What's new

Part 77 proposal

• Building at 31 Prices Road, Wiri
  Submissions close 11 November 2026

Vector Online: Stay out of wildfire airspace

Part 77 determinations

• Cranes at the Corner of Golden Elm Lane and Market Street, Frankton, Queenstown - no hazard determined
• Crane at 192 Cashel Street, Christchurch - no hazard determined

Aviation Safety Insights: Hangar Talk

When weather closes in, VFR margins disappear [PDF 378 KB]

NPRM 26-04 (Part 21) [PDF 664 KB]

The proposals in this NPRM aim to add supplemental type certificates issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to the categories of acceptable technical data, modernise the structure of Part 21 by enabling the use of transport instruments, and move the categories of acceptable technical data from the rules into a transport instrument.

NPRMs open for submission

AC43-9 has also been updated to align with the proposed changes to rule 21.503 and the use of the new transport instrument. 

Advisory Circulars open for consultation

Submissions close 9 November 2026.

Transport Canada AD CF-2026-50 Bell 429 helicopters, S/N 57001 and subsequent - Tail Rotor Pitch Link Spherical Bearing Missing Hard Coating [PDF 134 KB]

Emergency airworthiness directives

Part 77 determination

• Structure at 36c Collingwood Drive, Tikitere, Rotorua - hazard determined

List of Part 109 regulated air cargo agents updated

Aircraft register - updated

Vector Online: Aerodrome safety under construction

Aviation Safety Insights: Lessons from the Field

An unsecured panel and an unexpected turn [PDF 940 KB]

Part 77 proposals

• Crane at 12 Packers Road, Waimate
• Crane at 1 Rolleston Road, Clandyboye
  Submissions for both close 30 October 2026

Aircraft register - updated

Part 157 proposals

• Notice of proposal for activation of an aerodrome – Flock Hill Station
• Notice of proposal for activation of a heliport – Flock Hill Station
  Submissions for both close 15 October 2026

EASA AD 2026-0187 Leonardo AW169 Helicopters - Cargo Hook Barrel Nuts and Retainers [PDF 273 KB]

Emergency airworthiness directives

Part 77 proposal

• Crane at 199 Fryatt Street, Dunedin
  Submissions close 27 October 2026

Part 77 determination

• Crane at 8 Edmunds Way, Milson, Palmerston North - no hazard determined

FAA UPN 2026-AAE-EHL-20260203-279 Radome boots manufactured and sold by AeroTect Paint Protection for installation on type-certificated aircraft [PDF 268 KB]

Other authorities' airworthiness advisories

Vector magazine spring 2026 edition

CAA proposes 5% cut to passenger security levies as operational efficiencies deliver value – a $71m saving by FY32

NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi is introducing a digital DL9 medical certificate that replaces the paper based DL9 medical certificate

Summary of CAA Board meeting – 27 August 2026 [PDF 453 KB]

Board meeting summaries

Aviation Safety Insights: Investigation Insights

Don't skip the reccy [PDF 822 KB]

EASA SIB 2026-10 Allstar PZL - SZD-50-3 “Puchacz” Gliders - Notification of Uncertified Parts [PDF 277 KB]

Other authorities' airworthiness advisories

Aircraft register - updated

Vector Online: Unintended consequences at the fuel bowser

Part 77 proposal

• Met Mast at Hedgehope, near Evans Road, Southland
  Submissions close 22 October 2026

Airworthiness Directives Schedule Amendment Nr 26-09 - effective 24 September 2026

List of Part 109 regulated air cargo agents updated

Vector Online: RACAs – know what’s in the box...

Part 77 proposal

• Crane at 99 Cuthberts Road, Bromley, Christchurch
  Submissions close 19 October 2026

Anticipated peak times at security screening updated

Aviation Safety Insights: Sector Insight Reports

Airborne conflict in uncontrolled Class G airspace [PDF 1.6 MB]

Aviation Safety Insights: Lessons from the Field

Runway occupied but the take-off still started [PDF 313 KB]

Part 77 proposal

• Puke Kapu Hau Wind Farm at El Dorado Track, Otago
  Submissions close 16 October 2026

Aircraft register - updated

Part 77 proposal

• Frost Fan at 211 Renwick Road, Blenheim
  Submissions close 15 October 2026

List of Part 109 regulated air cargo agents updated

UK CAA Emergency MPD 2026-005-E Rotax 915i (series) and 916i (series) engines - Turbocharger Valve Housing Replacement [PDF 225 KB]

Emergency airworthiness directives

Vector Online: The trap of experience

Part 77 proposal

• Two cranes at Britomart, Te Ara Tahuhu, Auckland 
  Submissions close 12 October 2026

Part 157 proposal

• Notice of proposal for activation of a grass runway – Wanaka Airport
  Submissions close 29 November 2026

Anticipated peak times at security screening updated

EASA Emergency AD 2026-0178-E Rotax 915i (series) and 916i (series) engines - Turbocharger Valve Housing Replacement [PDF 302 KB]

Emergency airworthiness directives

Aircraft register - updated

New Advisory Circular:

AC146-2 Delegations for the Approval of Design Changes

And new Advisory Circular revision:

AC146-1, revision 3, Aircraft Design Organisations

Rick Graham receives CAA’s Director’s Award for aviation safety

Vector Online: Safety around stationary aircraft

Part 77 determinations

• Crane at 6 Russel Terrace, Blenheim - hazard determined
• Cranes at the 57 Pitau Road, Mount Maunganui - hazard determined

Updates to security screening at Dunedin Airport

Part 77 determinations

• Crane at 1005 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua - no hazard determined
• Crane at 48 Rutherford Street, Lower Hutt, Wellington - no hazard determined

Aircraft register - updated

List of Part 109 regulated air cargo agents updated

Airworthiness Directives Schedule Amendment Nr 26-08 - effective 3 September 2026

Advisory Circular AC92-2 Carriage of Dangerous Goods

Revision 6 updates the requirements for power banks and amends the provisions for the carriage of e-bikes and other lithium-ion battery powered vehicles. It also adds a definition for State-of-Charge, applying to batteries.

