by the Director under the Act and this Part if the Director is satisfied that—
(1) the applicant meets the applicable requirements of Subpart B; and
(2) the applicant and the applicant’s senior persons required by rules 115.51(a)(1) and (2) are fit and proper persons; and
(3) the granting of the certificate is not contrary to the interests of aviation safety.
(a) An adventure aviation operator certificate and the accompanying operations specifications specify the types of adventure aviation operations that the certificate holder is authorised to perform.
(b) An adventure aviation operator certificate and the accompanying operations specifications may authorise the certificate holder to—
(1) conduct any of the following adventure aviation operations:
(i) an A to A flight in an aeroplane or helicopter issued with a standard category airworthiness certificate conducting formation flight, aerobatic manoeuvres, and similar nonstandard flight manoeuvres such as steep climbs, steep descents, and steep turns:
(ii) an A to A flight (including an interim water landing for amphibious aircraft) in an aircraft issued with a special category-primary, special category-LSA, or special category-limited airworthiness certificate including formation flight, aerobatic manoeuvres, and similar nonstandard flight manoeuvres such as steep climbs, steep descents, and steep turns:
(iii) an A to A flight in a Class 2 microlight aircraft:
(iv) a flight in a hot air balloon:
(v) a flight in a glider:
(vi) a parachute-drop aircraft operation:
(vii) a tandem parachute operation:
(viii) a tandem hang glider or paraglider flight; and
(2) conduct ground or flight training under the training programme required by rule 115.301; and
(3) conduct tests or check flights under the operational competency assessment programme required by rule 115.351; and
(4) conduct tests or checks to determine the competence of other persons providing the services or carrying out the operations listed in the certificate holder’s exposition.
(a) An adventure aviation operator certificate issued by the Director under the Act and this Part is to be accompanied by operations specifications that meet the requirements specified in paragraph (b).
(b) The operations specifications must include the following—
(1) details to identify the physical location of the certificate holder’s principal base of operations:
(2) except for hot air balloon, hang glider and paraglider operations, details to identify each location that the certificate holder is authorised to use for the purpose of conducting the adventure aviation operations referred to in paragraph (5):
(3) the certificate holder’s address for service in New Zealand:
(4) a list of any business names under which the certificate holder may operate:
(5) a list of the types of adventure aviation operations that the certificate holder is authorised to conduct:
(6) a list of the type, serial number, identification, and registration if applicable, of each aircraft that the certificate holder is authorised to use for the adventure aviation operations referred to in paragraph (5):
(7) except for hot air balloon, hang glider and paraglider operations, a list of the routes and areas of operations that the certificate holder is authorised to use for the adventure aviation operations referred to in paragraph (5), including any limitations or maximum operating distances from a point of departure for an adventure aviation operation:
(8) a list of any exemptions granted to the certificate holder from a requirement prescribed in this Part or any other applicable Part:
(9) details of any safety limitation or requirement that is applicable to an adventure aviation operation referred to in paragraph (5):
(10) details of any other condition that the Director determines is necessary to cover a particular situation.
An adventure aviation operator certificate may be granted or re-issued for a maximum period of 5 years.
A holder of an adventure aviation operator certificate that terminates adventure aviation operations must notify the Director of the termination in writing within 30 days of the date of termination.
A holder of an adventure aviation operator certificate must make an application for the re-issue of an adventure aviation operator certificate on the approved CAA form under rule 115.7.