CAA NZ ATPL Air Law key terms

The 1944 multilateral treaty, formally the Convention on International Civil Aviation, that established ICAO and the core principles governing international civil aviation, including sovereignty over airspace and nationality of aircraft.

One of the numbered supplements to the Chicago Convention, each covering a technical field such as personnel licensing, airworthiness, rules of the air or operations, containing Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by the ICAO Council.

Under the Chicago Convention, any specification whose uniform application is recognised as necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation; states must notify ICAO of any difference from it.

A specification in an ICAO Annex whose uniform application is recognised as desirable but not essential for safety or regularity; states are expected to comply but departures need not be notified as differences.

The obligation on a contracting state to inform ICAO of any national rule, practice or procedure that differs from an ICAO Standard, so that the difference can be published for other states.

The Chicago Convention provision allowing non-scheduled flights of other contracting states to fly over or land in a state for non-traffic purposes without prior permission, subject to that state's right to require notification.

The carriage of traffic between two points within the same state by an aircraft of another state; under the Chicago Convention each state may refuse such carriage to foreign aircraft.

The New Zealand statute that establishes the Civil Aviation Authority, sets out the Director's safety and security functions and powers, and provides for offences, penalties, accident investigation and rule-making.

The subordinate legislation made under the Civil Aviation Act, organised into numbered Parts (for example Part 61, Part 91, Part 121) that prescribe licensing, airworthiness, operating and air traffic requirements in New Zealand.

The statutory officer who heads the CAA and exercises powers such as issuing certificates and licences, imposing conditions, suspending or revoking documents, and enforcing the Civil Aviation Rules.

Non-mandatory guidance published by the CAA explaining an acceptable means of complying with a particular Civil Aviation Rule; it does not itself create legal obligations.

A method published by the authority that may be used to demonstrate compliance with a rule or standard; alternative methods are permitted if the operator shows an equivalent level of safety.

The certificate issued by the CAA authorising an operator to conduct commercial air transport under a specified rule Part, defining the aircraft types, routes, areas and operations permitted.

The document set an operator submits to the CAA describing how it will comply with the applicable rules, including organisation, procedures and facilities; it forms the basis of the air operator certificate.

The New Zealand authorisation required by an overseas operator before conducting commercial flights into, within or out of New Zealand, granted after assessment against applicable ICAO standards.

The highest professional pilot licence, permitting the holder to act as pilot-in-command of multi-crew commercial aircraft; in New Zealand it is issued under Part 61 with type ratings and English language proficiency.

The authorisation entered on a licence permitting the holder to fly a specific aircraft type that requires additional training, typically multi-engine or complex aircraft used in airline operations.

The licence endorsement that allows a pilot to fly under instrument flight rules and in instrument meteorological conditions, subject to currency and any specified approaches or privileges.

The highest category of pilot medical certification, required for commercial operations and ATPL privileges, issued after examination against ICAO medical standards and subject to specified validity periods.

The period for which a medical certificate remains effective, which varies with licence type, age and whether single-pilot or multi-crew operations are conducted, and may be reduced by conditions.

The document certifying that an aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is safe for flight when maintained in accordance with the applicable airworthiness requirements.

The document recording the state of registry and the registered owner of an aircraft; nationality marks and registration marks are displayed on the aircraft in accordance with ICAO Annex 7.

A mandatory instruction issued by the state of design or manufacture and adopted by the state of registry requiring inspection, modification or other action on aircraft or components to correct an unsafe condition.

The certification by an appropriately authorised person that specified maintenance has been completed and the aircraft or component is airworthy for the intended flight, made before the aircraft returns to service.

An approved document specifying which instruments and equipment may be inoperative while the aircraft is dispatched, subject to stated conditions and limitations, instead of requiring all equipment serviceable.

The baseline equipment-deferral document approved for an aircraft type by the state of design, from which an operator develops its own minimum equipment list for approval.

The rules capping a crew member's flying hours over defined periods, such as daily, 28-day, 90-day and annual limits, intended to control fatigue and preserve alertness.

The period during which a crew member is required to be available for or to perform duties, beginning at a defined report point and ending when the crew member is free of duty.

A defined continuous period free of all duty during which the crew member is relieved of responsibility and which must precede or follow duty in accordance with the prescribed limits.