Vector Online: Flying with medical issues

New pending rules and transport instruments have come into effect:

Part 1 amendment 3

Part 139 amendment 2

Civil Aviation (Arresting System) Transport Instrument [CATI 139.51]

We've also published a related Advisory Circular

Following extensive consultation and feedback, the content on draft AC139-15, Aeronautical Studies for Aerodrome Operators and AC139-19, Arresting Systems and RESA, has been consolidated into a single advisory circular, AC139-19.

The new AC provides guidance on compliance with requirements for Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) and Engineered Material Arresting Systems (EMAS), including the assessment of practicability and the preparation of supporting aeronautical studies.

CAA would like to thank the participants who provided feedback.

AC139-19 - Runway End Safety Areas and Engineered Material Arresting Systems

Part 77 proposal

• Crawler crane at 192 Cashel Street, Christchurch
  Submissions close 28 September 2026

FAA Emergency AD 2026-17-10 Applicable to Certain Lycoming O-235, O-540 and IO-540 Series Engines - Piston Pin [PDF 175 KB]

Emergency airworthiness directives

Part 77 proposal

• Tower Cranes at Highgate Parkway, Silverdale, Auckland
  Submissions close 25 September 2026

Aircraft register - updated

List of Part 109 regulated air cargo agents updated

Vector Online: Improving safety in mixed manned and unmanned operations

Part 77 proposals

• Crane at 31 Bond Street, West Invercargill
• House at 36C Collingwood Drive, Tikitere, Rotorua
  Submissions for both close 22 September 2026

Part 77 determinations

• Crane at Fred Ladd Way, Auckland International Airport - hazard determined
• Air Traffic Control Tower at Fred Ladd Way, Auckland International Airport - hazard determined
• Crane at 27 Spedding Road, Whenuapai, Auckland - no hazard determined

Aircraft register - updated

FAA UPN  2026-AAE-EHL-20250507-177 MadebyMike3D, produced and sold articles for installation on type-certificated aircraft without approval and authorization from the FAA [PDF 287 KB]

Other authorities' airworthiness advisories

Vector Online: Don't ignore the cautionary light

Transport Canada CASA 2026-10 Bell 505 Helicopters - Incorrect or Inadvertent Activation of the Throttle Idle / Fly Switch [PDF 239 KB]

FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (ACS) AIR750-2026-07-X-7421-ACS Cracking of Tempest Spark Plugs at Hot lock Assembly [PDF 1012 KB]

Other authorities' airworthiness advisories

Aircraft register - updated

Continuing airworthiness notice 65-003 revision 1 - MD369 Tail rotor gearbox – Input pinion shaft failure [PDF 333 KB]

This revision is issued to correct a previous incorrect statement that the failure of the tail rotor gearbox input shaft as described below could result in the loss of tail rotor drive. CAA have now received advice from the OEM that failure of the retention pin and excessive play in the shaft will not prevent the input shaft from providing drive to the gearbox. 

Continuing airworthiness notices

Continuing airworthiness notice 32-005 - Cessna piston aircraft – Steering tube internal failure [PDF 329 KB]

Continuing airworthiness notices

Advisory Circular AC139-15 reopened for consultation

Comments close 21 August 2026.

Design Delegation Holders Seminars: Presentations have been added from the 2024 seminar and the 2025 seminar.

Part 77 proposal

• 3 Tower Cranes at 7 Kakano Road, Westgate, Auckland
  Submissions close 9 September 2026

Vector Online: Writing an accurate, helpful TAF

Part 77 determination

• Crane at 149 Roscommon Road, Wiri, Auckland - hazard determined

Part 157 determination

• Aerodrome Conditional Determination - Waiorongomai Aerodrome

CASA Airworthiness Bulletin AWB 63-006 Issue 5 - Robinson R22 Main Rotor Drive System [PDF 236 KB]

Other authorities' airworthiness advisories

CAN 65-003 - MD369 Tail rotor gearbox – Input pinion shaft failure [PDF 333 KB]

Continuing airworthiness notices

Aircraft register - updated

AC174-1 - Aviation Meteorological Service Organisations – Certification

Advisory Circulars

Part 77 proposals

• Mobile Crane at Corner Golden Elm Lane & Market Street (South) Queenstown
• Mobile Crane at Corner Golden Elm Lane & Market Street (North) Queenstown
  Submissions for both close 2 September 2026

CE expenses 2025-26

New subsection in the medical certification section:

For optometrists

FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (ACS) AIR750-2026-06-S-5700-ACS - Twin Commander Lower Wing Skin Cracking(external link)

Other authorities' airworthiness advisories

Continuing Airworthiness Notice – 05-007 Revision 3 – Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1009 – Time Between Overhaul Extensions [PDF 296 KB]

Continuing Airworthiness Notices

Vector Online: The ‘big sky’ is getting smaller

EASA AD 2026-0152 MBB-BK117 C-1 helicopters - Vapor Cycle Air Conditioning System Inspection [PDF 302 KB]

Emergency airworthiness directives