Cape Town Convention

New Zealand is a signatory to the Cape Town Convention - Protocol Specific to Aircraft Equipment. The convention aims to stabilise the rights and interests of lenders and lessors of aircraft and aircraft equipment like engines and airframes.

Cape Town allows lenders and lessors to register an Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation (“IDERA”). An IDERA is a creditor’s remedy in case of default by the lessee. An IDERA must be recorded with the registry authority – the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand for all New Zealand-registered aircraft.

Does my aircraft qualify under Cape Town?

Only the following aircraft and aircraft equipment are covered by the Cape Town Convention:

1. aircraft engines powered by jet propulsion or turbine or piston technology together with all modules and other installed, incorporated or attached accessories, parts and equipment and all data, manuals and records relating thereto, and:
   1. in the case of jet propulsion aircraft engines, have at least 1750 lb of thrust or its equivalent
   2. in the case of turbine-powered or piston-powered aircraft engines, have at least 550 rated take-off shaft horsepower or its equivalent
2. airframes means airframes that, when appropriate aircraft engines are installed thereon - together with all modules and other installed, incorporated or attached accessories, parts and equipment and all data, manuals and records relating thereto - are type certified by the competent aviation authority to transport:
   1. at least 8 persons including crew; or
   2. goods in excess of 2750 kilograms
3. helicopters means heavier-than-air machines supported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on one or more power-driven rotors on substantially vertical axes - together with all modules and other installed, incorporated or attached accessories, parts and equipment and all data, manuals and records relating thereto - and which are type certified by the competent aviation authority to transport:
   1. at least 5 persons including crew; or
   2. goods in excess of 450 kilograms.

How to record an IDERA

To record an IDERA a lender or lessor must correctly complete and submit the two IDERA forms and the fee. Once the CAA receives the completed IDERA forms, we will record and acknowledge receipt of the IDERA within 5 business days.

24047/09 Submission of an Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation - Section 109 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 [PDF 9 KB]

24047/09A Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation - Section 109 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 [PDF 282 KB]

Authorised party or certified designee

Only one party may enforce an IDERA - either the lessor or its certified designee. If a certified designee is the ‘authorised party’ on IDERA form 24047/09A, they must include a letter confirming their designation.

How to remove an IDERA

An IDERA may be removed only with the written consent of the authorised party. We'll act on the removal request and send a confirmation letter to the submitter.  At this point the aircraft can be deregistered or the possession of the aircraft can change.

24047/10 Removal request – irrevocable de-registration and export request authorisation [PDF 26 KB]

How to de-register an aircraft

To de-register an aircraft under an IDERA, the authorised party must submit a de-registration form to us, which will act on the request and send a confirmation letter to the submitter.  At this point, the aircraft is no longer on the New Zealand register and it does not possess an airworthiness certificate.  Before the aircraft may be flown out of New Zealand, the aircraft must be registered and have an airworthiness certificate issued by an authorised registry authority. The registry authority does not need to be the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.

IDERA registration requests and questions should be emailed to aircraftregistrar@caa.govt.nz

24047/05 De-registration of aircraft [PDF 1.9 MB]

We'll always confirm we've received all IDERA applications, registrations and revocations.

Insolvency of operator

The Civil Aviation Act 1990 does not protect your financial interest in an aircraft if the operator becomes insolvent.

You need to register that interest on either the International Registry or the Personal Property Security Register. To determine which register you should use for your interest, check the FAA website(external link).

If the aircraft or engine is listed, you should register your interest on the international registry. If your aircraft or engine type is not listed, you should use New Zealand’s Personal Property Security Register. See above Cape Town Convention – Protocol Specific to Aircraft Equipment