CAA NZ Instrument Rating Air Law cheat sheet

CAR Part 1 contains definitions used across all Parts; a defined term overrides ordinary meaning wherever it appears in the rules, so check Part 1 before interpreting any other Part.

CAR Part 61 sets pilot licences and ratings; Part 91 general operating rules apply to all aircraft unless a more specific Part (121, 125, 135) applies.

CAR Part 91.301-series covers instrument flight rules; the pilot must hold a current instrument rating and the aircraft must be equipped and approved for IFR.

Operators must comply with the more restrictive of the rule and any applicable airworthiness directive or manufacturer limitation; a rule does not authorise flight outside the flight manual.

CAR Part 12 covers accidents and incidents: notify the Authority (CAA) as soon as practicable, and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) for notifiable accidents.

Rule breaches are offences under the Civil Aviation Act 1990; the Act provides for infringement fees, suspension, and revocation of licences by the Director.

CAR Part 19 transition rules and Part 21 certification rules govern airworthiness; an IFR flight requires a current airworthiness certificate and maintenance release.

Emergency authority: under CAR 91.7 a pilot in command may deviate from the rules to the extent necessary in an emergency, and must report the deviation if requested.

New Zealand controlled airspace classes: Class A (FL245 and above, IFR only), Class C (CTA/CTR around major aerodromes), Class D (controlled aerodromes), Class G (uncontrolled).

Class C requires ATC clearance for all flights and provides separation between IFR and VFR; Class D provides traffic information to VFR and separation between IFR flights.

Transition altitude in New Zealand is 13,000 ft AMSL; above it, altimeters are set to standard pressure 1013.2 hPa and flight levels are used.

A clearance is an authorisation; it does not relieve the pilot in command of responsibility for terrain clearance, wake turbulence avoidance, or compliance with the flight manual.

Readback is mandatory for runway, route, altitude, heading, frequency, and transponder code clearances; a clearance not read back correctly is not confirmed.

Squawk codes: 7500 unlawful interference, 7600 radio failure, 7700 emergency; in controlled airspace a radio failure in IMC requires the pilot to follow the last acknowledged clearance and squawk 7600.

Position reporting in oceanic or non-radar airspace uses compulsory reporting points; the standard report includes ident, position, time, altitude, and next position with ETA.

Special VFR in a control zone requires an ATC clearance, remains clear of cloud and in sight of ground, and is only available when the aerodrome is not below VMC minima for SVFR.

AIP New Zealand is the authoritative source; its volumes include GEN (general), ENR (enroute), and AD (aerodrome) sections, plus SUP (supplements) and AIC (aeronautical information circulars).

NOTAMs amend the AIP temporarily; a NOTAM takes precedence over published AIP text until it is cancelled or expires.

METAR is an aerodrome routine observation; TAF is a forecast for a specified period. Both use UTC and the format: wind, visibility, weather, cloud, temperature, QNH.

Cloud amounts are reported in oktas: FEW (1-2), SCT (3-4), BKN (5-7), OVC (8); BKN or OVC at or below 1,500 ft constitutes a ceiling for alternate minima purposes.

New Zealand QNH is reported in hectopascals; QFE is aerodrome pressure. Use QNH for flight levels below transition altitude and set 1013.2 hPa above it.

SIGMET advises of hazardous weather (severe turbulence, icing, volcanic ash, tropical cyclone) affecting all aircraft; AIRMET covers moderate hazards affecting light aircraft.

Alternate minima in New Zealand typically require cloud ceiling and visibility at or above the published values for the approach; if no forecast is available, the flight cannot legally depart IFR.

Volcanic ash and tropical cyclone advisories are issued as special SIGMETs; flight into known volcanic ash is prohibited.

A NZ instrument rating requires a current pilot licence, a Class 1 medical, and demonstrated competency in instrument flight; the rating is valid for 12 months unless renewed.

Instrument rating renewal requires either a competency check with an examiner or approved synthetic flight training, plus recent instrument experience as prescribed in Part 61.

Class 1 medical certificate validity for a commercial pilot is generally 12 months, reduced to 6 months for pilots aged 40 and over engaged in single-pilot commercial operations.

A medical certificate may be issued with limitations or endorsements; the pilot must comply with any limitation, and a condition change requires notification to the CAA.

IFR flight requires an instrument rating, an IFR-equipped aircraft (gyroscopic instruments, altimeter, transponder, radio navigation), and compliance with the applicable minima.

Take-off alternate is required when the departure aerodrome weather is below the applicable landing minima; the alternate must be within one hour's flight at single-engine speed for twins.

Instrument approach minima are published as DA/MDA and visibility/RVR; the pilot may not descend below DA/MDA unless the required visual reference is established.

Logbook and recency: recent instrument experience must be recorded; a pilot who has not met recency requirements may not act as pilot in command under IFR until a check is completed.