24 May 2024
N. S Hudson
By email: [FYI request #26542 email]
Tēnā koe Mr Hudson,
Re: Official Information Act request for information (24/OIR/314)
I refer to your Official Information Act request dated 26 April 2024 for the following information:
I would like to request any and all information, including civilian and military reports, reports to any
and all government ministers, and any and all information shared between other government
agencies and the CAA, including correspondence, relating to any and all unidentified "flying craft" in
New Zealand airspace since 1st Sept, 2021.
I would like to get similar information, but for all of NZ, from the above date, and include anything
and everything flying, incase there were other craft that weren't provided in that request.
1. We made inquiries within the CAA, and we advise that we do not hold the information that you
have requested. CAA does not hold information on civilian and military reports, reports to any
government ministers or information shared between other government agencies and the CAA,
including correspondence, relating to unidentified "flying craft" in New Zealand airspace.
2. I am therefore refusing the first part of your request under section 18(g) of the OIA because the
information is not held.
3. With regard to the second part of your request, please find enclosed the information requested
with this letter. The data set includes occurrences where there is no registration and flight
number on record.
4. Please note that there may be duplicates of incidents or occurrences which may not fall squarely
under the current OIA request due to the way occurrences relating to unidentified aircrafts are
recorded in the CAA system.
5. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
6. If you want to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me at
[CAA request email].
Ngā mihi
Talia Rachel Zachariah (she/her)*
Official Information Advisor | Kaitohutohu
Legal Services Unit | LSU
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand | Aviation Security Service
Te Mana Rererangi Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | Kaiwhakamaru Rererangi
PO Box 3555, Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 560 9400, Fax: +64 4 569 2024, Email: [email address], Web: www.caa.govt.nz
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This correspondence is confidential, may be privileged and should be read or
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*If you’re wondering about the use of the pronouns she/her on this signature
, read this article about how sharing
pronouns in this way can help create an inclusive and safe environment for transgender and nonbinary
colleagues
Occurrence_No
Severity_Factor
Occurrence_Date_Time
Brief_Description
Location
21/5688
MI
22-Oct-21 Safety - Other. ANZ829M had no comms with OH AREA
Ohakea
for approximately 50-60nm. The aircraft was number
one of a sequence of three. The control er attempted to
give the aircraft a short cut to assist with the sequence
but was unable to establish comms.
21/6246
MI
20-Oct-21 Helicopter landed on soft ground and threatened to tip
Waiouru Military
back. Prevented by pax standing on front of skids.
Zon
21/6483
MI
06-Dec-21 Operational Deviation- Procedure. IAS 126kt observed at Wellington
6nm final Rwy16 / IAS 117kt at 5nm. Speed reduction
had started around 8nm 6nm minimum required is IAS
150kt.
21/6665
MI
19-Dec-21 Operational deviation - Lateral. Was observed turning at Auckland
1000 feet, the SID requires a turn at 500 feet.
21/6667
MI
16-Dec-21 Operational deviation. Departing on STEAL1P SID which
Auckland
has a 500ft MANDATORY turn. Non-compliance as
aircraft did not initiate a turn until 1100ft.
22/1249
MI
02-Mar-22 Unidentified a/c unable to be contacted. PP AFIS
Paraparaumu
contacted to advise presence of a/c. Passed northwards
with no conflict with other traffic.
22/1260
MI
03-Mar-22 An unknown low-wing aircraft was spotted about 3 miles Paraparaumu
north of NZPP, seaward of the coast tracking south. An
attempt was made to establish comms with the aircraft,
with no response. No other aircraft were flying at the
time when it flew through the down
22/166
MI
15-Jan-22 Airspace Infringement. Two paragliders were observed
Queenstown
high in controlled airspace. From the tower perspective
they were
between the Events Centre and the Lone Pine, at a guess
approximately 3300ft AMSL. A third paraglider then
popped into view as wel . Th
22/3271
MI
08-Jun-22 Airspace Infringement. Entered PM CTR/D without a
Palmerston North
clearance.
22/3288
MI
04-Jun-22 Aircraft call signs confusing crew and ATC. On arrival into Christchurch
Wellington with Wellington approach, three flights with
similar call signs causing missed/incorrect radio call read
backs. NZ883M, Napier to Wel ington. NZ338,
Christchurch to Wel ington and NZ81
22/3393
MI
13-Jun-22 Operational Deviation - Procedure. Unauthorised
Queenstown
transponder testing observed at Queenstown at FL150.
Operator contacted to locate source of transmission.
Transponder deactivated and advised to contact the
duty manager for further
tests.
