Proposed restricted area - Hokianga Harbour
– airspace user consultation

Civil Aviation Authority

Proposed restricted area - Hokianga Harbour
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1
Proposed restricted area ........................................................................................ 2
Possible effect to IFR aircraft ........................................................................................... 2
Possible effect to VFR aircraft .......................................................................................... 2
Consultation ............................................................................................................ 2
Submissions ............................................................................................................ 4
Further information ................................................................................................. 4
Appendix A – proposed restricted area ................................................................ 5
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Proposed restricted area - Hokianga Harbour
Introduction
Northland-based company, Incredible Skies Ltd, has applied for the designation of a
restricted area to conduct trials of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in the
following operations:
(a) Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flying for development and research purposes,
and
(b) trial deliveries of medical supplies to remote locations.
In support of their application, Incredible Skies Ltd advised:
Rural communities face ongoing challenges where crisis support, and access and
cost for healthcare is difficult. While remote consultations are active in some
locations with GPs and nurses able to consult with patients online, there remains
some difficulty in getting prescriptions and supplies to rural communities in a
timely manner and within reasonable costs.
In Mitimiti for example, where there are around 120 residents and a small school
with around 30 children, it is a three-hour return trip by car on windy gravel roads
to Kaitaia, and a similar timeframe to travel to Rawene where a scheduled car
ferry crossing is necessary.
Regular flooding in Panguru during the winter makes it impossible to get in or out
of the area for anywhere between half a day to three days at a time. In the past 12
months, locals report that their roads were closed on 28 occasions.
There is no public transport and the costs associated with driving to a chemist are
insurmountable for some residents. In addition, the area is not wel  served by a
range of emergency and crisis support services. The timeframes to reach isolated
communities in crisis represent risks to human life.
While UAV delivery of prescriptions and medical supplies is proposed, there is
nowhere in New Zealand to test the ongoing capacity and capability of BVLOS
flying in a controlled environment, that provides a variety of terrains and
conditions that can test UAV’s under challenging conditions.
Incredible Skies Ltd has selected this location because:
“The area comprises a variable terrain including a harbour, inlets, large sand
dunes, coastal, exotic forest, native forest, hill terrain, farmland and variable
coastal weather conditions. This provides a range of conditions in which to test
UAV flights and performance, and wil  assist to explore the boundaries of current
research and development.”

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Proposed restricted area
The proposed restricted area would be activated by NOTAM when a trial is to take place,
from the surface to 3000 ft AMSL. Refer to Figure 1 in Appendix A.
Conditions on operations within the temporary restricted area may be imposed to ensure
that activity is fully contained and clear of aircraft operating outside.
These may include application of vertical and lateral buffers, and meteorological minima.
In addition to the activation by NOTAM, Incredible Skies intend to set up a contact
database where either direct phone calls or emails would be sent to local airspace users
who have subscribed to this service.
Trial information would also be published on the Incredible Skies website –
www.incredibleskies.nz/.
Possible effect to IFR aircraft
There is no effect to IFR aircraft as the proposed restricted area is clear of and below IFR
paths and procedures, including Kaitaia.
Possible effect to VFR aircraft
There are no published aerodromes within the restricted area. At Rawene Hospital, there
is an unpublished heliport used for medical evacuations. Incredible Skies Ltd and
Northern Emergency Services Trust have an agreement to allow medical flights to
continue.
Incredible Skies Ltd has consulted with land owners within the proposed restricted area
and have agreements to manage schedules for aerial spraying/topdressing operations
that may need to take place.
The one VFR flight path identified as being affected by the proposed restricted area is the
direct track between Kaitaia and Dargaville which would require a minimal track change
to remain clear.
The other identified aviation activity within the proposed restricted area would be scenic
overflights. It is not known how often this takes place and how many would possibly be
affected.
Consultation
Prior to designating airspace, Civil Aviation Rule 71.9 requires the Director to consult with
affected persons, organisations and representative groups within the aviation industry
before making a designation or classification of airspace.
The Director invites feedback in regard to the proposed airspace change.
At this stage it is not intended that CAA wil  hold an airspace consultation meeting unless
this is specifically requested by users.
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This document wil  be sent directly to the organisations listed below. It would be
appreciated if you would kindly forward the document to your members for
consideration and comment.
Aerodrome operators (charted aerodromes only)
·  Dargaville aerodrome – Northern Wairoa Aero Club (Inc)
·  Dargaville Hospital heliport – Northland District Health Board
·  Kaikohe aerodrome – Far North Holdings Ltd
·  Kaipara Flats aerodrome – Rodney Aero Club Inc
·  Kaitaia aerodrome – Far North Holdings Ltd
·  Kaitaia Hospital heliport – Northland District Health Board
·  Kerikeri/Bay of Islands aerodrome – Far North Holdings Ltd
·  Ruawai aerodrome – Otamatea Aero Club, Ruawai (Inc)
·  Springhill aerodrome – Instra Aviation Ltd
·  Whangarei aerodrome – Whangarei District Airport
Operators, Organisations and User Groups
The following major operators, organisations and users have been identified:
·  Air New Zealand Group – includes Mount Cook, Air Nelson, Eagle Airways
·  Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
·  Airways Corporation of New Zealand
·  Balloon Aviation Association
·  Flying New Zealand
·  Gliding New Zealand
·  New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association
·  New Zealand Airline Pilots Association
·  New Zealand Aviation Federation
·  New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
·  New Zealand Helicopter Association
·  New Zealand Parachute Federation
·  New Zealand Parachute Industry Association
·  Northern Emergency Services Trust
·  Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand
·  Royal New Zealand Air Force
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·  Sport Aircraft Association New Zealand
·  Sport Aviation Corp
·  Whangarei User Group – Mike Chubb
Notification that this document has been posted online wil  be sent to CAA email
notification subscribers to Airspace Notifications – Briefing Areas 1 and 2.
This document is also available on the CAA website at the following link:
http://www.caa.govt.nz/airspace/airspace-review/
Submissions
This document forms part of the consultation process. Submissions are sought from any
interested person, organisation or representative group.
Submissions are accepted either electronically or via mail.
Please address submissions to:
Group Executive Officer
Aviation Infrastructure and Personnel
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
PO Box 3555
Wellington 6140
Fax: 04-569-2024
Email: [email address]
Reference – Proposed restricted area – Hokianga Harbour
Closing date for submissions is Tuesday 17 April 2018.
Further information
For further information contact:
Paula Moore
Aeronautical Services Officer – Air Traffic Services (Airspace)
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
P O Box 3555
Wellington 6140
Phone:   (DDI) 04 560 9525
Email:   [email address]

18/ASD/19
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Appendix A – proposed restricted area
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Proposed restricted area - Hokianga Harbour
Figure 1 – proposed restricted area
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Document Outline