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Air NZ demands action: Drone came within metres of aircraft

Author
Chelsea Daniels ,
Publish Date
Tue, 27 Mar 2018, 2:52pm
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) received a total of 696 complaints about drones (RPAS) between March 2013 and March 2018. (Photo / Supplied)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) received a total of 696 complaints about drones (RPAS) between March 2013 and March 2018. (Photo / Supplied)

Air NZ demands action: Drone came within metres of aircraft

Author
Chelsea Daniels ,
Publish Date
Tue, 27 Mar 2018, 2:52pm

A near miss with an international flight approaching Auckland Airport's prompted calls for tighter drone regulations.

Nearly 280 customers and crews were put at risk after a drone flew five metres away from an Air New Zealand aircraft on Sunday.

The plane, arriving from Japan, got so close to the drone there were fears it would be ingested into the engine.

It's not the first time drones have caused delays.

Flight operations stopped for half an hour at the airport at the beginning of the month, when a pilot reported a drone within controlled airspace.

Air New Zealand's Captain David Morgan says Air New Zealand's pushing for tougher and more consistent penalties.

Under current regulations, individual drone operators who breach Civil Aviation Rules can receive a fine of up to $5000.

A CAA spokeswoman said if someone believes a drone is breaching Civil Aviation Rules they should try to get as much information as possible about the drone and operator and report it to the CAA.

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