Nz Caa Ame Aviation Legislation key terms

New Zealand's primary statute for civil aviation, establishing the Civil Aviation Authority and Minister's powers, and providing for rules, offences and enforcement. It replaced the Civil Aviation Act 1990 as the governing Act.

The subordinate legislation made under the Civil Aviation Act, organised into numbered Parts, that sets out operating, airworthiness, licensing and maintenance requirements binding on participants in New Zealand civil aviation.

Guidance material published by the CAA explaining one acceptable way of complying with a rule. It is not itself a rule, so alternative means of compliance may be acceptable if an equivalent level of safety is shown.

A non-binding method, published by the authority, that demonstrates compliance with a requirement. Using it gives a presumption of compliance, but an applicant may propose another method that achieves the same standard.

A finding that an alternative design, procedure or arrangement provides a level of safety at least equal to that intended by the rule. It is often needed to approve something that does not meet a prescriptive requirement literally.

The definitions and abbreviations Part of the Civil Aviation Rules. Terms defined there, such as 'airworthiness directive' or 'maintenance', carry that meaning wherever they appear in other Parts unless stated otherwise.

The certification Part covering type certificates, supplemental type certificates, parts manufacture approvals, and the issue of airworthiness certificates and export airworthiness approvals for aircraft and components.

The Part governing maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding and alteration of aircraft and components, including who may perform it, how it must be recorded, and the maintenance release requirements for aircraft.

The Part that sets out aircraft maintenance engineer licensing, including licence categories and ratings, eligibility, experience and examination requirements, privileges, and the conditions under which a licence may be exercised.

The general operating and flight rules Part, applying to most aircraft not operating under an airline or commercial transport Part. It includes maintenance, defect reporting, instrument and equipment, and flight conduct requirements.

The Part for air operations by large aeroplanes, setting out certification and operating requirements including maintenance control, reliability programmes and defect reporting for those operators.

The Part for air operations by medium aeroplanes, applying to aeroplane operations above a specified size or seating threshold that fall outside Part 121, with its own operating and maintenance requirements.

The Part for air operations by small aeroplanes and helicopters, covering commercial transport operations below the Part 121 and 125 thresholds, including maintenance, crew and operational requirements.

The Part for aviation maintenance organisations, setting out the requirements for a maintenance organisation certificate, its exposition, facilities, personnel, procedures and the scope of work it may perform.

The Part covering aviation training organisations, including the certification requirements for organisations that deliver the training and examinations leading to aircraft maintenance engineer licences.

A licence issued under Part 66 to an aircraft maintenance engineer, authorising the holder to certify maintenance within the scope of the categories, ratings and limitations endorsed on that licence.

An endorsement on an AME licence permitting the holder to certify maintenance on a specific aircraft type. It is granted after meeting type-specific training and experience requirements and is recorded on the licence.

A licence endorsement covering a defined group of similar aircraft or components rather than a single type, allowing certification within the group subject to any limitations stated on the licence.

A person who holds the appropriate licence and authorisation to certify that maintenance has been completed satisfactorily and, where applicable, to issue a maintenance release for an aircraft or component.

A certification, made by authorised certifying staff, that the specified maintenance has been completed and the aircraft or component is airworthy for the intended flight, subject to any recorded limitations or deferred defects.

A certification confirming that maintenance or repair work on an aircraft or component has been properly completed in accordance with approved data, allowing the item to be returned to service.

Technical information approved or accepted by the authority for maintenance, such as the manufacturer's maintenance manual, service bulletins adopted by airworthiness directives, or approved design data, which must be used when performing and certifying work.

A mandatory instruction issued by the state of design or the authority to correct an unsafe condition, which must be complied with within the stated time and recorded in the aircraft's maintenance records.

A manufacturer-issued document recommending inspection, modification or maintenance action. It is advisory unless made mandatory by an airworthiness directive or by the operator's approved maintenance programme.

A certificate issued under Part 21 confirming that an aircraft conforms to an approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation. It remains valid only while continuing airworthiness requirements are met.

An approval issued under Part 21 for a design of aircraft, engine or propeller, certifying that the design meets the applicable airworthiness standards and defining the approved configuration.

An approval for a change to a type design that is significant enough to require separate design approval, such as a major modification, issued under Part 21 and tied to the original type certificate.

The set of processes and requirements, including maintenance programmes, airworthiness directives, defect control and record keeping, that keep an aircraft in a condition for safe operation throughout its service life.

The schedule of inspections, checks and maintenance tasks approved for an aircraft or operator, defining intervals and content that must be met to keep the aircraft airworthy.

An alteration to an aircraft or component that may appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics or other airworthiness qualities, requiring approved data and appropriate certification.

A record of a fault or malfunction found on an aircraft or component, raised so the defect is known, assessed and rectified or deferred in accordance with the applicable rules before further flight.

A report submitted to the authority, and where applicable the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, describing an accident, serious incident or other specified occurrence, as required by the rules.

The obligation on operators, maintenance organisations and individuals to notify specified safety occurrences to the authority within prescribed timeframes, so hazards can be identified and addressed.

The record, kept for an aircraft or component, in which maintenance, inspections, repairs, modifications and certifications are entered so the maintenance history remains traceable and available for review.

The document carried on board or kept for an aircraft in which defects, deferred items, maintenance releases and flight information are recorded, linking line maintenance activity to the aircraft's records.

A known defect that is permitted to remain outstanding under the applicable minimum equipment or configuration deviation provisions, subject to recorded limitations, rectification intervals and any operational restrictions.

The document, required under Part 145, describing a maintenance organisation's scope of work, facilities, procedures, personnel responsibilities and quality system, which the organisation must operate in accordance with.

The certificate issued to an operator under the applicable operating Part, authorising specified commercial air transport operations subject to the conditions, procedures and approvals set out in the operator's exposition.

A formal, documented system for managing safety risk, including hazard identification, risk assessment, assurance and promotion of safety, required of specified operators and maintenance organisations.