Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
28 February 2005
MEDIA RELEASE
For further information contact:
Bill Sommer
Tel: 04 560 9411 or 027 546 8216
Begins
Flight Information Service not Required at Taupo Aerodrome
The Director of Civil Aviation, John Jones, has announced that he has accepted twenty one of the twenty five recommendations made in an aeronautical study conducted by a team within the Civil Aviation Authority into operations at Taupo Airport. The four recommendations not accepted relate to the establishment of an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) at Taupo aerodrome.
"At present, I am not convinced that an AFIS is required at Taupo aerodrome," said John Jones. "I do not, therefore, intend to exercise my power under the Civil Aviation Rules (NZCAR 139.113) to require an AFIS or an aerodrome control service at Taupo.
"When safety issues alone are taken into account, the provision of AFIS at Taupo does not produce a positive cost benefit. While the cost benefit analysis conducted as part of the aeronautical study produced a positive result, approximately 40% of the benefit was due to assumed efficiency savings such as a possible reduction in approach flight times. If those efficiency benefits are removed, and only safety benefits considered, introduction of an AFIS is not cost justified."
John Jones acknowledged that the results of the Transport sector review, as embodied in the December 2004 amendment to the Civil Aviation Act, might well broaden the factors to be considered when assessing such issues beyond the safety at reasonable cost requirements that applied before the Act was amended.
"There is still a considerable amount of work to be done within the Transport sector of government, however, to work through the practical implications of the changes brought about by the review. It would be unreasonable of me to pre-judge the outcome of that work, and the results of consultation currently being conducted regarding the establishment of a regulatory framework for the provision of Air Traffic Services at aerodromes, by requiring an AFIS at Taupo on other than safety grounds."
New Zealand Civil Aviation Rule (NZCAR) 139.113 Aerodrome air traffic management - requires the holder of an aerodrome operating certificate to ensure the provision of an AFIS or an aerodrome control service when so required by the Director of Civil Aviation in the interest of safety.