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HIGHLIGHTS OF 2022

ENABLING A SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT AVIATION INDUSTRY

 

We entered 2022 under the Covid-19 Protection Framework (‘traffic light system’), which ended on 12 September.  During the year, border restrictions were progressively lifted; and those parts of the aviation industry affected by the traffic lights and border restrictions could look ahead with some certainty.  Subscription costs were kept at 2019 levels.  We resumed the annual conference and held an online UAVNZ conference in November.  Confidence is returning to the industry, we’re again looking at growth and confronting challenges, especially in the broad regulatory area.

In March, the Council adopted a new strategic plan to guide us through the coming years (the structure of Highlights 2022 reflects that plan).  Tony Michelle started as Executive Officer for NZAAA, Bill MacGregor eased off work and at year end, we appointed Richard Milner as the shared NZHA/UAVNZ Executive Officer.

ADVOCACY: WE REPRESENT MEMBERS IN REGULATORY MATTERS

Submissions: 

These were well up on 2021 but changed from addressing Covid-19 issues as more organisations (Ministry of Transport and MBIE in particular) resumed looking at longer term strategies; to include what we see as a major threat to GA - District and Regional Council Plans; and other agencies, especially in the education sector, sought to progress policies addressing the vulnerable and disadvantaged.  A range of work was undertaken with CAA, FENZ, DoC, Worksafe and other regulatory agencies.  Much of this work was only possible through the input from members (to give us the necessary expertise) and by working with other aviation and business associations. 

Submissions included aviation regulatory changes, including AC92-2 and 21/ASD/17-1. (to CAA); 13 regional and district plans (to local authorities); Metservice Pricing; sustainable aviation, airspace integration, Freight and Supply Chain Issues (to MoT); Operationalising the border opening for high value education, EFTs funding, revising the qualifications framework (to Ministry of Education and agencies); Fire and Emergency New Zealand Levy Exemptions; and Managing exotic afforestation incentives (MPI).  We presented to the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee on the CAA Bill.  

Meetings and input to agencies/organisations including:

Politicians including Ministers of Transport, Covid Response, Finance, Regional Development and a number of politicians from other parties;
Government agencies including Ministries of Education, Primary Industries, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Health, Transport and Environment; MBIE; NZ Trade & Enterprise, Climate Change Commission, DOC, FENZ, Services Workforce Development Council (Ringa Hora), Metservice, TAIC and Airways;
Regulatory agencies including CAA, NZQA, TEC, MPI, EPA and Worksafe;
Aviation organisations including ACAG, ALPA, Aviation Federation, BARNZ and NZ Airports Assn;
Business associations including Business NZ, Business Councils, Federated Farmers, Fertiliser Assn of NZ, Tourism Industry Aotearoa, and Chambers of Commerce; and
Others including Coroners Court. 

Successes
While we can’t claim 100% responsibility, successes in which we had a heavy hand included: 

• Operationalising the Government approval for 400 international pilot cadets to start arriving in February 2022;

• Ensuring aviation content in regional/district plans coming up for renewal contain provisions to protect GA activity;

• Engaged a local government specialist and an acoustic engineer to provide expert technical support to submissions;

• Provided specific information to CAA championing a major rethink on the way agricultural aviation safety levies are calculated in any CAA funding review; and 

• Guidance and input from many of the Executive Committees has ensured practical and relevant advice to CAA, even if the progress we might want to see has been slow.  

ADVANCE PROFESSIONALISM IN AVIATION SAFETY

Advice provided on a wide variety of subjects 

Advice was provided in areas including improving professionalism, SMS, Incident and safety reports, spray drift, Down to the Wire, AIRCARE, New Southern Sky, wage changes, relationships and issues with CAA, practical advice to smaller members on SMS, and explaining aviation realities - including Ministry of Education, Education NZ, TEC and NZQA.  

Successes

• Surveys on the health of the industry which gave us real data and allowed facts based contributions to be made to policy agencies - even if the outcomes/programmes did not necessarily result in the real value we were seeking.  

• SOPs updated for Part 133, 135, 137, 141 and 145 organisations for various ‘traffic light’ levels and kept up to date, to make Government requirements easier to understand for members.

• Helicopter safety advisories sent to members, incorporating learning from HAI.

• Successfully engaged with Worksafe to seek relief from the Tank Wagon code of practice

• Professional Standards for UAV Training Providers developed and an updated UAVNZ Code of Conduct issued

• Coordination with other business associations (Business NZ and TIA) to strengthen the aviation voice, provide practical advice and improve the prospects of being listened to.

• Use of Youtube to communicate advice to members. 

BE THE VOICE OF THE COMMERCIAL AVIATION INDUSTRY

Industry data
Key facts about New Zealand aviation and the breadth of our membership added to the website. 

Website and Social Media Growth
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn presence increased and linked to website and divisional newsletters.  This has allowed better use of advice and intelligence and is helping broaden organisation reach.

Aviation NZ Facebook: 792 (586 in 2021), NZAAA Facebook: 1390 (1261 in 2021), Aviation NZ LinkedIn: 548 (436 in 2021),  CE LinkedIn: 1028 (924 in 2021), Twitter: 180 (176 in 2021).

Newsletters

Weekly newsletter, 5 divisional newsletters (NZAAA, NZHA, Training & Development, Engineering & Supply and UAVNZ), specific purpose newsletter mail-outs (e.g. COVID-19 SoPs, member surveys, and Conference).  CAA safety statistics updated quarterly and distributed to NZAAA and NZHA members.  

Networking with members

The Aviation NZ in-person Conference in August and the UAVNZ online Conference in November brought best practice domestic and international technical advice and assistance to the attention of members.  Programmes developed and implemented by divisional Executive Committees.  

Press releases, articles and presentations

A number of comments made/interviews given (radio, newspaper and TV) on subjects including UAV safety, helicopter safety, coroners reports, aviation in a more sustainable world, CAA rules development, impact of Covid on industry, opening the border, aviation accidents and aviation safety.   Articles on New Zealand aviation appeared in Kiwiflyer and on pilot training in AFM.aero. 

Successes

• 13,691 unique visits to website (12 months ended 29 November). 11,840 in 2021

• Combined Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn following of 3938 (2694 in 2021).

• Weekly newsletter circulation 1610 with 37% opening (1520, 35%, 2021).  50%+ member opening.

• Divisional newsletters - very specific circulation but 65%+ opening.

• Website and newsletters reformatted for easier access by mobile devices.

Member Savings

• Through n3 members saved on average $4000 pa.

• Ofx being used by members for foreign exchange transactions.

• Manage Company being used to save money on ACC levies (average saving of 41% on levies).

Organisation Performance

Operational surplus of $66,713 but had a deficit of $131,189 after comprehensive revenue (taking Aspeq into consideration) and tax ($72,145 surplus in 2020/21 and deficit of $234,366 ).  Net assets of $1.57m compared with $1.706m in 2020/21.  There were 21  new members, with 9 resignations mostly through business closures.