Kapiti Coast Airport has made significant changes to its rules and procedures since a fatal mid-air plane crash in 2008.

James Taylor, Bevan Hookway and David Fielding were killed when a plane flew into a helicopter.

The coroner's report into the smash has been released today - and highlights how the accident could've been avoided if the airport had heeded recommendations from the CAA from 1996.

Airport chief executive Robert Binney says the crash happened under previous owners, and things have changed at the airport since.