Note: This is the original issue of Part 66, not the current consolidation.
Part 66 - initial issue [PDF 800 KB]
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This Part prescribes rules governing—
(1) the issue of aircraft maintenance licences, certificates, and ratings; and
(2) the privileges and limitations of those licences, certificates, and ratings.
The following licences, certificates, and ratings are issued under this Part:
(1) aircraft maintenance engineer licences in one or more of the following categories:
(i) aeroplane:
(ii) rotorcraft:
(iii) powerplant:
(iv) electrical:
(v) instrument:
(vi) radio:
(vii) lighter than air aircraft:
(2) certificates of maintenance approval:
(3) certificates of inspection authorisation:
(4) group ratings in the groups listed in Appendix B:
(5) aircraft and component ratings.
(a) An applicant for the grant of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence, additional licence category, or certificate of maintenance approval must complete the approved CAA form and submit it to the Director with a payment of the appropriate application fee prescribed by regulations made under the Act.
(b) An applicant for the grant of a certificate of inspection authorisation must complete the approved CAA form and submit it to the Director with a payment of the appropriate application fee prescribed by regulations made under the Act.
(c) An applicant for the grant of a licence or certificate on the basis that the applicant is the holder of a current licence or certificate issued by a foreign contracting State to the Convention must, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b), produce that licence or certificate to the Director.
(d) An applicant for the grant of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence rating must complete the approved CAA form and submit the form to the Director with a payment of the appropriate application fee prescribed by regulations made under the Act.
(e) The forms referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) require—
(1) the name and address for service in New Zealand of the applicant; and
(2) further details relating to the applicant that the Director may require as specified on the form.
(a) The Director may issue a licence, certificate, or rating under the Act and this Part if the Director is satisfied that—
(1) the applicant is a fit and proper person; and
(2) the applicant has sufficient ability in reading, speaking, and understanding the English language to enable them to carry out the responsibilities of the holder of that licence, certificate, or rating; and
(3) the applicant meets the eligibility requirements in the appropriate Subpart for the licence, certificate, or rating; and
(4) the granting of the certificate or licence is not contrary to the interests of aviation safety; and
(5) the applicant is medically fit to exercise the privileges of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence holder as required by rule 66.19.
(b) The Director may issue a licence, certificate, or rating under the Act and this Part on the basis that the applicant is the holder of a current licence or certificate issued by a foreign contracting State to the Convention if the Director is satisfied that—
(1) the applicant is the holder of an acceptable licence or certificate; and
(2) the applicant is a fit and proper person; and
(3) the granting of the certificate or licence is not contrary to the interests of aviation safety; and
(4) except as provided in paragraph (c), the applicant has passed the examinations required by rule 66.53(a); and
(5) the applicant is medically fit to exercise the privileges of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence holder as required by rule 66.19; and
(6) the applicant has sufficient ability in reading, speaking, and understanding the English language to enable them to carry out the responsibilities of the holder of that licence, certificate, or rating.
(c) The holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence issued by the competent authority of Australia is eligible to a licence or certificate issued under the Act and this Part if the holder passes an examination in New Zealand Air Law acceptable to the Director. The licence holder is not required to pass the oral examination required by rule 66.53(a).
(a) An aircraft maintenance engineer licence issued under the Act and this Part is valid for the lifetime of the holder unless it is suspended or revoked in accordance with the Act.
(b) A certificate of maintenance approval may be granted for a period not exceeding 5 years.
(c) A certificate of inspection authorisation may be granted for a period not exceeding 5 years.
(d) The holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence, certificate of approval, or certificate of inspection authorisation that has been suspended or revoked must as soon as practicable forward the document to the Director.
(a) An applicant for the grant of a licence, rating, or certificate under this Part must—
(1) for any examination, produce proof of personal identity; and
(2) for a written examination, gain at least 70% of the possible marks to pass; and
(3) for an oral examination, demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of the subject being tested.
(b) A pass in a written subject is valid for the lifetime of the holder except for written passes in Air Law which are valid for 5 years.
(c) To be eligible for the oral examination required by rule 66.53(a)(3) an applicant must meet the written examination and experience requirements in rules 66.53(a)(2) and (4).
