Recommendation Date
Recipient Name
CAA
Text
On 26 February 2025, the Commission recommended to the Director of Civil Aviation at the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand that they promote, through the appropriate International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forum, the need for additional information to be included in all rotorcraft flight manuals, to assist pilots in avoiding Vortex Ring State.
Reply Text
CAA notes that Rotorcraft flight manuals are the responsibility of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and are approved by the State of Design in accordance with ICAO and bilateral agreements. Current flight manuals already contain information on VRS recognition and avoidance. This recommendation is ‘Under Consideration’, the CAA will collaborate with TAIC to determine the best method for this to be raised for discussion, noting the CAA is not in a position to promote the activity.
On 14 May 2025, CAA provided an update:
As of 13 May 2025, the CAAs position is that we do not consider this recommendation actionable unless there is clear evidence of a systemic and widespread lack of appropriate VRS information in existing flight manuals. Based on current assessments, this does not appear to be the case. Any proposals of this nature that are raised with ICAO should be supported by robust evidence of a significant, broad-based issue; therefore, the CAA will not be progressing this recommendation at this time. If evidence of a systemic issue of this nature comes to light in future, the CAA will engage with TAIC with a view to establishing a unified State position and an appropriate mechanism for raising it internationally.
On 14 May 2025, CAA provided an update:
As of 13 May 2025, the CAAs position is that we do not consider this recommendation actionable unless there is clear evidence of a systemic and widespread lack of appropriate VRS information in existing flight manuals. Based on current assessments, this does not appear to be the case. Any proposals of this nature that are raised with ICAO should be supported by robust evidence of a significant, broad-based issue; therefore, the CAA will not be progressing this recommendation at this time. If evidence of a systemic issue of this nature comes to light in future, the CAA will engage with TAIC with a view to establishing a unified State position and an appropriate mechanism for raising it internationally.
Related Investigation(s)