RNZAF has key role in international aviation safety award win
Flight Advisor, an interactive safety and mapping tool for aviators that was jointly developed between our Royal New Zealand Air Force and Aeropath (part of Airways International), has won international recognition for its contribution to flight safety.
13 March, 2023
It won the Civil Aviation Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Global Safety Achievement Award, announced at Airspace World 2023 in Geneva last week.
The award was received by Aeropath, which as part of Airways International is a member of CANSO and on hand to represent the RNZAF was Flight Advisor’s co-designer, RNZAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Andrew Day.
Flight Advisor is a web-based tool designed to help increase situational awareness of low-flying aircraft and low-level hazards such as wires and masts. It was conceived by Flight Lieutenant Day and his brother Matt Day, who leads New Zealand’s Aeronautical Information Service at Aeropath.
With RNZAF backing, Flight Advisor was developed by Aeropath to meet the RNZAF’s specifications for a pre-flight advisory service.
Flight Advisor has been on display at the CANSO international trade show in Geneva last week.
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Day, right, and his brother Matt Day with the Civil Aviation Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Global Safety Achievement Award
Flight Lieutenant Day said that Flight Advisor brought both manned and unmanned aviation together in an easy-to-use graphical format that facilitated integration of operations.
We’re thrilled that over the past 12 months it has become a pillar of aviation safety in New Zealand, with more than 1000 registered users across every aviation industry.
“More than 40 obstacles previously unknown to air operators have now been reported. For the Air Force and wider New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) it has streamlined, and in many cases eliminated, multiple workstreams, with more efficiencies to come,” he said.
Flight Lieutenant Day also won the NZDF’s Innovation of the Year Award and the Best Significant Safety Initiative Award 2022 for his work.
Matt Day said Flight Advisor was the result of a significant team effort between the RNZAF and Aeropath.
“We’re very proud to receive this award on behalf of Aeropath and the RNZAF. Together we’ve been able to create something that’s simple to use and delivers tangible safety benefits to New Zealand’s aviators,” he said.
More information
For more information visit: https://flightadvisornz.io(external link)
Link to Award shortlist: https://canso.org/canso-global-safety-achievement-award-2o22-shortlist-announced/(external link)