A systematic, data-driven process within an operator's safety management system that identifies fatigue hazards and mitigates them through scheduling, education and reporting, complementing prescriptive flight and duty limits.

A formal framework of policies, accountabilities, hazard identification and risk mitigation processes that an operator or aerodrome certificate holder must maintain to manage safety proactively.

The application of a 1,000-foot vertical separation between suitably equipped aircraft above a designated flight level within specified airspace, instead of the standard 2,000 feet.

The principle that cruising levels are selected by magnetic track, with easterly tracks using odd thousands and westerly tracks using even thousands, so opposite-direction traffic is separated vertically.

The altitude or flight level maintained during a significant portion of a flight, selected to comply with the applicable table of cruising levels and any air traffic clearance.

The altitude or flight level an aircraft is authorised by air traffic control to maintain; a pilot must not deviate from it except in defined circumstances such as an emergency or traffic avoidance.

The obligation on a pilot to repeat back certain air traffic control clearances and instructions, such as route, level and frequency instructions, so the controller can verify correct reception.

A radio report giving an aircraft's identification, position, time, level and next position, made at compulsory reporting points or when requested by air traffic control.

A ground radar system that interrogates aircraft transponders to obtain identity and pressure altitude, supporting identification, separation and conflict alerting by air traffic control.

Airborne equipment that replies to ground radar interrogations with a selected code and, when mode C or S capable, pressure altitude, enabling identification and height monitoring by air traffic control.

Controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface around an aerodrome, within which special clearance and communication requirements apply to aircraft operating in the vicinity.

Controlled airspace established above a specified lower limit, within which all aircraft are subject to air traffic control clearances and separation is provided in accordance with airspace classification.

The system of lettered classes, from A to G, defining the services provided, separation applied and pilot clearance and communication requirements within a given volume of airspace.

Airspace such as restricted, danger or military operating areas where activities hazardous to flight may occur, and within which entry may be prohibited or permitted only under stated conditions.

The limits, expressed as visibility or runway visual range and decision altitude or height, below which a pilot may not take off or land at a particular aerodrome for a given approach.

Approaches, take-offs and landings conducted in reduced visibility using specified equipment, crew qualification and aerodrome facilities, categorised by the minima and systems required.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission, an independent New Zealand body that investigates accidents and incidents to determine causes and issue safety recommendations, without apportioning blame.

A mandatory notification to the CAA of an accident, serious incident or other specified occurrence, made within the prescribed time and containing the information required by the rules.

Measures the Director may take for breaches of aviation law, ranging from education and infringement notices to suspension or revocation of documents and prosecution for offences carrying penalties.

A temporary withdrawal of a licence or certificate by the Director where continued exercise of its privileges would pose a risk to safety, pending further inquiry or corrective action.

The document accompanying a consignment of dangerous goods that identifies the goods, class, packing group and quantity, and certifies that packing and labelling meet the applicable technical instructions.

The ICAO document setting out detailed requirements for classifying, packing, marking, labelling and documenting dangerous goods for air transport, incorporated by reference into national rules.

The inspection a shipper's or operator's trained staff perform before loading a consignment, verifying documentation, packaging, marking and labelling against the dangerous goods requirements.

The approval confirming that an aircraft type meets the applicable noise standards, typically those in ICAO Annex 16 Volume I, which may be required for operation at New Zealand aerodromes.

The engine and fuel standards limiting pollutants such as smoke, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, set out in ICAO Annex 16 Volume II and reflected in national airworthiness requirements.

The air traffic service that notifies appropriate search and rescue organisations when an aircraft is overdue, fails to report, or is known or believed to be in distress.

One of the three stages, uncertainty, alert and distress, declared by rescue coordination or air traffic services according to the perceived degree of danger to an aircraft.

Emergency locator transmitter, an automatic or manually activated beacon carried on aircraft that transmits a distress signal to satellite or ground systems to assist locating a downed aircraft.

The border procedures requiring arriving and departing international flights to use designated airports, submit passenger and crew documentation, and obtain clearance from customs, immigration and biosecurity agencies.

The requirement to lodge flight and passenger details with border agencies before an international departure or arrival, enabling clearance and security screening to be completed.