A union for pilots will take legal action to try and stop the Civil Aviation Authority carrying out what it calls unlawful and secretive background checks.
The New Zealand Airline Pilots' Association says the CAA has the right to check pilots' drug and alcohol convictions to ensure they are fit to hold a licence.
But, the association's president Mark Rammell says, the CAA wants to pick pilots at random and trawl through all their conviction records held by the Ministry of Justice without getting their consent.
He says searching the records is an invasion of members privacy and is being done without just cause.
The CAA says its main concern is ensuring the safety of the traveling public.
Director Steve Douglas says while pilots are required to voluntarily declare things such as drink-driving convictions, some unfortunately may not make honest or complete disclosures.
Mr Douglas says he has taken legal advice and is satisfied the process is not a breach of the pilots' privacy.
The union plans to file papers at the High Court in Wellington.
