A helicopter pilot has been convicted for flying without a license or certificate and obstruction.
The defendant had, since early 2020, advertised and undertaken paid scenic flights around the Alexandra and Clyde area of the South Island without an Air Operator’s Certificate and without the correct pilot licence.
In 2021, the defendant failed to appear in court to answer charges and was found guilty on all counts in his absence. After protracted legal proceedings the defendant was sentenced at the Dunedin High Court.
“CAA prosecutions are uncommon but, when necessary, they are pursued to protect the integrity of New Zealand’s aviation system and the public who rely on it,” said CAA Deputy Chief Executive, Dean Winter.
“This individual repeatedly disregarded the rules that exist to keep aviation safe for everyone. The vast majority of our aviation community operates responsibly and professionally, so when someone deliberately tries to game the system, we will hold them to account.”
The CAA’s intervention prevented further unsafe flights, including instances where members of the public were at risk.
“In aviation tourism, passengers rightly expect that all operators are meeting the safety standards the law requires when they step onto an aircraft.” said Winter.
“This case is a reminder that aviation safety rules exist to protect everyone, and ignoring those rules has consequences.”
The CAA will continue to investigate and take appropriate action against serious breaches of aviation law where safety is compromised.
The defendant was sentenced in the Dunedin High Court on several charges, including operating an aircraft without an Air Operator’s Certificate under section 46 of the Civil Aviation Act, obstruction under section 50, failing to produce or surrender documents under section 50A, and flying an Australian-registered aircraft in New Zealand without the required pilot licence, in breach of Civil Aviation Rule 61.5(c).
