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OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.
It appears to be a case of Ministers ignoring the advice of the professionals who know the intricacies of drone technology and operation, and bowing to drumbeats of some farmers who think that drones are just a toy.
No doubt there are farmers, growers and orchardists who can fly drones properly and safely, but surely there need to be rules to protect those who think they know more than they do.
The NZAAA has made it clear they are open to changes to the drone rules and have long agreed that they support some freeing up of the present regulations and the cutting of red tape.
But this move is a bit akin to allowing everyone to get a driver's license without undergoing a test appropriate to their use of the vehicle.
What is missing from the narrative put out by the Ministers is that cutting the CAA regulations and supposedly stripping out red tape is just one part of the equation.
What they fail to mention is that the rules around spreading chemicals and fertiliser are strictly controlled by the regional councils. There are also strict rules on handling chemicals.
Do they realise that the spray drift from drones is less controllable than from fixed wing aircraft or helicopters?
Do Seymour and Meager plan to make changes to the new RMA and HSNO legislation? Because if they don't, a new drone may just be that - a drone on the bank balance.
Buying a drone is just one step and being able to safely fly a large drone over a paddock or an orchard is not the same as taking family pictures from high up.
Commercial drone operators say it takes months to become proficient with their machines and the legislation that controls their use.
In some ways, the narrative from the coalition Ministers sounds like a bit of a con job - who knows.
Their announcement does raise a cauldron of pertinent questions.
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OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.
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