“CAA should ‘throw the book’ at Paul Holmes for allegedly flying low over Ardmore Airport without getting permission,” said New Zealand First Deputy Leader, Peter Brown.”

“The excuse used by Mr Holmes that he was in an open cockpit plane and he’d been having trouble hearing the radio whilst airborne is absolutely pathetic.

“No permission received, for whatever reason, is exactly that – no permission. Pilots are not allowed to guess.

“Ardmore is effectively a training airport, with the control tower manned by flight instructors. It has more flight operations than any other airport in New Zealand and to my mind there is a good case for it becoming a ‘controlled airport’ with the control tower being manned by air traffic controllers – but that is another argument.

“Paul Holmes would have been aware of all that, and there is absolutely no excuse for his alleged antics which could have proved disastrous.

“If he is found guilty then CAA should remove his pilot’s licence indefinitely. Then, if he feels in a mind to act stupidly he will be confined to remarks on the radio or TV. There is no place for it in the air,” concluded Peter Brown.

Ends

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