This column is archived at: https://aardvark.co.nz/daily/2018/0212.shtml
Seriously... will people have to die before CAA takes the *very* simple step of educating tourists bringing drones to this country?
If any agency should know how "ignorance kills", it should be CAA.
Since they are doing nothing to manage the risk of tourists with drones, can we only be left to assume that they want something bad to happen -- perhaps as a way of furthering their own power and control over drone users?
Is this really good enough?
If/when someone is hurt or gets killed, will CAA shoulder the burden of responsibility?
Of course not. Remember the commercial balloon operator who was reported multiple times to CAA for operating while under the influence of drugs. They did nothing but sit around watching - and then almost a dozen people died -- but it wasn't CAA's fault, they weren't even found to have contributed to the incident. No, it was all the fault of the balloon operator.
Seriously?
I see exactly the same scenario happening again -- but this time with drones and commercial air-tourism operators.
Good enough? I don't think so... what about you?