(d) An applicant who fails an examination 3 times is ineligible to reapply for that examination for a period of 3 months from the date of the last attempt.
(a) If the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that the holder of any licence, certificate, or rating issued under the Act and this Part does not have the competence to exercise the privileges of that licence, certificate, or rating, the Director may require the holder to undergo any of the examinations referred to in rule 66.53 to establish that holder’s competency.
(b) Before requiring the holder to undergo any examination under paragraph (a), the Director must inform the holder in writing of the grounds for the re-examination.
(a) During any written examination under this Part, a person must not do, or attempt to do, or procure another person to do any of the following—
(1) copy from another person;
(2) refer to any unauthorised source of information;
(3) communicate in any way with another person, except the person administering the examination;
(4) take an examination on behalf of another person;
(5) remove written or printed material from the examination room, unless authorised to do so by the person administering the examination;
(6) use any means or device to copy electronic, written or printed material supplied during the examination;
(7) take unauthorised material into an examination room.
(b) If the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has attempted, committed, or has procured another person to commit, any conduct referred to in paragraph (a), the Director may immediately suspend the release of all or part of the examination results for the person until the Director determines after due investigation, the action, if any, to be taken under paragraph (c).
(c) If the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has attempted, committed, or has procured another person to commit, any conduct referred to in paragraph (a), the Director may—
(1) disqualify the person from the result of the examination; or
(2) debar the person from sitting any examination relating to an aviation document required by the Act for a specified period not exceeding 12 months.
(d) Before taking an action under paragraph (b) or (c), the Director must reasonably inform the person in writing of the details of the alleged conduct referred to in paragraph (a).
(e) If the Director proposes to take an action under paragraph (c), the Director must give notice in accordance with section 82 of the Act, which applies as if the proposed action were a proposed adverse decision under the Act. For the avoidance of doubt the Director is not required to give notice of appeal under section 82(2)(e) or section 83(2)(iii) of the Act.
A holder of a licence or certificate issued under the Act and this Part must not exercise the privileges of that licence or certificate while that person has a known medical condition, or a change in an existing medical condition, that creates a risk of harm to that person or to any other person resulting from the holder’s exercising of privileges under this Part.
This Subpart prescribes rules governing the grant of aircraft maintenance engineer licences and the privileges, limitations, and recent experience requirements of that licence.
(a) To be eligible for the grant of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence, a person must—
(1) be at least 21 years of age; and
(2) have passed written examinations, or their equivalents, including an examination in Air Law, that—
(i) are acceptable to the Director; and
(ii) are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of an aircraft maintenance engineer in the category of licence sought; and
(3) have passed an oral examination covering the person’s understanding and practical application of the duties and responsibilities exercised by the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence; and
(4) have satisfactorily completed one of the following:
(i) a traineeship in an aviation technical trade, of 4 years of practical aviation related experience, including formal technical training with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or modifying airframes, powerplants, or avionic equipment, gained at any time; or
(ii) a traineeship in an appropriate non-aviation technical trade, and 3 years of practical aviation related experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or modifying airframes, powerplants, or avionic equipment, gained following completion of the traineeship; or
(iii) a total of 5 years of practical aviation related experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing maintaining, or modifying airframes, powerplants, or avionic equipment; or
(iv) a course of integrated training, including at least 3 years of supervised training and experience, conducted by the holder of a training organisation certificate granted under section 75 of the Act and in accordance with Part 141 or Part 147 if the certificate authorised the conduct of such a course.
(b) For each option in paragraph (a)(4), 2 years of the experience required must be appropriate to the category of licence sought.
(c) The holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence is entitled to an additional category of licence if the holder has passed the applicable examinations required by paragraph (a)(2) and has completed—
(1) 2 years of experience appropriate to the category of licence sought; or
(2) 1 year of experience appropriate to the category of licence sought if the applicant has exercised the privileges of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence for 10 or more years.
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b), (c), and the requirements of rule 43.54, an aircraft maintenance engineer licence authorises the holder to—
(1) perform or supervise the maintenance of an aircraft or component; and
(2) release an aircraft or component to service after maintenance has been performed.
