Fireworks, Model aircraft, Kites, Structures, Wires and other aerial hazards

Air navigation hazard requirements

air navigation hazardsWhat is a hazard to air navigation?

Hazards to air navigation include:

  • Lights, searchlights and lasers
  • Structures such as masts and buildings
  • Jet efflux (exhaust)
  • Rockets and pyrotechnics
  • Firing (projectiles) and explosives
  • Model aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
  • Parasails and gyrogliders (both activities tethered)
  • Kites and moored balloons (kytoons)
  • Free balloons* (unmanned)

*Untethered balloons smaller than 1.5 m3 with a payload of less than 2 kg are not defined as hazards

Lights, searchlights and lasers

These devices must be notified to the CAA no less than five working days prior to the activity if they are liable to endanger aircraft by glare, direct exposure, or are capable of being mistaken as aeronautical lights.

pyrotechnic graph

Structures

Permanent structures are considered to be obstructions to air navigation if they are within the red notification zone or the orange structure notification zone. These must be notified to the CAA no less than 90 days before construction, unless it is:

  • shielded by a taller object within 600m (such as the blue mast above); or
  • contained within a restricted area or danger area prescribed for the hazard.

Temporary hazards to air navigation

Other temporary hazards (such as jet efflux, firing, kites, etc) within the red notification zone above must be notified no less than five working days prior to the activity to the:

  • relevant air traffic control (ATC) unit if the affected airspace is controlled*; or
  • CAA for uncontrolled airspace.

Electricity Transmission Lines

To assist pilots in flight planning, particularly for low level operations, the following link to the Electricity Networks Association web page is provided. The web page has a map of New Zealand divided into regions according to the relevant controlling network company. When the user clicks on the appropriate region they are directed to the network company contact page where they can obtain information on electricity lines in that area.

The CAA provides this link to assist pilots in identifying hazards, so that flights may be conducted safely.

www.electricity.org.nz/?page=networkMap

Notification process

* Aerodromes that currently have an ATC service are – Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Ohakea, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tauranga, Wellington and Whenuapai. Contact details for ATC units may be obtained from the Airways Corporation of New Zealand www.airways.co.nz (Tel 04 471 1888).

The location of aerodromes (including heliports) and low flying zones are detailed on the CAA web site at 'Aerodromes' and 'Airspace'. Hazard notification contacts for the CAA: