Airside Driving Permits

From November 2023, Auckland Airport is moving to the Airdat Passport System for Driver Permit Applications.
To register yourself, your company and your drivers, go to https://passport-akl.airdat.org/

Auckland Airport requires any person who wishes to operate a vehicle or any equipment airside to hold a valid Airside Driving Permit and be operating a vehicle or equipment that has a valid Airside Vehicle Permit at all times unless under escort (see Airside Vehicle Escort)

Airside Driving Permit (ADP)

Any personal operating a vehicle or equipment airside must hold at minimum a Stage 1 ADP. This enables the holder to operate solely on the Red and White, and Blue and White road system, the Perimeter Road and aprons, - behind the Red and White checked line.

To operate on a manoeuvring area, a person must hold a Stage 2 ADP, which will allow them to operate on the runway and taxiways, subject to clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

ADP Requirements

  1. CAA AIC
  2. Full New Zealand Driver’s License
  3. Understanding of Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules and Airport Workers' Rules

Steps to obtaining a Stage 1 Airside Driving Permit

  1. Applicant to have read and understood the Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules document in conjunction with the Airport Workers' Rules document.
  2. The applicant registers on Auckland Airport’s Driver Permit website “Passport”, provided the applicant is confident and understands rules and requirements for airside driving.
  3. The Company Administrator for the applicant books a time for the applicant to sit the Stage 1 Theory test.
  4. The Company Administrator must submit the following documents as part of the booking process:
    1. A copy of CAA AIC (front only).
    2.
    A copy of current New Zealand Driver’s Licence or International Licence (front and back).
    Note: Company Administrator must apply for an exemption for any applicants with a Restricted Driver Licence. The exemption process is outlined in the Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules document. The exemption form should be emailed to the ADP Office for upload to the applicant’s profile prior to booking the applicant on a test.
  5. Applicant to sit a theory test, which consists of 30 multiple choice questions (must get at least 27 out of 30 questions correct to pass).
  6. Upon successful completion, the applicant will be required to complete a minimum of 10 hours practical driver training log with a valid ADP holder and complete the competency checklist.
  7. Upon completion of the practical driver training log, the applicant will be issued with an ADP, subject to approval from Airside Licencing Administrator.

Steps to obtaining a Stage 2 Airside Driving Permit

  1. Applicant to hold a Stage 1 ADP as a pre-requisite.
  2. Applicant to have read and understood the Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules document.
  3. The Company Administrator for the applicant books a time for the applicant to sit the Stage 2 Theory test.
  4. As part of the booking process, the Company Administrator must submit the following documents:
    1. A copy of CAA AIC (front only).
    2. A copy of current New Zealand Driver’s Licence or International Licence (front and back).
  5. Applicant to sit a theory test, which consists of 30 multiple choice questions (must get at least 27 out of 30 questions correct to pass).
  6. Upon successful completion of the theory test, the applicant will be notified to contact Apron 09 256 8990 to schedule a practical driving test, which also includes competency check on airfield geography, and radio telephony practices and procedures.
  7. Upon successful completion of the practical test, the applicant will be notified via email to collect their Stage 2 ADP from the ADP Office.

Renewing ADP

An ADP is valid for a period of up to 3 years or until the holder's CAA AIC expires, whichever comes first.

An ADP holder will be required to re-sit the theory test prior to the re-issue of their ADP, therefore employers are encouraged to provide refresher training prior to the ADP holder resitting the ADP test.

Steps to renewing an Airside Driving Permit

  1. Applicant to have read and understood the Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules document.
  2. The Company Administrator for the applicant books a time for the applicant to sit the re-sit theory test.
  3. The Company Administrator must submit the following documents as part of the booking process:
    1. A copy of CAA AIC (front only).
    2. A copy of current New Zealand Driver’s Licence or International Licence (front and back).
  4. Upon successful completion of the theory test, the applicant will be issued a new ADP.

For more information, please refer to the Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules (Section 1).

Auckland Passport Driver Test Booking Guide for Company Admins
Auckland Passport Reporting for Company Admins
Auckland Passport Company Admin Guide
Auckland Passport Company Admin FAQ
Auckland Passport Driver Guide
Auckland Passport Driver FAQ
Auckland Passport MFA Guide

Airside Vehicle Permit (AVP)

From July 2023, the Auckland Airport is moving to the Airdat Onboard System for Vehicle Permit Applications.
To register yourself, your company and your vehicles go to https://onboard-akl.airdat.org/

Any person with a valid ADP can only operate a vehicle airside which has a valid AVP. A Category 1 AVP allows the user to operate solely on the Red and White, and Blue and White road system, the Perimeter Road and aprons- behind the Red and White checked line.

To operate on a manoeuvring area, the vehicle must have a Category 2 AVP, which will allow them to operate on the runway and taxiways.

AVP Requirements

  1. Current Warrant of Fitness (WOF), or Certificate of Fitness (COF), or Safety Certificate (SC)
  2. Confirmation of Insurance Statement, signed by the applicant’s insurance company or broker. The required insurances for both Category 1 and 2 AVP are:
    1.1 $20 million public liability, and
    1.2 $20 million vehicle third party
  3. Vehicle to have a clearly identifiable company logo, name or other such marking. If the company has more than one vehicle operating in the airside area it must also be numbered.. Details are outlined in the permit application on the Airdat Onboard system.

    In addition to the above, Category 2 AVP also requires vehicles to have,

  4. MLAT Transponder
  5. Amber rotating beacon at its highest point
  6. Two-way communications with ATC frequency on 121.9 MHz and Auckland Apron frequency 123.0 MHz.

Steps to obtaining a Category 1 Airside Vehicle Permit

  1. New companies must register on the Airdat Onboard system. Once registration and the Company Set Up Application have been completed, a company can apply for an Airside Vehicle Permit (AVP) using the following steps:
    1.1. Add the fleet/vehicle to the company
    1.2. Apply for a vehicle permit for each fleet item and/or vehicle
  2. Within 3 working days applicant will be notified of the outcome of the application, via email and the Airdat Onboard system. Upon approval, the applicant will be advised to schedule an inspection to confirm AVP requirements are met before the AVP is issued.

For more information, see our user guides:
Onboard Register and Company Application User Guide
Onboard View and Add Fleet User Guide
Onboard Apply for Permits User Guide
Onboard Notifications

Renewing AVP

An application to renew a permit must be completed on the Airdat Onboard system. An email notification is sent to Company Administrations, when renewal applications can be started. Notification of expiring permits can also be viewed on the Airdat Onboard dashboard.

The expiry of the initial validity period of the AVP will coincide with the first of the required insurances’ expiry.

For each subsequent AVP renewal, the applicant must submit another Confirmation of Insurance Statement, covering a 12-month period, and the AVP will be renewed for that further period of 12 months.

There is no amnesty period to allow for renewal of insurances to operate airside. Validity of insurance cover must be continual.

For more information please refer to the Airside Driving and Vehicle Permit Rules (Section 5).

Airside Vehicle Escort

Vehicles required to go airside, but do not have an AVP and/or ADP, must be escorted by their primary stakeholder. The escort can be provided by a valid ADP holder from the primary stakeholder, given there are no more than two vehicles or a single large vehicle in a single convoy.

Auckland Airport is able to provide an Airside Vehicle Escort Service in the event where the stakeholder is unable to. However, this service incurs a charge and requires a 48-hour notice.

To book an Airside Vehicle Escort, complete and submit the Airside Vehicle Safety Escort Request Form.