Part 102 Certificate Renewal Lead Time

In plain language

To avoid your Part 102 certificate expiring before it is renewed, you should submit your complete renewal application to CAA NZ at least 60 days in advance.

Requirement as structured

CAA NZ recommends that operators submit their Part 102 certificate renewal applications at least 60 days before the current certificate expires.

Original regulatory text

Renewals give CAA assurance that an operator is currently, and will continue to be, operating safely and securely, and managing their aviation safety risks. An operator is responsible for submitting their renewal application and supporting documents in enough time for CAA to process their application before their current certificate expires. CAA encourages applicants to submit renewal applications at least 60 days before a certificate expires. It is also very important to submit a complete application, with all the documentation that is needed for CAA to complete an assessment. An incomplete application will be returned. A certificate may be issued for up to five years. To help with future scheduling, CAA may reduce the validity period, e.g. to avoid a certificate expiring over the Christmas holidays. Operators need to complete the form, Application for issue or renewal of an unmanned aircraft operator certificate, which they can find by going to the ‘Forms’ tab on the CAA website and searching under Part 102, and submit it with all required documents to certification@caa.govt.nz. CAA strongly recommends that renewal and amendments applications are not submitted together. When applicants submit a renewal application and try to include amendments, this can greatly increase the time it takes to process the renewal. What might have been a straightforward renewal application will be delayed as CAA needs to assess the amendment application as well. This increase the risk that the application won’t be assessed by the time the initial certificate expires. Note: Failure to submit the renewal application in time may result in the certificate expiring before a new certificate can be issued and disrupting operations. It is an offence to operate without a current Part 102 certificate. Organisations are advised to submit applications to renew certificates in sufficient time. The time taken to assess a renewal application varies. CAA’s assessment focuses on aviation risk, so inspectors consider: • the nature and scope of the aviation activity • the type of aviation risks being managed • how much the operator and their operation has changed • the operator’s previous performance, and • their attitude towards safety and security when working out how detailed the assessment needs to be. Some factors that CAA will consider include whether the operator has been actively reporting accidents or incidents that have happened, has investigated those accidents or incidents well, and if appropriate, implemented appropriate changes to reduce the chances of a recurrence.

Applies when

operation

Part 102