An airline pilots group says the current rules around drones are inadequate, Radio New Zealand reports.
The Airline Pilots’ Association, which represents about 2500 commercial pilots and air traffic controllers, said drones had the potential be a serious hazard.
Technical director Captain Rob Torenvlied said most planes were designed to handle hitting a bird but not a 25kg machine.
Drones were regulated under model aircraft rules and that was not good enough, he said.
“Everyone who wants to operate an aeroplane needs to comply with regulations regarding licensing, competency of the pilot, the air-worthiness of the aircraft and we believe that drones should be subject to the same or very similar regulations.”
Pilots were worried about the slack safety rules around drones and the association was looking for ways to see them integrated safely into the existing aviation system, Torenvlied said.