Terms Of Reference For Review Of Civil Aviation Authority
The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, today released the Terms of Reference for his review of aspects
of the Civil Aviation Authority.
Mr Wintringham has appointed Douglas White QC to undertake the review on his behalf, and to report to him.
The Commissioner’s Terms of Reference for the review are attached. They are also available online at www.ssc.govt.nz.
“While the review is under way, there will be no further comment on this matter,” Mr Wintringham said.
Civil Aviation Authority Terms of reference for review by State Services Commissioner
Introduction The Civil Aviation Authority (“the CAA”) is established under the Civil Aviation Act 1990.
The CAA’s principal function is the promotion of safety in civil aviation, at a reasonable cost. In furtherance of that
function, the CAA is responsible for, among other things, establishing safety and security standards relating to the
civil aviation system, and monitoring adherence to those standards.
The Director of Civil Aviation also has specific statutory functions and powers relating to the control of entry to the
civil aviation system through the issue of aviation documents and enforcement of the requirements of the Act which
includes monitoring of performance through inspections and audits. Background to Review In May 2002, following the
conduct of a Special Purpose Inspection and the Director’s suspension of aviation documents related to an aviation
company, a person employed by the CAA as a Flight Operations Inspector, who was also the Team Leader for the inspection,
entered into an agreement with that company to assist it in the preparation of certain manuals necessary to obtain an
air operator certificate under the Civil Aviation Act.
The Chairman of the CAA has asked the State Services Commissioner to review the conflicts of interest on the part of the
Flight Operations Inspector and/or the CAA. The Chairman’s request is made under section 11 of the State Sector Act
1988. Terms of reference Conflict of interest To review and make recommendations regarding:
The CAA’s internal policies and procedures for identifying and managing conflicts of interest, current in May 2002, with
particular regard to: whether those procedures adequately identified the conflicts likely to arise in a regulatory and
monitoring agency such as the CAA; whether there was a conflict of interest in the case in question; whether those
procedures were appropriate, effective and followed in that case; whether the Director acted properly in that case.
The adequacy of the CAA’s current policies and procedures for identifying and managing conflicts of interest. Special
Purpose Inspections and Investigations To review and make recommendations regarding:
The adequacy of CAA’s internal practices, including policies and procedures, for the conduct of: Special Purpose
Inspections, and investigations relating to the suspension of aviation documents, with regard to the case in question or
to any other case that may be drawn to the reviewer’s attention. Whether those internal practices, policies and
procedures relating to the conduct of Special Purpose Inspections, and investigations relating to the suspension of
aviation documents were appropriate, effective and followed in the case in question. General Any other matter concerning
the CAA, including the Board, the Director or the employees of the CAA that the reviewer considers relevant to the
foregoing questions. Reviewer Douglas White QC Appointed by the State Services Commissioner pursuant to section 25 of
the State Sector Act.
Under section 25 of the State Sector Act, the Commissioner and persons he appoints under section 25(2) of the State
Sector Act have the same powers to summon witnesses and to receive evidence as are conferred on a Commission of Inquiry
by the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908. Timing The reviewer will report and make recommendations on the matters listed
above by 16 September 2003.
Michael Wintringham State Services Commissioner
26 June 2003