Research and development for advanced aviation will take another step forward in New Zealand when a permanent Special Use Airspace approval comes into effect on 7 August 2025.
The Civil Aviation Authority has granted Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre the Special Use Airspace at Kaitorete, offering a designated place where aerospace development and emerging technology applications can be tested and evaluated.
It brings significant opportunities for the Aerospace community in Christchurch and New Zealand by offering a safe location for domestic and international innovators to test new technologies in a controlled and pre-approved location. For example, uncrewed aircraft activities, rocket launches, and ground-based advanced aviation systems.
Head of the CAA’s Emerging Technologies Programme, Steve Smyth, said that the Special Use Airspace approval is a key milestone in creating safe, efficient and easy to navigate environments for advanced aviation companies.
“With these activities being novel in nature, the need for safe, controlled, and well-coordinated special use airspace is needed.”
Many advanced aviation operators are already using the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre and demand is only growing. Come August, this approval will remove some of the regulatory obligations for individual operators, while ensuring that appropriate safety controls are in place.
“This approval offers operators the opportunity to utilise the facilities at Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre more readily and efficiently, given that they no longer have to submit individual Special Use Airspace applications. This also paves the way for other future Special Use Airspace developments at more locations in New Zealand.”
Smyth said that while this approval allows more flexibility to work within the current Civil Aviation rules, the focus on maintaining safety is always the priority.
“Our Emerging Technologies Programme Team have been working collaboratively with Tāwhaki on this application since mid-2024 which has included consulting with local stakeholders to understand any impacts on them and developing a thorough safety management approach.
“It’s important that safety levels are maintained or increased where research and development (R&D) flight testing is taking place.
“We’ve also considered how the effect on other airspace users who may require coordinated airspace access when flight tests are planned or underway, such as regional rescue helicopter operators, can be minimised.”
The Special Use Airspace has six Restricted Areas over Kaitorete out to 12 nautical miles. There are also six Danger Areas from Te Waihora extending 110 nautical miles offshore. These areas will be permanently designated from 7 August in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) supplement and permanently charted from November, however they’ll only be activated through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) when needed.
Smyth said the approval was a good reminder for operators to continue to play their part in aviation safety by consulting NOTAMS and AIP supplements before flying.
“This is a great example of how CAA have been working collaboratively with the aviation sector to meet their needs.
“It’s also a reminder for operators, to be aware of the changing technological environment and to undertake their pre-flight checks before flying.”
To continue supporting advanced aviation, the CAA has also released consultation for two Notices of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) running from Monday 23 June until Sunday 25 July as part of the Advanced Aviation Reform (AAR) project.
These proposed rules respond to sector feedback and support the Government’s goal of enabling rapid iteration and testing of advanced aviation vehicles and technology, while maintaining our levels of aviation safety. For more information and to make a submission, see:
Key facts about the Special Use Airspace at Kaitorete Spit for operators:
- Permanent Special Use Airspace has been granted by the CAA to the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete from 7 August 2025.
- Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre as the Administering Authority, will have the ability to manage the entry, exit and operations of aircraft within the Restricted Area at Kaitorete Spit.
- A NOTAM will be shared 24 hours in advance for the activation of the special use airspace.
- These areas will be permanently designated from 7 August in the AIP supplement and permanently charted from November.