22/36
MI
10-Jan-22 Operational deviation. Aircraft was instructed to turn at Auckland
500ft on Steal1P departure but didn't initiate turn until
above 900ft
22/383
MI
08-Jan-22 Unknown glider observed over parachute drop zone.
Mercer
Glider made no radio calls entering or exiting MBZ and
flew straight over a active PLA.
22/641
MI
31-Jan-22 A/c cal ed at the boundary between Raglan and NAK
with datablock showing long star - DAVEE 6B yet pilot
believed he was on DAVEE 6D
22/6883
MI
16-Nov-22 Operational Deviation - Instruction. TEX05 commenced
Ohakea
the missed approach on the RNAV 15 approach despite
being cleared to circle for RWY 27 and having been
sequenced accordingly on their approach. They
commenced it at the
circling point, while there were
22/7033
MI
22-Nov-22 A/c showed the short DAVEE7D STAR on Skyline in the
En route
Data block and route readout along with AMAN for its
arrival into AA. When the pilot turned off this STAR the
AA TMA control er detected the tracking and chal enged
the pilot who advised they had been is
22/7202
MI
28-Nov-22 2 x go around Wel ington.
Wellington
1st fr 600 ft due tailwind and appr unstable.
2nd due missed touchdown zone
22/7834
MA
28-Dec-22 Several occasions of Apron tower not coordinating as
Auckland
per the agreement between Airways and Auckland
Airport.
- Two aircraft requiring taxi for engine runs given start
approval on C5 by apron without advising Auckland
tower
- Outbound and Inbound in po
23/1402
MI
01-Mar-23 Unidentified VFR aircraft observed at 1900ft in CH CTA/C
with a lower level of 1500ft.
Aircraft vacated CTA to south. No contact with CH TMA
at any stage.
23/1758
MI
11-Mar-23 Approach into Auckland. VMC passing 2500ft, small
Auckland
bal oon observed ahead, gave object a wide berth, and
observed it pass behind aircraft, reported to AKL TWR
23/2653
MI
18-Apr-23 An unidentified target with a Mode S ident of MSY955
was observed to enter CTA tracking SE towards NZPM
without a clearance at 3000ft where LL of CTA is 2500ft.
After transiting for approx 3 miles the aircraft descended
and vacated CTA.
23/4281
MA
15-Jun-23 Malfunction with reserve activation - deployed with line Queenstown
twisteds. Landed safely at PLA.
23/4281
MA
15-Jun-23 Malfunction with reserve activation - deployed with line Queenstown
twisteds. Landed safely at PLA.
23/4409
MI
20-Jun-23 ANZ142L reported at ELT Activation on 121.5Mhz on
Tauranga
taxi. RCC also called TG TWR to advise ELT activation to
unregistered a/c.
Source of ELT not able to be identified - ceased at 23.46.
23/568
MI
28-Jan-23 Airspace infringement - Kitesurfer. A kite surfer was
Milford Sound
spotted operating just to the west of runway 11
threshold, underneath where aircraft would have been
flying when landing. Not sure of the exact height of the
kite but it appeared to be high enough to p
23/6093
MI
25-Aug-23 Pax a/c seen to fly through airspace that had been
Bay of Islands
NOTAM-ed for RPAS operations up to 1200 ft. A/c at
approx 500 ft. RPAS operator was monitoring radio - no
calls made. RPAS operator unable to land in time after
hearing a/c approaching, but could see t
23/6898
MI
24-Sep-23 ANZ616 received an RA but did not include any course of Queenstown
action in their transmission. They appeared to stay on
the SID and continue with their climb profile.
The QN APP ATCO acknowledged the RA and passed
essential traffic to ANZ616, at which stage th
23/7962
MI
07-Oct-23 Airborne Collision Alert. Being radar vectored for ILS 23L. Auckland
Level at 3000 feet just west of EMRAG. Localiser
captured
below glideslope, awaiting capture. Got proximate
amber TA. No vertical tag on TA. Queried Controller.
Reply was "showing no traffic".
23/8313
MI
10-Nov-23 Fixed wing aircraft operating in the circuit was cutting
Feilding
our aircraft off during an introduction to circuits lesson.
The aircraft operated inside of us and cut in front twice
with no acknowledgement to us by radio, resulting in us
making a wider and longe
24/177
MI
10-Jan-24 ANZ336M slowed to 135 knots at 5nm. The minimum
Wellington
approach speed there is 150 knots.
24/1803
MI
22-Feb-24 Whilst flying XAG P100 Pro in an autonomous operation Robinson Rd,
the drone has perched itself on top of a Totara tree. It
Whangar
appears that the front mounted radar system has failed
to see a significant color change in the particular tree
itself.
