Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 2, 2022 20:55:36 GMT 12
Man charged after allegedly firing shots near passing top dressing plane
Gianina Schwanecke
14:52, Aug 02 2022
Shots allegedly fired near a top dressing plane as it flew above rural Hawke’s Bay could have ended in tragedy, an industry leader has warned.
The incident is alleged to have taken place on the opening weekend of duck shooting season, on May 7 this year, where “shots were fired in the vicinity of a top dressing plane” at a Tukituki farm, a police spokesperson said.
A 49-year-old Hastings man had been charged with careless use of a firearm in relation to the alleged incident, the spokesperson said. He had also been issued a warning for hunting without a licence during open season.
He was expected to appear in Hastings District Court on September 12.
NZ Agricultural Aviation Association executive officer Tony Michelle said such incidents could end in tragedy.
“To discharge a firearm at a low flying aircraft threatens the safety and wellbeing of the pilot and anybody on board the aircraft.”
It was the first such incident he’d heard of in recent years. He likened it to issues of people pointing lasers at overhead aircraft, which posed a serious aviation risk and had seen new regulations introduced for high power lasers.
Such behaviour was “unacceptable” and “totally irresponsible” and Michelle urged people to think about the potential consequences.
www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/129453507/man-charged-after-allegedly-firing-shots-near-passing-top-dressing-plane
Gianina Schwanecke
14:52, Aug 02 2022
Shots allegedly fired near a top dressing plane as it flew above rural Hawke’s Bay could have ended in tragedy, an industry leader has warned.
The incident is alleged to have taken place on the opening weekend of duck shooting season, on May 7 this year, where “shots were fired in the vicinity of a top dressing plane” at a Tukituki farm, a police spokesperson said.
A 49-year-old Hastings man had been charged with careless use of a firearm in relation to the alleged incident, the spokesperson said. He had also been issued a warning for hunting without a licence during open season.
He was expected to appear in Hastings District Court on September 12.
NZ Agricultural Aviation Association executive officer Tony Michelle said such incidents could end in tragedy.
“To discharge a firearm at a low flying aircraft threatens the safety and wellbeing of the pilot and anybody on board the aircraft.”
It was the first such incident he’d heard of in recent years. He likened it to issues of people pointing lasers at overhead aircraft, which posed a serious aviation risk and had seen new regulations introduced for high power lasers.
Such behaviour was “unacceptable” and “totally irresponsible” and Michelle urged people to think about the potential consequences.
www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/129453507/man-charged-after-allegedly-firing-shots-near-passing-top-dressing-plane