(b) A holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence must not exercise the privileges of that licence on an aircraft or component unless that person can demonstrate competency in the maintenance of the aircraft or component and—
(1) holds the applicable group or type rating specified in Appendix B for that aircraft or component; or
(2) the privileges are limited privileges specified in Appendix C.
(c) A holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence must not exercise the limited privileges specified in Appendix C that require the use of special test equipment unless –
(1) the holder has evidence that they have received training on the use of that equipment; and
(2) the holder uses the special test equipment when required.
A holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence must not exercise the privileges of the licence unless, within the immediately preceding 2 years, the holder has—
(1) for a period of at least 6 months—
(i) exercised the privileges of the licence; or
(ii) supervised the maintenance of aircraft relevant to the ratings held in an executive capacity; or
(iii) performed a technical training function relevant to the ratings held in a certificated training organisation; or
(iv) been engaged in any combination of the activities specified in subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii); or
(2) passed an oral examination covering the person’s understanding and practical application of the duties and responsibilities exercised by the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence; or
(3) completed recurrent training in order to be proficient relevant to the ratings held, conducted by—
(i) the aircraft manufacturer; or
(ii) a Part 141, Part 145, or Part 147 certificated training organisation; or
(iii) a competent authority of a foreign Contracting State acceptable to the Director; or
(iv) the Director.
This Subpart prescribes the rules governing aircraft maintenance engineer group ratings and aircraft maintenance engineer type ratings.
To be eligible for the grant of an aircraft maintenance engineer group or type rating a person must—
(1) hold a current aircraft maintenance engineer licence in the relevant category as specified in rule 66.5(1); and
(2) have completed 6 months practical experience on the type or group of aircraft for which the rating is sought or other similar experience acceptable to the Director; and
(3) have successfully completed examinations acceptable to the Director; or
(4) have successfully completed a period of training acceptable to the Director conducted by—
(i) the manufacturer; or
(ii) a Part 141, Part 145, or Part 147 certificated training organisation; or
(iii) a competent authority of a foreign contracting State acceptable to the Director; or
(iv) the Director.
(a) A group rating authorises the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence to exercise the privileges of that licence on any aircraft or component falling within the definition of the applicable group in Appendix B.
(b) Subject to the requirements in Part 145.5, a type rating authorises the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence to exercise the privileges of that licence on the type of aircraft or component specified on the rating.
This Subpart prescribes rules governing the issue of certificates of maintenance approval and the privileges and limitations of that certificate.
To be eligible for a certificate of maintenance approval a person must—
(1) have practical experience, acceptable to the Director, for the type or group of aircraft or components for which the maintenance approval is sought; and
(2) for the type or group of aircraft or components for which the maintenance approval is sought—
(i) have successfully completed a course of training acceptable to the Director; or
(ii) have passed examinations, including an examination in Air Law, that are acceptable to the Director.
(a) A certificate of maintenance approval specifies the privileges that the certificate holder may exercise.
(b) A certificate of maintenance approval may authorise a person—
(1) who is the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence, to perform maintenance on, and certify for release-to-service, any aircraft type for which the certificate holder does not have the practical experience required by rule 66.103(2); or
(2) who is not the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence but who satisfies the Director that they are competent, to perform or supervise—
(i) the maintenance specified on the certificate on an aircraft or component, and certify the aircraft or component for release-to-service; or
(ii) maintenance on, and certify for release-to-service an aircraft that has a special category airworthiness certificate issued in accordance with Part 21, Subpart H.
This Subpart prescribes rules governing the grant of certificates of inspection authorisation and the privileges and limitations of that certificate.
(a) To be eligible for a certificate of inspection authorisation a person must hold a rated aircraft maintenance engineer licence, issued under the Act and this Part, or an equivalent Australian aircraft maintenance engineer licence registered in New Zealand, in –
(1) both aeroplane and powerplant categories; or
(2) both rotorcraft and powerplant categories;
(3) electrical group 1, instrument groups 1 and 2, and radio groups 1, 2 and 3 categories.
