The Government is proposing moving some agricultural drone operations from Part 102 certification to a notification system. Dr Isaac Henderson, Vice President of the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand, says the association supports reform but wants licences and ratings for drone pilots.

“If you remove certification, you’re removing some of the most important safeguards around pilot competency, maintenance and risk management,” he says.

He says an association petition asks the government to abandon the notification-only pathway.

“What we need is smarter regulation, not deregulation.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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