When communicating by radio, the pilot-in-command of a New Zealand registered aircraft may use the approved call sign of the aircraft operator, followed by the flight identification.

If their use has been identified as international, they have been registered with ICAO and published in ICAO Doc 8585 Designators for aircraft operating agencies, aeronautical authorities and services. Domestic use cases are not registered with ICAO and may be used only within the New Zealand FIR.

To apply for an approved call sign, use our form 24091/05 Application for RTF and Three Letter Designator [PDF 22 KB].

Civil Aviation Rule 91.249 Aircraft callsigns

List of approved operator call signs

3 Letter Designator

Call Sign Operator Use
ADY Academy NZ International Commercial Pilot Academy Domestic
AFN Air Freight Air Freight New Zealand Ltd Domestic
AHB Hawke Air Hawkes Bay Ltd Domestic
AMD Airmed Garden City Helicopters Ltd Domestic
ANZ New Zealand Air New Zealand Ltd International
APK AIRPAK Airwork Flight Operations Ltd Domestic
ASL Seaplane Auckland Seaplanes Ltd Domestic
ATT Airtothere Air2There.com(2008) Ltd Domestic
AWC Air West Air West Coast Ltd Domestic
AWK Airwork Airwork Holding Ltd International
BOI Bay Bay of Islands Aero Club (Inc) Domestic
CAC Canterbury Canterbury Aero Club (Inc) Domestic
CAP Capital Helilink Ltd Domestic
CAT CAT CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Ltd Domestic
CFL Care Flight Helicopter Services (BOP) Ltd Domestic
CGD Coast Guard Coastguard Northern Region Domestic
CGE College Nelson Aviation College Ltd International
CGS Coastguard South Southern Wings Ltd Domestic
CHN Christian David W & Margaret R Brown Domestic
CIV Civair Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand International
CVA Chatham Air Chathams Ltd International
DIS Discovery Air Discovery Ltd Domestic
EAG Eagle Eagle Airways Ltd Domestic
EBA East Bay East Bay Aviation Ltd Domestic
FCP Flightcorp Nelson Aviation College Ltd International

FDC

FLYDOC GCH Aviation Domestic
FMD FlightMed Flight Training Manawatu Ltd Domestic
GBA Barrier Great Barrier Airlines Flight Operations Ltd Domestic
GBY Golden Bay Golden Bay Air Ltd Domestic
GIS Gismed Air Gisborne Ltd Domestic
HCP Helicorp Helicopter Corporation Ltd Domestic
HLM Helimed Northland Emergency Services Trust Ltd Domestic
HLR Helilink Rescue Helilink Ltd Domestic
HPR Helipro Rick Lucas Helicopters Ltd International
HTN News Auckland City Helicopters Ltd Domestic
HTZ Helitranz Auckland City Helicopters Ltd Domestic
ILD Island Commercial Helicopters Ltd Domestic
INF Inflite Airwork Flight Operations Ltd Domestic
JPS Jetplus Air National Corporate Ltd International
KIW Kiwi Headquarters NZ Defence Force International
KRC Kiwi Rescue Headquarters NZ Defence Force International
KRL Regional Kiwi Regional Airlines Domestic
LFT Life Flight Air Freight NZ Ltd Domestic
MAP Mapping NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd Domestic
MDK Medicare Air Wanganui Commuter Ltd Domestic
MDL Medilift Air Freight NZ Ltd Domestic
MLD Mainland Mainland Air Services (2010) Ltd Domestic
MSY Massey Massey University School of Aviation International
NAR North Air Rescue Airwork Holdings Ltd Domestic
NLD Air Patrol Northland Coastguard Air Patrol Inc Domestic
NPR Air Napier Air Napier Ltd International
NTA Northern Auckland Aero Club (Inc) Domestic
NTL National Air National Corporate Ltd Domestic
NZM Mount Cook Mount Cook Airline Ltd International
OGN Origin Originair Ltd Domestic
PBN Bluebird Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) Ltd International
PGS Pegasus Tauranga Aero Club (Inc) International
PHL Philips Search and Rescue Ltd Domestic
PLB Polyblue Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) Ltd International
PLC Police New Zealand Police (Hornby) Domestic
PST Post Airwork Holdings Ltd Domestic
QNZ QANTAS Jet Connect Jetconnect Ltd International
RAA Ridgeair RidgeAir Ltd Domestic
RKU Rakiura South East Air Ltd Domestic
RLK Link Air Nelson Ltd International
SAV Sunair Sunair Aviation Ltd International
SCR Southern Cross Eastern Australian Airlines – JETSTAR Q300 Domestic
SDA Soundsair Sounds Air Travel and Tourism Ltd Domestic
SKL SKY Skyline Aviation Ltd Domestic
SKY Skycam Galtech Models Ltd Domestic
SRI Airsafari Air Safaris & Services  (NZ) Ltd International
SSA SouthEast South East Air Ltd Domestic
STK Stark Stark Airlines Ltd – Flystark.com Domestic
SWT Skywest Skywest Aviation Ltd Domestic
SUY Survey Aerial Surveys Ltd Domestic
VOL Volcanic Volcanic Air Safaris Ltd Domestic
WAR Warbirds New Zealand Warbirds Association 1987 (Inc) International
WPR Westpac Rescue Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust International
XFX Aircorp Airways Corporation of New Zealand Ltd International