The Role of the Regulator

Aviation has provided humanity much benefit. Transport of people and goods in a fast and efficient manner are the most obvious. Of course there are many other applications eg military, agriculture, search and rescue, tourism, etc. Making anything move in a safe and efficient manner requires order. The Civil Aviation Authority is the governing body of rules and regulations in New Zealand. I am delighted to introduce David Harrison - Deputy Chief Executive Safety. David has provided us a wonderful method of learning and living safety in aviation. I commend his leadership of advice in his article and invite you to enjoy the process of making safety an integral part of aviation.

So, you want to join the world of aviation.  Congratulations, what a great choice of career: exciting, challenging and rewarding.  Everybody in the aviation industry shares a passion for flying and all that it entails but with the one goal of doing this as safely as possible.  It won’t be long after you start therefore that you will be introduced to the rules and regulations that enables aircraft within New Zealand and across the globe to have such an enviable safety record.  Welcome to the role of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Imagine the anarchy on our roads if we didn’t define which side of the road to drive on.  As an airline pilot, imagine how impossible it would be to fly between countries with different rules and procedures.  That is taken care of by the work of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) who since the mid-1940s have promulgated the standards for all international aviation.   Within New Zealand, the Civil Aviation Authority is the organisation responsible for providing and monitoring the rules and regulations that cover all aircraft operations within the country.  From recreational aviation to commercial airline operations the CAA sets, maintains and monitors the minimum standards set by the rules and ensures that they are met or exceeded.  The more complex the operation, then the more complex the rule set that an organisation must meet.  This is because the main aim of legislation is to protect the public – passengers or on the ground – so that ‘the aviation system is safe and secure, so people are safe and feel safe when they fly’.  An airline like Air New Zealand is subject to many more regulations than a private pilot for example.

Does this sound daunting?  Don’t worry, your pilot training at every stage will ensure that you have the knowledge of the relevant regulations and procedures; it is not something you can learn overnight.  However, it can get complex and requires plenty of hard work and application as you go through pilot training to take it all on board.  But rest assured there will be plenty of experienced pilots to help you along.  And at the end of the day, your personal attitude to safety is as important as the rules themselves.  Never stop learning no matter how long your flying career.  The best pilots and the safest are those that take every flight as an opportunity to learn.  So, know the rules and regulations, be inquisitive, ask questions and help the CAA keep flying safe.

David Harrison

Deputy Chief Executive Aviation Safety Group

NZ Civil Aviation Authority