New Zealand non ICAO GA aircraft?
 

Could someone in New Zealand please re familiarize me with what I think I recall from my visit there in the late '80's, with respect to GA aircraft registry....

Is there a non ICAO category for some GA aircraft, which is indicated by the aircraft not bearing "ZK" in the registration markings? I'm sure I remember a so marked 182, and the fellow telling me it was a non ICAO "state aircraft" and never left the islands. .

A bit of background, if I am remembering this correctly?

Thanks....

Yep, in NZ you do not require the ZK prefix if not flying internationally.

The aircraft are on the same registry but just don't carry the full markings.

They have to be added if the aircraft travels afar.

Thanks Scroogee,

If you decline the "ZK", are there different (less rigorous) maintenance requirements for that aircraft? Otherwise, what incentive is there to not have ZK on the plane?

It is just that the ZK is not painted on the fuse! It's an isolated island nation so they cannot get that far!

Scroogee is correct, aircraft flown domestically only require the 3 letters on each side of the fuselage. If flying out of NZ you need the ZK prefix and rego under the wing as well. Maintenance requirements are no different.

The incentive not to have the ZK- is $$, cheaper and easier to only apply 6 letters rather than 15 letters and 3 hyphens!

Where do the 15 letter and 3 hyphens all go? It's either 6 letters or 10 letters and 2 hyphens.

Part of the issue is the minimum size of lettering required by our rules and it's easier to find room on some aircraft for only 3 letters per side.

There is no none ICAO catergory, all GA aircraft are in the same category. As already mentioned it's too far to go for many GA aircraft to cross into another country so no need to have ZK on the side.

Thanks for the help, that answers my question. I obviously misunderstood what was explained to me all those years ago...

It is 15 if you include the underside of the wing registration marks.

Yup, if you want to fly out of the country it must be under the wing also. That makes 15 letters and 3 hyphens

Although not exactly the same, there is an exemption for Australian aircraft too, (as long as they don't fly out of the country), that allows a deviation from ICAO marking requirements. (Instrument number CASA EX04/12)

Not so, don't need under wing rego not unless it's changed very recently.

Part 47 rules copy and paste
 

47.113 Location of marks – heavier-than-air aircraft
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), aeroplanes, gliders, and powered gliders must display the marks required under 47.101(a)—
(1) once, on the lower surface of the wing structure. If the marks are confined to the outer half of the wing structure they must be located on the left lower surface. The tops of the letters must be towards the leading edge of the wing and so far as is possible, be equidistant from the leading and trailing edges of the wing; and
(2) horizontally on both sides of the fuselage between the wings and tail surfaces, or horizontally on the upper halves of the vertical tail surfaces. Marks on a single vertical tail surface must appear on both sides. Marks on multi-vertical tail surfaces must appear on the outboard sides of the outer surfaces.

However further on in the rules:wings markings are not required if the aircraft is flown wholly within NZ

Hmmm, I know of several aircraft that have been operated outside of New Zealand without the wing markings. How long has it been a requirement?