New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority bans Boeing 777s from flying in NZ airspace

Aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has added New Zealand to a growing list of countries where certain Boeing 777s have been banned from operating. The move follows the shocking recent engine failure of a United Boeing 777 equipped with a Pratt and Whitney 4000 series engine, while flying over Denver on February 20. Dean Winter, CAA's deputy CE said they'll be making all airlines and pilots aware that 777s with the 4000 series Pratt and Whitney engines are not authorised to fly within New Zealand airspace. "We are issuing a 'notice to airmen,' (known as a NOTAM) today which effectively prevents this aircraft type from landing or taking off within New Zealand domestic airspace or transiting through it," Winter said. A NOTAM is an official communication issued by an aviation authority to alert pilots and airline dispatchers of potential dangers in a flight route, or to changes in permitted flight routes. "We are taking this action out of an abundance of caution to prevent any potential threat to people or property, should another engine experience a similar fan blade failure like the incident in Denver," he said. "We have quickly joined the aviation regulators in the United Kingdom and Japan in taking this action. We also note Boeing has recommended the suspension of all 777 with the affected engines until the cause of this failure is known. <br/>