A Wanaka paraglider pilot who allegedly offered tourists unauthorised tandem paragliding flights in an unwarranted paraglider faces charges laid by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The authority confirmed yesterday the man had been charged following a CAA investigation launched in November.
The investigation stemmed from concerns raised the paraglider pilot was allegedly charging for tandem flights and using a paraglider without the necessary warrant of fitness.
The pilot, a 31-year-old man, was charged, in the Queenstown District Court on May 26, with operating a paraglider for financial gain, knowing he was not properly authorised, and using a paraglider without the necessary Wof.
According to CAA rules, adventure aviation organisations can operate only if they have successfully gone through a thorough CAA certification process and have been issued with an adventure aviation operator certificate under Part 115 of the Civil Aviation Rules.
These certificates are usually displayed by the organisation concerned and can be seen by the public.
The rules cover a wide range of commercial adventure aviation flights, including flights in paragliders and hang gliders, hot air balloons, warbirds, microlights and gliders, as well as tandem skydiving jumps.
CAA deputy chief executive Dean Winter said New Zealand’s commercial adventure aviation sector had developed a strong safety record and it was important that was maintained through all operators having gone through a robust certification process.
"By bringing these charges, the Civil Aviation Authority is working to protect tourists who rightly expect an exciting but safe adventure flight."
The prosecution also helped maintain a level playing field for the hard-working adventure aviation operators who "do the right thing’’, Mr Winter said.
The CAA would not comment further as the case was before the courts.
