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This Subpart prescribes the rules governing the operational competency assessment of flight crew members and crew members.
(a) Each holder of an air operator certificate must establish and control an operational competency assessment programme in accordance with this Subpart.
(b) The holder of an air operator certificate may—
(1) conduct the operational competency assessment programme; or
(2) contract with an organisation that holds a certificate issued under Part 141, to provide the operational competency assessment programme where the certificate authorises the holder to conduct that programme; or
(3) for an operational competency assessment programme conducted outside New Zealand, contract with an organisation that meets an equivalent standard specified by Part 141 to provide the operational competency assessment programme.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), each holder of an air operator certificate must ensure that each person performing the functions of a flight examiner in its operational competency assessment programme established under this Part—
(1) is type rated in the aircraft used to conduct the operation; and
(2) is familiar with the types of operations conducted by the certificate holder; and
(3) has an appropriate current flight examiner rating; and
(4) completes initial and recurrent training requirements applicable to the testing carried out.
(b) Where the operational competency assessment referred to in paragraph (a) is carried out in a flight simulator, the person who is performing the functions of a flight examiner must—
(1) have satisfactorily completed a competency check as pilot-in-command in a type of operation to which this Part applies; and
(2) have an appropriate flight examiner rating; and
(3) complete initial and recurrent training requirements applicable to the testing carried out.
A holder of an air operator certificate must ensure that—
(1) each pilot acting as pilot-in-command has, within the immediately preceding 12 months, passed a route check and aerodrome proficiency that is administered by a flight examiner and that—
(i) consists of a ground-based procedure check over 1 route segment, and a flight check with 1 or more landings at an aerodrome representative of the operations to be flown; and
(ii) establishes that the pilot can satisfactorily perform the duties and responsibilities of a pilot-in-command in air operations appropriate to this Part; and
(2) each pilot conducting VFR operations has, within the immediately preceding 12 months, successfully completed a competency assessment, that is administered by a flight examiner and that covers procedures, including emergency procedures, of the pilot’s flying skill in an aircraft type normally used by the pilot in the operation; and
(2a) in addition to paragraph (2), each pilot operating an aircraft at night under VFR using NVIS has, within the immediately preceding 12 months, successfully completed a competency assessment conducted by an appropriately qualified flight instructor or flight examiner that covers procedures of the pilot’s flying skills for the safe use of NVIS, in an aircraft type normally used by the pilot in the operation; and
(3) each pilot acting as a flight crew member of an aircraft operating under IFR has, within the immediately preceding 6 months, passed a competency assessment that is administered by a flight examiner and that—
(i) covers procedures, including emergency procedures, appropriate to the equipment fitted to the aircraft and to the type of air operations to which the pilot is assigned by the certificate holder; and
(ii) is conducted in each aircraft type used by the pilot in the operation unless the aircraft has a seating configuration of 9 seats or less, excluding any required pilot seat, in which case the check may be taken by rotation in each aircraft type with 1 in each 6-month period; and
(3a) in addition to paragraph (3), each pilot operating an aircraft at night under IFR using NVIS has, within the immediately preceding 12 months, successfully passed a competency assessment conducted by an appropriately qualified flight instructor or flight examiner that covers procedures of the pilot’s flying skills for the safe use of NVIS, in an aircraft type normally used by the pilot in the operation; and
(4) each pilot has, within the immediately preceding 12 months, successfully completed a written or oral test of the pilot's knowledge of the following:
(i) the relevant Civil Aviation Rules and the certificate holder’s operations specifications and exposition:
(ii) the aircraft systems, performance, operating procedures, and the content of the flight manual for each aircraft type normally flown by the pilot:
(iii) navigation, ATC, and meteorology:
(iv) special flight operations as appropriate to the type of operation normally conducted by the pilot:
(v) new equipment, procedures, and techniques:
(vi) location and operation of emergency equipment fitted to an aircraft of the type normally flown by the pilot; and
(5) the flight examiner who administered the check or test required under paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4)—
(i) certifies in the training record for the pilot that the check or test has been completed and certifies the result of the check or test; and
(ii) if the check or test was completed satisfactorily, certifies in the pilot logbook in accordance with rule 61.29(a)(3) satisfactory completion of the check or test; and
(6) flight crew competency checks are carried out in an aircraft or flight simulator approved for the purpose.
Each holder of an air operator certificate must maintain accurate records of all competency assessments and testing of its crew members.