(b) A person referred to in paragraph (a) must, at the time of the application have—
(1) held the licence for a period of at least 5 years; and
(2) met the recent experience requirement prescribed in rule 66.57 for a period of at least 5 years; and
(3) within the immediately preceding 2 years—
(i) exercised the privileges of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence for a period of not less than 6 months; or
(ii) supervised, in an executive capacity, the maintenance of aircraft; and
(4) have successfully completed a course of instruction and passed a written examination on the inspection of aircraft and components for conformity with the rules, conducted by—
(i) the holder of a maintenance training organisation certificate or a restricted maintenance training organisation certificate issued under the Act and Part 147; or
(ii) the Director.
(a) Subject to paragraph (b), (c) and (d), a certificate of inspection authorisation entitles the holder to—
(1) perform a review of airworthiness in accordance with Part 43, Subpart D; and
(2) certify conformity with the technical data listed in Appendix D to Part 21 after completion of major repairs and major modifications in accordance with Part 43, Subpart E.
(b) A person must not exercise the privileges specified in paragraph (a) unless that person has available and uses the equipment, facilities, and inspection data necessary to properly inspect airframes, powerplants, propellers, or any related part or component.
(c) A holder of a licence in electrical group 1, instrument groups 1 and 2, and radio groups 1, 2, and 3 is restricted to certify conformity in accordance with the technical data listed in Appendix D to Part 21 after completion of avionics major repairs and major modifications.
(d) To avoid doubt a holder of a licence in electrical group 1, instrument groups 1 and 2, and radio groups 1, 2, and 3 must not certify conformity for any surrounding structure that requires modification.
The holder of a certificate of inspection authorisation must not exercise the privileges of that certificate unless:
(1) within the preceding 12 months, the holder has—
(i) performed 4 annual reviews of aircraft maintenance in accordance with Part 43, Subpart D; or
(ii) certified 4 aircraft or components for conformity with the data listed in Appendix D to Part 21 after completion of major repairs or major modifications; or
(iii) performed a combination of the activities specified in subparagraphs (i) and (ii); or
(iv) successfully completed a refresher course comprising at least 8 hours instruction that is acceptable to the Director; or
(v) successfully completed an examination acceptable to the Director; and
(2) within the immediately preceding 2 years, the holder has for a period of at least 6 months met the recent experience requirements of rule 66.57.
(a) The holder of a valid licence issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1953 that existed immediately before 1 September 2020 —
(1) is deemed to have been issued an aircraft maintenance engineer licence by the Director under the Act and this Part; and
(2) may exercise the privileges of an aircraft maintenance engineer licence specified in rule 66.55; and
(3) must comply with the limitations and recent experience requirements specified in rules 66.55 and 66.57.
(b) The holder of a valid Type I (major), Type II (minor), or group or type rating issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1953 that existed immediately before 1 September 2020 —
(1) is deemed to have been issued an aircraft maintenance engineer group or type rating by the Director under the Act and this Part; and
(2) may exercise the privileges of the rating specified in rule 66.105.
(c) The holder of a valid licence with a rating issued under Appendix B.1 Group 4 that existed immediately before 1 September 2020, may continue to exercise the privileges of the rating.
Ratings may be issued in the following groups:
(a) Aeroplane
Group 1: Unpressurised aeroplanes with fixed landing gear not exceeding 5700 kg, other than Group 3:
Group 2: Unpressurised aeroplanes other than Group 1 and Group 3:
Group 3: Aeroplanes with principally wooden or tubular structure, fabric covered:
Group 4: Reserved:
Group 5: Pressurised aeroplanes not exceeding 5700kg MCTOW, by individual type:
Group 6: Pressurised aeroplanes exceeding 5700kg MCTOW, by individual type.
