Download the PDF consolidation of Part 47 [PDF 182 KB]
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) the holder of a New Zealand certificate of registration must ensure that the aircraft associated with that certificate–
(1) displays the registration mark allocated under rule 47.103, and the nationality mark, in accordance with the requirements of rules 47.109 to 47.117; and
(2) displays an identification plate in accordance with the requirements of rule 47.119.
(b) The following types of New Zealand registered aircraft are not required to display the nationality mark when operating within New Zealand:
(1) aeroplanes with an MCTOW of 5700 kg or less:
(2) rotorcraft:
(3) gliders and powered gliders:
(4) manned balloons:
(5) aeroplanes operating pursuant to a special category airworthiness certificate issued under Part 21, Subpart H:
(c) The following types of New Zealand registered aircraft are not required to display the first letter of their registration mark when operating within New Zealand:
(1) helicopters, where the first letter of their registration mark is H:
(2) gliders and powered gliders:
(3) manned balloons, where the first letter of their registration mark is F.
(d) A New Zealand registered aircraft operating within New Zealand on a police operation authorised by the Commissioner of Police is not required to display its nationality mark or registration mark allocated under rule 47.103, if the aircraft displays a police mark allocated under rule 47.102.
(e) A New Zealand registered aircraft operating within New Zealand is not required to display its nationality mark or registration mark allocated under rule 47.103 if the aircraft displays an identifiable paint scheme and markings approved under rule 47.104.
(f) The holder of a certificate of registration for an aircraft that displays an approved identifiable paint scheme and markings under paragraph (e), must ensure that the aircraft continues to display the paint scheme and markings in accordance with rule 47.109.
A police mark for display on a New Zealand registered aircraft must comprise–
(1) The word POLICE followed by a number allocated by the Commissioner of Police; or
(2) A group of three letters reserved by the Director for allocation by the Commissioner of Police.
(a) The nationality mark of a New Zealand registered aircraft must be the capital letters ZK.
(b) The registration mark of a New Zealand registered aircraft must—
(1) be allocated to the aircraft by the Director; and
(2) be a group consisting of 3 letters appearing after and separated from the nationality mark by a hyphen.
(a) The holder of the certificate of registration for an aircraft issued with a special category airworthiness certificate in accordance with Part 21 Subpart H, may apply to the Director for approval to display an identifiable paint scheme and markings on the aircraft as an alternative to the display of the nationality and registration marks allocated under rule 47.103.
(b) The holder of a certificate of registration for a microlight aircraft, or an aircraft issued with a standard or restricted category airworthiness certificate in accordance with Part 21 Subpart H, may for historical reasons, apply to the Director for approval to display an identifiable paint scheme and markings on the aircraft as an alternative to the display of the nationality and registration marks allocated under rule 47.103.
(c) The applicant for the approval of an identifiable paint scheme and markings must complete the approved CAA form, which requires—
(1) the nationality and registration mark allocated to the aircraft by the Director; and
(2) a written description of the proposed identifiable paint scheme and markings of the aircraft; and
(3) a three-view set of colour drawings, photographs, sketches, or similar means of clearly depicting the proposed identifiable paint scheme and markings of the aircraft; and
(4) such further particulars as may be required by the Director or as indicated on the form regarding the aircraft or the holder of the certificate of registration—
and submit it to the Director with the payment of any applicable fees or charges prescribed by regulations made under the Act.
(d) The Director may approve the display of an identifiable paint scheme and markings, applied for under paragraph (a), if satisfied that the paint scheme and markings are sufficiently clear so as to distinguish the aircraft from other aircraft of the same or similar type and model.
(e) The Director may approve the display of an identifiable paint scheme and markings, applied for under paragraph (b), if satisfied that the paint scheme and markings are appropriate for historical or other special reasons, and are sufficiently clear so as to distinguish the aircraft from other aircraft of the same or similar type and model.
(f) The holder of a certificate of registration for an aircraft that has an identifiable paint scheme and markings approved under paragraph (d) or (e) on the basis of drawings or sketches, must provide the Director with a three-view set of photographs of the aircraft displaying the approved identifiable paint scheme and markings.
(a) The identifiable paint scheme and markings approved under rule 47.104 must be entered in the New Zealand Register of Aircraft in accordance with rule 47.55(b).
(a) The holder of a certificate of registration for an aircraft displaying an identifiable paint scheme and markings approved under rule 47.104, who intends to change the paint scheme or markings, must apply for approval of a new paint scheme and markings in accordance with rule 47.104.
(b) The holder of a certificate of registration for an aircraft displaying an identifiable paint scheme and markings approved under rule 47.104, who intends to discontinue the display of the paint scheme and markings must–
(1) notify the Director in writing accordingly; and
(2) mark the aircraft in accordance with rule 47.101.
(a) A person who intends to register an aircraft in the New Zealand register of aircraft may, on payment of any applicable fees or charges prescribed by regulations made under the Act, request the Director to reserve a registration mark.
(b) Upon receipt of a request under paragraph (a), the Director may reserve a registration mark for a period not exceeding 24 months if–
(1) the mark has not already been allocated or reserved; and
(2) the Director considers that the use of the mark would not be undesirable.
