[ Last Updated 11 August 2009 ]
Short Description
The Consultant's document provides the performance requirements for the proper and safe management of electricity supplies to aircraft and aircraft maintenance.
Author
OPUS International Consultants Limited
Submissions on this paper close at 12 noon on 21 September 2009.
During 2006 it became apparent that there was uncertainty regarding the regulatory famework for, and oversight of, aviation electrical work and systems supplying power to aircraft.
In response, the Ministry of Economic Development (the Ministry), working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and industry groups, established the Aviation Electrical Supplies Steering Committee (AESSC).
AESSC’s objective is to lead the identification and development of safe practices for the management of hazards associated with electrical supplies to aircraft and aviation workshops, and to recommend any regulatory changes required.
AESSC is made up of representatives of government agencies with regulatory oversight responsibilities, and organisations representing the aviation industry responsible for the delivery of safe outcomes:
- Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand
- Board of Airline Representatives
- Civil Aviation Authority
- Ministry of Economic Development (Energy Safety)
- New Zealand Airports Association
- New Zealand Defence Force
The Work of AESSC
AESSC’s primary work to date has been to oversee the development of a consultant's document. AESSC’s intention is that the document could form the basis for developing performance requirements, and a suitable means of compliance, for the proper and safe management of electricity supplies to aircraft and aircraft maintenance. The Document may also become a reference document for regulators, designers, specifiers, maintainers, and operators of equipment covered by the document.
The Ministry notes that new Electrical Safety regulations, expected to be made during 2009, are intended to exclude regulation of aircraft and aircraft equipment and fittings. This recognises the globally specified nature of aviation equipment, and the particularly exacting technical and safety requirements of the aviation sector.
Opus International Consultants Limited Document
Opus International Consultants Limited (the Consultant) was contracted to prepare the document for AESSC, following a public tender process managed by the Ministry.
The Consultant carried out extensive research and detailed analysis in preparing the document, under the direction of the AESSC, between August 2008 and July 2009. The AESSC is unaware of any other similar analysis being carried out in the last 15 years and believes the document is the most comprehensive current piece of work yet undertaken in this field.
The document is now available for public comment.
Call for submissions
The Ministry, on behalf of AESSC, invites those who are interested to make submissions on the documented provisions and practices.
Submitters may also wish to comment on appropriate ways to implement the document - e.g. Code of Practice, Joint National Standard, aviation rule, regulation or combination of these, or its further development.
All submissions proposing technical or procedural changes should be supported by detailed technical analysis and appropriate references.
All submissions proposing changes to procedures or practice should include fully developed alternative procedures with the supporting rationale.
The Ministry’s preferred format for submissions is an email that includes the following information:
- respondent’s name
- person making the submission (e.g., ‘private individual’ or ‘title, Company X’)
- nature of person’s interest (e.g. aviation specialist)
- for individuals, a statement of relevant qualifications
- email address for written communications
- submission text
The closing date for submissions is 12 noon, Monday 21 September 2009.
Submissions must be sent to the Ministry of Economic Development, and be labelled “Submission - Safety of Electrical Supplies to Aircraft and Aviation Facilities” to one of following addresses:
Email (preferred): info@energysafety.govt.nz
Postal Address: Energy Safety, PO Box 1473, Wellington
Next Steps and Availability of Submissions
A list of the submitters will be published on the Energy Safety website. A link to this will be emailed to submitters.
Interested parties should check our website for updates. Submitters will be advised of the next steps and the organisations involved, once further decisions have been made.
The Ministry may post all or parts of any submission and/or a summary of submissions and issues on its website.The Ministry will consider submitters to have consented to this unless clearly specified otherwise in their submission.
Every submission provided to the Ministry is subject to the Official Information Act 1982. If a submitter wishes the Ministry to withhold any particular information in a submission if it is requested, the objection must be stated in the submission, together with ground(s) for withholding under the Act. The Ministry will take these objections into account when responding to requests for copies and information on submissions under the Act.
Disclaimer
The intent of publishing this Document is to seek public comment as part of the ongoing development of safe practices. No final decisions regarding the adoption of its provisions in part or in full have been made. The contents should therefore not be regarded as current government or industry advice or policy, and its publication for comment must not be construed as legal advice.
The Ministry and the Consultant accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever whether in contract, tort (including negligence), equity or otherwise for any action taken as a result of reading, or reliance placed on the Ministry or the Consultant because of having read, any part, or all, of the information in the Document or for any error, inadequacy, deficiency, flaw in or omission from the Document.