(b) Rotorcraft
Group 1: Piston engine rotorcraft:
Group 2: Single turbine engine rotorcraft:
Group 3: Twin turbine engine rotorcraft, by individual type:
(c) Powerplant
Group 1: Normally aspirated piston engines:
Group 2: Turbocharged or supercharged engines:
Group 3: All turbine engines, by individual type:
(d) Electrical – complex systems require type-specific ratings
Group 1: Electrical systems in aircraft which have as their primary source of power:
(i) DC generators; or
(ii) starter generators; or
(iii) alternators with self-contained rectifiers:
Group 2: Electrical systems which have as their primary source of power:
(i) DC generators, or starter generators, and have frequency wild alternators installed for secondary services; or
(ii) constant frequency AC from alternators driven by constant speed drive units:
(e) Instrument – complex systems require type-specific ratings
Group 1: General aircraft instrument systems; basic flight instrument systems; oxygen systems, cabin pressurisation and air conditioning systems:
Group 2: Autoflight and navigation systems including air data computer systems, servo driven instruments, remote gyro systems including remote reading compasses, automatic flight control systems and inertial navigation systems:
(f) Radio – complex systems require type-specific ratings
Group 1: Airborne communication systems including but not limited to UHF, VHF, CVR, audio and ELT:
Group 2: Airborne navigation systems including ADF, VOR, ILS, Very Low Frequency, marker beacon, GPS and GNSS:
Group 3: Airborne surveillance systems including weather radar, doppler, radio altimeter, DME, transponder, ADS-B systems and TCAS:
(g) Lighter than air aircraft
Group 1: Hot air free balloons and hot air airships in their entirety:
Group 2: Gas filled airships and their components excluding the engine and propeller or fan, or both.
Ratings for the following aircraft or components must be issued by the Director as type ratings for the individual aircraft or component types:
(1) Aeroplane: pressurised aeroplanes:
(2) Rotorcraft: rotorcraft that the Director considers are not included in the Rotorcraft Group 1 or 2 rating:
(3) Powerplant: turbine power plants:
(4) Electrical: electrical systems and equipment installed in pressurised aeroplanes with an MCTOW of more than 5700 kg:
(5) Instrument: integrated flight systems installed in pressurised aeroplanes with an MCTOW of more than 5700 kg:
(6) Radio: complete radio installations installed in pressurised aeroplanes with an MCTOW of more than 5700 kg:
(7) Components: overhaul and maintenance of aircraft or components specified in rule 43.54(b) and (c).
(a) A holder of a licence in category aeroplane or category rotorcraft may perform or supervise, and certify release to service the following maintenance, if rated on the applicable aircraft type:
(1) the applicable inspections required by Part 91, Subpart G or Part 125, Subpart G or Part 135, Subpart G of Group 1 electrical and instrument systems and Group 1, 2, and 3 radio systems:
(2) replacement, adjustment, and function testing of electrical and instrument components and systems performed within the aircraft (excluding compass systems) except where special test equipment is required:
(3) maintenance of electrical storage batteries:
(4) maintenance of radio systems:
(5) replacement of line replaceable units:
(6) compass systems limited to the compensation of direct and remote reading compasses, and component changes in direct reading compass systems.
(b) The holder of a licence in category powerplant may perform or supervise, and certify for release to service the following maintenance, if rated on the applicable powerplant type:
(1) functional checks and testing of engine instruments provided no special testing equipment is required:
(2) replacement, adjustment and functional testing of components and systems associated with the engine provided no special test equipment is required:
(3) replacement of avionic line replaceable units associated with the powerplant.
(c) The holder of a rated licence in category electrical, instrument, or radio may perform or supervise, and certify for release to service the following maintenance:
(1) the applicable inspections required by Part 91, Subpart G or Part 125, Subpart G or Part 135, Subpart G of Group 1 electrical and instrument, and Group 1, 2, and 3 radio systems:
(2) replacement, adjustment, and function testing of electrical and instrument components and systems (excluding compass systems) performed within the aircraft except where special test equipment is required:
(3) maintenance of electrical storage batteries:
(4) maintenance and installation of radio systems:
(5) replacement of line replaceable units:
(6) re-calculate weight and balance.
(d) The holder of a rated licence in category lighter than air aircraft may perform or supervise, and certify for release to service the following maintenance:
(1) routine inspections required by Part 91, Subpart G or Part 125, Subpart G or Part 135, Subpart G:
(2) replacement, adjustment, and function testing of electrical and instrument components and systems (excluding compass systems) except where special test equipment is required:
(3) repair and replacement of interwiring and instrument plumbing:
(4) maintenance of radio systems:
(5) compensation and component changing of direct reading compasses.
