Airspace hazards

Airspace hazards can include fireworks, lasers, pyrotechnics, cranes, structures, wires, and more.

Types of hazard

The table below shows a number of hazards to aviation. There are different legal requirements under the Civil Aviation Rules for the hazards in each column.

To keep aircraft in navigable airspace safe, under Part 77 Objects and Activities Affecting Navigable Airspace the following hazards must be notified to either us or the local Air Traffic Control (ATC) service.

Hazards	What needs to be notified?
Structures - such as cranes, masts, wind farms and buildings	A structure that is to be built, or altered, that is: 60 m (200 ft) or higher, or within a Low Flying Zone (LFZ Locations), or within an aerodrome/heliport obstacle notification area (contact the aerodrome/heliport operator - see below). Wind farm guidance document: Lighting and marking of wind farm turbines [PDF 163 KB]
Efflux from a structure - exhaust plumes in excess of 4.3 m/second	A structure proposed to discharge efflux greater than 4.3 m/second that is: 60 m (200 ft) or higher, or within an aerodrome/heliport obstacle protection area (contact the aerodrome\heliport operator - see below).
Lights - searchlights and lasers, if these can adversely affect aircraft safety	A light, searchlight, or laser, if it can: adversely affect the pilot, the aircraft operation, or be mistaken as an aeronautical light.
Weapons firing - (projectiles) Pyrotechnics - fireworks displays	A weapon or pyrotechnic, if the projectile has a trajectory of: 45 m (150 ft) or higher and within 4 km (2.25 NM) of an aerodrome or heliport, or 120 m (400 ft) or higher and is more than 4 km (2.25 NM) from an aerodrome or heliport.

How to notify

Structures - must be notified to the CAA at least 90 days before construction on form:

24077/01A - Notice of Proposal to Construct or Alter a Structure - Part 77 [PDF 29 KB]

Other activities - listed above should be notified 10 working days prior, but must always be notified at least five working days before the activity, to either:

• Airways for authorisation if the light, laser, weapon or pyrotechnic display will occur within a control zone whilst the ATC unit is on watch; send the request to – policyandstandards@airways.co.nz who will coordinate with the appropriate ATC Unit.
• OR the CAA Aeronautical Services Unit for all other hazards outside an active control zone, on form:

24077/01B - Notice of Proposal to use a Light or Laser - Part 77 [PDF 27 KB]

24077/01C - Notice of Proposal to use Pyrotechnics or Weapons - Part 77 [PDF 27 KB]

24077/01D - Notice of Proposal to Discharge Efflux - Part 77 [PDF 307 KB]

ATC hours of watch can be found in the latest AIP supplement(external link)

Electricity transmission lines

Transpower provides information about electricity transmission lines(external link) on its website.

Also, the Electricity Networks Association website(external link) shows the controlling network company of each area. You can use this to contact the network company to get information on electricity lines in that area.

Read more about wire safety.

Contact information

Aerodrome operator details are available in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)(external link).

Current aerodromes with an ATC service are: Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Ohakea, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tauranga, Wellington and Whenuapai.

Contact: Airways Corporation of New Zealand(external link)
Tel: 04-4711888