Aviation Concerns?

Accidents & Concerns

To report an accident call: 0508 ACCIDENT (0508 222 433) 24-hour, 7-day, toll-free.

To report other safety or security concerns call: 0508 4SAFETY (0508 472 338) available office hours (voicemail after hours).

Report other safety or security concerns by email: info@caa.govt.nz

Complaint

Complaints or allegations of suspected offences should be made in writing to:

Attention, Administrator Law Enforcement
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
P O Box 31 441
Lower Hutt

Fax: 04 569 2024

Aircraft Noise

The CAA's area of responsibility is restricted to aviation safety and security. As noise is not generally considered a safety issue, the CAA does not have authority to assist with the problem.

The only exceptions are aircraft that are low flying illegally. Illegal low flying typically means flights below 500 feet in a rural area, and flights below 1000 feet in a built-up area (for details, see below). There are several designated low flying areas around New Zealand in which flights below this height are acceptable.

If you are being bothered by aircraft noise, which is not caused by an aircraft that is low flying illegally, contact your local regional council.

Low Flying

The minimum acceptable heights for flying are prescribed in Civil Aviation Rule 91.311 Minimum heights for VFR flights. Briefly stated, the minimum height an aircraft may operate over a city, town or settlement, is 1000 feet above the highest obstacle, except when taking off or landing. Generally, this is the height at which aircraft are flown when operated within the circuit of an aerodrome.

The minimum height over any other area is 500 feet. There are a number of exceptions such as when carrying out agricultural aircraft operations, when operating within a low flying training area, and when the bona fide purpose of the flight requires the aircraft to be flown at a lower height.

Agricultural Chemical Drift

There may be occasions when agrichemical use causes damage, usually through spray drift. Other instances of damage can occur, for example, through the use of the wrong agrichemical, or ground contamination through spillage.

The Resource Management Act 1991 gives the responsibility to Regional Councils for the control of the discharge of contaminants into the air. Most regions also have plans to address water and soil quality.

If you suspect there has been a spray drift incident, or spillage of agrichemical, whether as an agrichemical user or as a complainant, the first contact is the Regional Council for that area. They will either investigate the complaint, or forward it to the agency that will deal with it. In some circumstances more than one agency may be responsible for investigating an incident.

This link to the Local Government web site gives a directory of Council Websites.