Civil Aviation Authority of NZ

19/08/2026

Don't ignore the cautionary light

When a warning light flickers on in the cockpit instrument panel, what’s your first instinct?

Some pilots tend to disregard warning lights – but that mindset is problematic, according to Dave Brown, an ASPEQ Flight Examiner and A-cat instructor.

Dave says a student ignored an alternator warning light because, they said, “It happens all the time”.

“There was a fault with the left engine alternator that was assumed to be an indication fault,” Dave explains.

“The ‘L ALTN FAIL’ caution kept flicking on and off, along with the amber crew alert CAUTION message, and had been doing so for several days.

“The student neither checked the caution nor cleared the flashing alerter, so it continued to flash for the whole flight.

“Part way through the flight, while in IMC, the ‘R ALTN FAIL’ caution also came on.”

The aircraft flight manual and Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) have the following warning:

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WARNING!

If both alternators fail at the same time, reduce all electrical equipment to a minimum. Expect battery power to last 30 minutes and land the airplane [sic] as soon as possible. Expect engine stoppage after this period of time.

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“So, ignoring these cautions could have left the student with a double engine failure in IMC. That’s not something anyone wants to gamble with,” Dave says.

When a warning light flickers on in the cockpit instrument panel, what’s your first instinct? Some pilots tend to disregard warning lights – but that mindset is problematic, according to Dave Brown, an ASPEQ Flight Examiner and A-cat instructor. Dave says a student ignored an alternator warning ...

17/08/2026

The Spring 2026 edition of Vector magazine puts airport security in the spotlight and asks who, exactly, is responsible for making sure it’s robust. Here’s a clue. It’s everyone.

If you were flying in a certain area, or in a certain aircraft, or on a certain day, and another pilot had an issue with flying in that area, or in that aircraft, or on a certain day, wouldn’t you want to know? That’s what reporting does, and it’s critical to safety. Vector lays out what the new Civil Aviation Act says about reporting.

And in a ‘companion’ piece to our story about reporting, we talk investigations. First and foremost, today’s investigations are about finding out how the system allowed an occurrence to happen – how decisions were shaped by the conditions people were operating in, and where improvements can be made to better support safe operating in the future.

These and lots of other stories and guidance in the September issue of your favourite aviation safety magazine. In letterboxes from early September.

13/08/2026

Check out Vector as a ‘flipbook’! https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/safety-education-and-advice/education/vector-magazine/vector-magazine-archive/

We’ve improved the digital experience of Vector magazine by using FlippingBook software. Instead of a static PDF, you can now read the digital version more like the printed magazine. It’s easy to zoom in and you can still download a PDF version if you wish. Try it out and let us know what you think!

11/08/2026

Writing an accurate, helpful TAF

By MetService aviation meteorologist Alwyn Bakker

Aerodrome forecasts – known as TAFs – pack a massive amount of information into a few lines. Here’s a look at how they’re written.

Meteorologists start writing a TAF by looking at coarse model data (10 to 20km resolution) and satellite imagery. We’re working out where features such as fronts and lows are, and how they’re likely to move over the forecast period.

Next, we use finer resolution models (800m to 4km resolution) to investigate how those features may affect the airports we’re looking after.

Finally, we use a mix of local knowledge, experience, historical data, and rules of thumb to refine our thinking further, until we end up with a story we’re happy with.

Along the way, we compare notes with our fellow meteorologists. If conditions are conducive to thunderstorms, we’ll discuss timings and probabilities with the specialist thunderstorm forecaster. The severe weather forecaster might have warnings and/or watches out, which may affect our TAFs, especially if significant wind gusts are expected. Fog and low cloud questions go to the lead forecaster, but just as often they’ll want our input, so it’s best for us to come prepared with what we know.

Aerodrome forecasts – known as TAFs1 – pack a massive amount of information into a few lines. Here’s a look at how they’re written. By MetService aviation meteorologist Alwyn Bakker Meteorologists start writing a TAF by looking at coarse model data (10 to 20km resolution) and satellite image...

05/08/2026

Aviation Security Officer - Load Assistants, Fixed Term Contract

03/08/2026

The ‘big sky’ is getting smaller

There have been 26 reports of close calls in Class G airspace, while enroute, since the beginning of 2025.

Here are observations from some of them. You’ll find there’s a theme...

"I estimate we would have passed within 50ft of each other with no avoiding action but with the descent made I estimate we passed within 100ft… I did have some shock afterwards."

"The aircraft was not on ADS-B or flight radar... I don’t recall hearing any radio calls from this aircraft."

