CAA Levies reviewed

[baronbeeza]

Just had an email from NZ CAA advising some levy changes have been approved by Govt.

For registered light aircraft in storage the participation portion of the Annual Registration may be waived.

Similarly the cost of the medical application has been revised downward also.

www.caa.govt.nz/assets/legacy/funding/J004752-Fees-and-Levies-booklet_FF_3.0_Web_Spreads_nd.pdf

Recreational Flyers.
All current levies, fees and charges for recreational fliers remain the same except for:
• A reduced Medical Certification application fee; and
• Suspension of participation levy on aircraft that are out of service for an extended period

[bounce]

Good to see.

A shame it took five years for the medical fees to reduce to a realistic level. I think a lot of damage was done to the industry’s relationship over the $313 debacle. The figure of $313 was calculated in a fair and realistic way (unit cost divided by anticipated applications), that wasn’t the issue, the issue was that no top level management saw that figure and thought, “wait, why does our medical unit cost so much?” Taking into account that most people will have paid their doctor around $200 for doing the actual work. It was a chance to review whether the medical unit actually added enough value to be worth that much.

I fail to see how it’s any different to a licence application (which cost what, $70?). Either your doctor are trusted professionals like your flight examiners or they’re not, and then you have different issues. Check that the required documents are completed, record the info, issue the document. Audit/test/review the doctor every now and then.

Painful for anyone who’s AMC requires more than two hours as well. Especially since they can get pretty complicated. Again, without much benefit in my opinion. Being asked the same questions by a specialist that my regular doctor had asked, but being charged three times as much was one of the less enjoyable experiences in my career.

[hardyakka]

The USA has recently come to their senses at least regarding private pilot medicals.

AOPA - FAA Medical Reforms

We are normally five to ten years behind as the CAA waits to see if the sky falls in for the progressives who dare to innovate...
As a group we need to get organised and buy ourselves some politicians who are tasked with pushing this sort of reform. However, we are a small group in a small country and our MP's are a bit harder to get into your pocket. Party donations are more the go rather than just purchasing the favour of individual candidates for office. MMP also tends to blunt the effectiveness of radical minority causes. Are any of the today's parliamentary drones pilots? (as a opposed to "drone-pilots") I know John Banks used to be but not sure about any of the current lot.