Plane Sense was established in response to the introduction of new instrument flight paths (DMAPS) on 1 December 2022. The changes were introduced without consultation, despite the organisations acknowledging that communities would be affected.

The High Court judgment exposed significant gaps in New Zealand's aviation framework, confirming there is no legal requirement to consult communities before significant flight path changes are introduced, and no independent oversight to ensure community impacts are properly considered. This leaves communities subject to the discretion of commercially driven organisations making decisions that can significantly affect health, wellbeing, property and the environment, without any legal obligation to consider or protect community interests.

Plane Sense continues to advocate for communities through fair, transparent and accountable aviation decision-making. We believe all practicable alternatives should be transparently evaluated, community impacts properly considered, and affected communities meaningfully informed and engaged before significant flight path changes are implemented.

We're working with communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to improve transparency, strengthen accountability and support aviation law reform. 

We're asking communities, local representatives, Ministers and Members of Parliament across Aotearoa New Zealand: Should organisations be able to implement significant flight path changes without first demonstrating that all practicable alternatives have been transparently evaluated, community impacts properly considered, and affected communities meaningfully informed and consulted?