(c) A registration mark that has been reserved under paragraph (b) must not, while reserved, be allocated to an aircraft as a registration mark otherwise than at the request of the person on whose request the registration mark was reserved.
(a) The holder of a New Zealand certificate of registration may apply to the Director for a new registration mark to replace the mark allocated to the aircraft specified in the certificate.
(b) The applicant for a change of registration mark must apply in writing and submit to the Director—
(1) the certificate of registration; and
(2) the registration mark sought; and
(3) a payment of the appropriate fee prescribed by regulations made under the Act.
(c) On receiving an application under paragraph (b), the Director may withdraw the registration mark allocated to the aircraft and allocate the new registration mark.
(d) On allocation of a new registration mark under paragraph (c), the Authority must enter in the New Zealand Register of Aircraft the particulars of the new registration mark allocated to the aircraft.
(a) The nationality and registration marks required to be displayed under rule 47.101, or the identifiable paint scheme and markings approved under rule 47.104 must—
(1) be painted on the aircraft or affixed by any other means ensuring a similar degree of permanence; and
(2) be displayed to the best possible advantage having regard to the construction or features of the aircraft; and
(3) be kept clean and visible at all times.
(b) The letters and hyphen of the nationality and registration mark must be of one colour that contrasts clearly with the background on which they are painted or otherwise affixed.
(c) Police marks must be affixed to the aircraft by a means that will ensure the marks are displayed in accordance with the other requirements of this subpart for the duration of the police operation authorised by the Commissioner of Police.
(a) Airships must display the marks required under rule 47.101(a)–
(1) lengthwise on each side of the hulls near the maximum cross section of the airship and on the upper surface on the line of symmetry; or
(2) on the following stabilisers:
(i) the horizontal stabiliser, on the right half of the upper surface and on the left half of the lower surface with the tops of the letters towards the leading edge:
(ii) the vertical stabiliser, on each side of the bottom half stabiliser, with the letters placed horizontally.
(b) Spherical balloons must display the marks required under rule 47.101(a) in 2 places diametrically opposite and located near the maximum horizontal circumference of the balloon.
(c) Non-spherical balloons must display the marks required under rule 47.101(a) on each side, located near the maximum cross-section of the balloon and immediately above the rigging band or the points of attachment of the basket suspension cables.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), aeroplanes, gliders, and powered gliders must display the marks required under rule 47.101(a)—
(1) once, on the lower surface of the wing structure. If the marks are confined to the outer half of the wing structure they must be located on the left lower surface. The tops of the letters must be towards the leading edge of the wing and so far as is possible, be equidistant from the leading and trailing edges of the wing; and
(2) horizontally on both sides of the fuselage between the wings and tail surfaces, or horizontally on the upper halves of the vertical tail surfaces. Marks on a single vertical tail surface must appear on both sides. Marks on multi-vertical tail surfaces must appear on the outboard sides of the outer surfaces.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (d), rotorcraft must display the marks required under rule 47.101(a)(1) in a prominent place not obscured in normal use—
(1) on the bottom surface of the fuselage or cabin; and
(2) symmetrically on both sides of the rotorcraft.
(c) Aeroplanes, gliders, and powered gliders, which operate exclusively within New Zealand, are not required to display marks on the lower surface of the wing structure.
(d) If an aeroplane, glider, powered glider, or rotorcraft—
(1) does not possess parts corresponding to those mentioned in the applicable paragraph of this rule; or
(2) the surface required to be marked in accordance with this rule is not large enough to accommodate the size of marks specified in rule 47.117—
the Director may approve marks, to be located elsewhere on the aircraft if—
(i) the marks are placed in a prominent place not obscured in normal use; and
(ii) the marks can be readily identified.
(a) The nationality and registration marks must consist of capital letters in Roman characters without ornamentation.
(b) The width of each letter (except the letter "I") and the length of the hyphen must be two-thirds of the height of the letter.
(c) Each letter must be separated from the letter which immediately precedes or follows it by a space not less than one-quarter the height of the individual letters, the hyphen being regarded as a letter for this purpose.
(d) The lines forming the letters and hyphen must be solid and the thickness of those lines must be one-sixth of the height of the letter.
(a) The nationality and registration marks displayed must be formed of letters of equal height and must be placed to leave a margin of at least 50 mm along each edge of any surface to which they are affixed.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), the height of the marks on aircraft must not be less than 250 mm.
(c) The Director may approve marks smaller than 250mm, but not less than 150mm in height, to be displayed on heavier-than-air aircraft if the aircraft does not have a surface large enough to accommodate marks 250mm in height.
(a) The identification plate required to be displayed under rule 47.101(a) must be etched, stamped, or engraved with the allocated nationality and registration marks.
(b) The identification plate must—
(1) be made of fireproof metal or other fireproof material of suitable physical properties; and
(2) be affixed to the aircraft in a prominent position near the main point of entrance to the aircraft.
A person must not place on any New Zealand registered aircraft any mark or symbol that modifies or obscures the nationality or registration marks, the approved identifiable paint scheme and markings, or the police mark, that are required to be displayed on the aircraft under this Part.
