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A whiff of stupidity in the air

Damn, another column about me! I wish something interesting would happen to someone else :-)

But seriously... as regular readers will know, I'm fighting a battle with the national model flying body MFNZ.

My full-time occupation these days is making videos for my YouTube channels and in order to do that, I need to fly RC models for the purposes of review, information and entertainment.

CAA have told me that, after deliberation, they categorically refute any suggestion that my RC model flying activities are "commercial" in nature and therefore they fall under the auspices of MFNZ. Apparently my video editing *is* commercial in nature but my flying is not.

For this reason, CAA have said that they would not approve any application for me to obtain authorisation as a commercial operator.

Which leaves me in the ridiculous situation of being a hi-tech business that is forced to join and follow the directives of a hobby organisation.

Yes, I am engaged in hi-tech work -- especially with respect to my "Sense And Avoid" (SAA) system which is ground-breaking stuff with massive global application. Even the guy from CAA made comment as to the significance of what I'm working on here.

To move the development of the SAA to the next level, I need to throw stuff in an RC model and fly it -- but apparently, that would not be a commercial activity so would require the approval and permission of MFNZ -- by way of restoring my "wings" which they pulled several weeks ago.

Now I know of *no* other situation where a hi-tech business has been required to join and follow the diktats of a hobby organisation in order to conduct their business and to be honest, I think it is outrageous -- especially when that hobby organisation refuses to honour a contract that has been forged.

Imagine if Air NZ had to fly under the rules of the NZ Microlight Association and apply to that Association for various permissions and certifications.

Outrageous!

Since the contract formed between MFNZ and myself, which should have seen my "wings" automatically reinstated has been totally dishonoured by MFNZ, I think I now have no alternative but to move this whole issue to a higher plane (no pun intended).

It is now time to approach a few government ministers and get them involved.

The Minister for science and technology ought to be asked to explain why the R&D being undertaken by someone working on a groundbreaking bit of hi-tech that could significantly improve air-safety has been scuttled by being forced to join a hostile hobby organisation who specifically state that they do not oversee commercial activities with RC models.

The Minister for CAA should be asked why that department is fobbing off its workload onto a hobby group when doing so would seem to be totally inappropriate and an abdication of responsibility in the case of a business operation.

The Minister for Tourism ought to be asked to explain why there are now a growing number of people from all over the world who are concerned that NZ's airspace may be unsafe because CAA are not policing regulations that apply to the flying of RC models in NZ's airspace.

I've tried negotiating with MFNZ and all I got was the shaft.

I've tried talking with CAA but they have simply referred me back to MFNZ at every turn and are adamant that my flying must be done as an MFNZ member or not at all. Indeed, I have been warned that if I fly without my MFNZ "wings", they will take "enforcement action" against me.

What do readers think?

Is it reasonable to demand that a business belong to a hobby group that specifically excludes business activities from its coverage?

Is it time to raise the ante and expose what would appear to be a whole lot of stupidity at a bureaucratic level?

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