13 June 2024
N.S. Hudson
Sent by email:
[FYI request #26590 email]
Dear N.S,
Official Information Act Request
We refer to your official information request dated 30 April 2024 for the following information:
Dear Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited,
I am writing to submit a request under the Official Information Act 1982 for access to all
flight data recorded by Airways radar systems on 31st December 2023 between the
hours of 3:45 AM and 4:15 AM GMT.
Specifically, I am seeking all available flight data for any and all radar tracks on the
screens of Napier and Gisborne towers, whether the tracks are identifiable or not. This
includes, but is not limited to:
- Alerts (EMG/Conflict/Airspace/Terrain)
- Call sign
- Wake Turbulence category
- Aircraft type
- Ground Speed
- Flight owner (sector)
- Current Altitude/Flight Level
- Cleared Altitude/FL
- Selected FL (in aircraft)
- Destination
- Squawk code
- X-Note (free text note function)
- STAR clearance
AIRWAYS.CO.NZ
PO BOX 1413, CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT CHRISTCHURCH 8544, NEW ZEALAND
PHONE +64 3 358 1500
- RTA (Required Time of Arrival)
- Indicated Airspeed
I kindly request this information in a machine-readable format, preferably in electronic
form such as a CSV or Excel file.
If there are any fees associated with processing this request, please inform me in
advance. I am willing to cover reasonable costs incurred in providing this information.
I understand that you are required to respond to this request within 20 working days,
as stipulated by the Official Information Act 1982.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours faithfully,
N. S. Hudson
Part of the information you have requested is
enclosed. Data 1 contains the following
information:
• Call sign
• Wake Turbulence category
• Aircraft type
• Ground Speed
• Current Altitude/Flight Level
• Destination
• Squawk code
Data 2 contains information on the indicated Airspeed.
However, we have decided to refuse your request for the following information:
• Alerts (EMG/Conflict/Airspace/Terrain) -s9(2)(i)
• Flight owner (sector) -s9(2)(i)
• Cleared Altitude/FL -9(2)(i) and 9(2)(ba)(i)
• Selected FL (in aircraft) -s9(2)(i)
• X-Note (free text note function) -9(2)(i) and 9(2)(ba)(i)
• STAR clearance -9(2)(i) and 9(2)(ba)(i)
• RTA (Required Time of Arrival) s9(2)(i)
under section 9(2)(i) as it is commercially sensitive information and section 9(2)(ba)(i) as it is
subject to the obligation of confidence.
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.
If you want to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Naoka Iwase
Legal Counsel/OIA Advisor