Stuff:- Man denies illegal drone flying in NZ test case

DEIDRE MUSSEN AND DAVID CLARKSON

The Civil Aviation Authority has launched its first prosecution against a drone operator, in what could prove a test case.

Simon Roy Reeve appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday, where he denied flying a drone in controlled airspace in Pines Beach, North Canterbury.

The move comes as rapidly-expanding drone usage in New Zealand is increasingly under the microscope, with a record-breaking 75 incidents reported to CAA to date this year.

That was nearly three times the 27 incidents reported for the previous 12 months.

Reeve, 38, of Kaiapoi, pleaded not guilty to three charges.

He denies operating a Phantom 2 remotely piloted aircraft system in controlled airspace without prior authorisation on January 5 and 20.

He denies a charge of operating the model aircraft on January 5 “in a manner that caused unnecessary endangerment to people”.

Defence counsel Rupert Glover said it was proposed to call nine prosecution witnesses as well as three or four defence witnesses. Some expert witnesses may be called.

“This could turn out to be a test case,” Glover said. “There are a lot of very interesting legal arguments.”

Reeve, 38, of Kaiapoi, pleaded not guilty to three charges.

He denies operating a Phantom 2 remotely piloted aircraft system in controlled airspace without prior authorisation on January 5 and 20.

He denies a charge of operating the model aircraft on January 5 “in a manner that caused unnecessary endangerment to people”.

Defence counsel Rupert Glover said it was proposed to call nine prosecution witnesses as well as three or four defence witnesses. Some expert witnesses may be called.

“This could turn out to be a test case,” Glover said. “There are a lot of very interesting legal arguments.”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/72841204/man-denies-illegal-drone-flying-in-nz-test-case