TAIC urges stricter drone rules after ‘near-collision’ with Air NZ flight approaching Auckland airport

Transport crash experts are calling for stricter drone registration rules after a near-miss between a passenger plane and a drone at Auckland Airport.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigated a report of a near-collision between an Air New Zealand Airbus passenger flight and what was reported to be a drone at 2000 feet on the approach to the airport last April.

TAIC air investigations manager Jim Burtenshaw said neither the drone nor its operator could be identified.

“Most drone users comply with civil aviation rules, but some either don’t know the rules or choose to disobey them due to an expectation they won’t face consequences.

“The onus is on drone operators to avoid aircraft. People buying and flying a drone should first know how to operate it safely, and where they can’t fly.”

TAIC found that it was very likely to have been a drone, in breach of rules prohibiting drones from within 4km of airports except in limited and approved circumstances.

The Aviation Industry Association (AIANZ) represents commercial drone operators and said it had been calling for a registration system, but authorities seemed not to be listening.

“We’ve been advocating to the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and to the Ministry of Transport for a licensing system for drones for some time now,” AIANZ chief executive Simon Wallace told the Herald.

“We really think it’s time that there is a licensing system for drones, because that will ensure there are certain standards being met around the operation of those drones, whether they’re commercial or recreational drones.”

He added: “We’ve got to have those discussions, but they are discussions that the drone industry is up for.”

He said AIANZ had a code of conduct for members around using drones.

“We’ve got over 220 members across our organisation. We have about 50 drone members, which are commercial operations, but it’s the fastest growing area of our membership.”

TAIC recommended that the Ministry of Transport and CAA work to fully integrate drones into the aviation system and develop appropriate rules and standards.

“There would very likely be more compliance with the rules with operator licensing/accreditation, registration of drones, electronic conspicuity [visibility] or remote identification of drones and geo-fencing or geo-location awareness,” Burtenshaw said.

Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.