"I had a near miss with ZK-### while overhead the Hawea area. I didn’t hear any radio calls from ### and was alerted to the aircraft on my ADS-B."

"No radio position or traffic calls were heard from ZK-### on the relevant frequency before, during, or after, the encounter."

"I saw the aircraft turn back and begin orbiting overhead Feilding township with no radio calls. I tried to establish coms multiple times, but they never replied."

While most reported close calls in uncontrolled airspace occur around aerodrome circuits, a growing number are happening in the ‘great blue beyond’ – and that’s very much worrying the CAA.

In total, there were about 112 reported close calls in uncontrolled airspace, from 1st January 2025 to 31st May, 2026. So the 26 of those happening in cruise represents about one in four. That’s quite a number, given how big the sky is.

Nevertheless, it appears even experienced pilots can miss traffic in Class G airspace.

There have been 26 reports of close calls in Class G airspace, while enroute, since the beginning of 2025. Here are observations from some of them. You’ll find there’s a theme... "I estimate we would have passed within 50ft of each other with no avoiding action but with the descent made I estima...

02/08/2026

In Class G airspace, separation relies on pilot vigilance—but even experienced pilots can miss traffic. Read and share this safety message to help keep Class G safe for everyone.

Safety message: Airborne conflict in uncontrolled Class G airspace

112 close calls have been reported to CAA since the beginning of 2025.

The traffic most likely to hit you is the traffic you’ll never see.

In Class G airspace, separation relies on pilot vigilance—but even experienced pilots can miss traffic. Close calls often occur, not because nobody looked, but because of a combination of poor scanning habits, human visual limitations, aircraft blind spots, high closing speeds, and reduced situational awareness.

While many of these events occurred at unattended aerodromes, a significant number also occurred in enroute uncontrolled airspace, demonstrating the need for pilots to remain vigilant throughout all phases of flight.

Remember:

· Scan systematically - don't fixate on one area.
· Move your head and clear blind spots during turns, climbs, and descents.
· Look far enough ahead and stay focused outside the cockpit.
· Make and monitor radio calls and never assume others know where you are (get your free Plane talking GAP booklet at aviation.govt.nz/order)
· Use all available defences, including transponders selected to ALT and traffic awareness systems where fitted.
· Refresh your knowledge of the Work Together, Stay Apart safety campaign messages. (Resources available on the CAA website’s Safety Initiatives page.)

Stay vigilant, stay aware, and help keep Class G safe for everyone.

See and avoid starts with you.

https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/safety-education-and-advice/safety-messages/

30/07/2026

Receiving too many Vectors?📬

Some people receive multiple copies of Vector magazine each time an issue is released – often because of holding a pilot licence and owning an aircraft.

Let us know if you’re receiving too many copies of Vector magazine by emailing [email protected].

29/07/2026

Critical info for airworthiness

There’s a plethora of service information for an aircraft. Here’s a summary for you to digest.

From the manufacturer to operators and maintainers
Service letters and service bulletins are documents from aircraft and component manufacturers. They come under a variety of names but collectively they’re referred to as manufacturer service information.

They’re all important for operators and owners to take note of, but they do differ in their urgency.

For example, service or information letters are often non-aircraft related material – like, how long the company will be closed for Christmas. But some service letters can be alerts to maintenance issues. Without reviewing them, you just don’t know which category they fit into.

Service bulletins, on the other hand, can be:

alerts addressing a new safety concern – the manufacturer will state in the bulletin how critical the risk is
recommended modifications or inspections that may improve costs or safety
mandatory actions (instructions for continued airworthiness) established as part of the type certification process, such as propeller or engine life limits.

If it’s deemed serious enough, the manufacturer will make the service bulletin mandatory. This may signal to the aviation industry that a mandatory airworthiness directive issued by the National Airworthiness Authority – in New Zealand that’s the CAA – will soon follow.

Aircraft service information There’s a plethora of service information for an aircraft. Here’s a summary for you to digest, then read 'Ignore service information at your peril' down below. From the manufacturer to operators and maintainers Service letters and service bulletins are documents from...

23/07/2026

New revision: How to be a pilot GAP booklet 🧑‍✈️✈️

We’ve refreshed our ever-popular How to be a pilot Good Aviation Practice (GAP) booklet. Whether you want to be a weekend flier, or an airline captain, initially you’ll follow much the same process. This booklet explains what you need to know to start your journey to become a pilot.

Download a digital copy: https://ow.ly/eabG50Zo268

Or order a free printed copy using our online order form: https://ow.ly/G5rS50Zo267