Aeronautical/Aircraft licences

Who does this licence apply to?

• Persons or other legal entities that own an aircraft with radio transmitting equipment fitted on-board.

• Persons or other legal entities that own and/or operate radio transmitting equipment for the purpose of communicating with aircraft or other aeronautical services within the confines of an airport or aerodrome.

Aircraft operating within the territorial limits of New Zealand

New Zealand aircraft are covered by a General User Radio Licence. This means they are not required to be individually licensed.

If you would like to obtain an identification code or a callsign, you must submit an application to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Aircraft registered in New Zealand are allocated registration marks in the series ZK AAA to ZK ZZZ. The registration letters form the aircraft callsign (except where alternatives such as flight identification are authorized). Registration marks can be found in the online aircraft register which is maintained by the CAA.

Hang Glider / Para Glider

Hang glider / Para glider have no provision for recording callsigns for these as they are used on an adhoc basis.

The callsign is the prefix HANG or PARA as suitable with a four digit suffix which represents the pilots operator identity number

Aircraft operating outside the territorial limits of New Zealand

Aircraft owners that operate outside New Zealand may have difficulty convincing foreign aviation authorities that the Radiocommunications Regulations General User Radio Licence for Aeronautical purposes Notice 2005 constitutes a valid radio licence. In these circumstances, you can choose to hold an individual licence and present a paper copy of this radio licence to officials in foreign airports. An annual fee will apply.

Application for an individual aircraft radio licence can be made online or contact an approved radio engineer or certifier to apply for the licence on your behalf.

For applicable licence fees refer to the fees schedule.

Aeronautical land station transmitters

Aeronautical land mobile and portable transmitters operating inside the territorial limits of New Zealand are covered by a General User Radio Licence.

Aeronautical fixed or repeater land station transmitters are individually licensed in order to manage interference and ensure compatibility with other radio services.

In order to obtain a licence for an aeronautical fixed or repeater land station transmitter submit an application online, or contact an approved radio engineer or certifier to apply for the licence on your behalf.

Persons operating radio transmitting equipment

Persons operating aeronautical radio transmitting equipment (either aircraft or ground based) are required to hold an appropriate radio operators qualification.