Starting With Aircraft >30 Seats, >15,000kg

Australia and New Zealand will recognise each other's aviation safety approvals under legislation introduced this week into the Australian Parliament, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, said.

The New Zealand Government will introduce matching legislation into the New Zealand Parliament shortly.

"Under the Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (Mutual Recognition with New Zealand and Other Matters) Bill 2003, aviation safety approvals issued to eligible airlines in one country will be recognised in the other, starting with Air Operator's Certificates for aircraft of more than 30 seats or 15,000kg.

The mutual recognition of other safety certificates will be considered in the future," Mr Anderson said. "It will significantly reduce the administrative burden on airlines, because they will no longer be required to obtain and maintain duplicate certification issued by both countries.

"For example, under the current arrangements an airline wishing to operate services in both countries would need to hold an AOC from both regulators and comply with both certificates, according to where their operations were being conducted. Mutual recognition will mean that they will now only need to hold one AOC, from their home regulator.

"The mutual recognition legislation will implement an important part of Australia's open skies agreement with New Zealand and is a major step forward in the integration of the trans-Tasman aviation market. Australian and New Zealand operators covered by the open skies agreement will be eligible for mutual recognition.

"It will not affect the safety of aircraft operations in either Australia or New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand both have extremely high safety standards, which are consistent with international best practice for airlines operations using large capacity aircraft," Anderson explained.

FMI: www.ministers.dotars.gov.au