Aviation View | Volume 1, Issue 3

246 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 in the total NZ fleet will not be apparent until CAA publishes the results of data gathered up to July, 2021. The industry remains optimistic. Accelerating the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations will be important, as it will hopefully give the Government more confidence to open our borders, and address the significant issues faced by our tourism and international training sectors. We need this to happen quickly, before we lose more capability and capacity, and before more companies close permanently. The UAV industry is growing rapidly. The safe integration of this industry into shared airspace, the adoption of new technologies and the impacts of climate change are challenges to be faced in coming years. It is critically important that Aviation New Zealand continues to acquire the expertise, in these new areas to remain relevant, credible and a strong voice for members. It is also hoped that the new Civil Aviation Bill will lay stronger foundations for a growing and dynamic industry for the foreseeable future. which could start as the country or region/s downgrade restriction levels. 4. What does the landscape look like for the aviation industry over the coming decade, and how important is commercial, international, and general aviation to the economy of New Zealand? How will Aviation New Zealand continue to be a viable voice for the industry? Today, companies mostly reliant on the domestic economy, especially agricultural aviation and UAVs, are generally doing well. Companies exposed to international business, especially tourism operators and training organisations, are struggling. Many have downsized significantly. As the August/September 2021 lockdowns imposed through a COVID-19 outbreak show, the domestic market for scheduled services and tourism/charter operations is very fragile. Engineering activity reflects the welfare of their customer bases, but supply chain challenges have emerged as an issue. In June 2021, there were 4534 powered aircraft on the New Zealand register including 886 helicopters. This equates to one aircraft per 1072 people, and one helicopter per 5487 people. The full impact of COVID-19 on the number of operational aircraft