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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Civil Aviation Act 1990

Offences and penalties - Safety offences

44: Dangerous activity involving aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service

You could also call this:

"Doing dangerous things with planes or flying equipment is not allowed"

You can commit an offence if you do something dangerous with an aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service. This includes operating, maintaining, or servicing these things in a way that causes unnecessary danger to people or property.

You can also commit an offence if you allow someone else to do something dangerous with an aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service. This includes letting them operate, maintain, or service these things in a way that causes unnecessary danger to people or property.

If you are found guilty of this offence, you can be punished. If you are an individual, you might go to prison for up to 12 months or have to pay a fine of up to $10,000. If you are a company, you might have to pay a fine of up to $100,000.

These rules are in addition to any other rules or regulations about aviation safety. This means you need to follow these rules as well as any other aviation safety rules that exist.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM216907.

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Part 5Offences and penalties
Safety offences

44Dangerous activity involving aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service

  1. Every person commits an offence who—

  2. operates, maintains, or services; or
    1. does any other act in respect of—
        1. any aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service, in a manner which causes unnecessary danger to any other person or to any property.

      1. Every person commits an offence who—

      2. causes or permits any aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service to be operated, maintained, or serviced; or
        1. causes or permits any other act to be done in respect of any aircraft, aeronautical product, or aviation related service,—
            1. in a manner which causes unnecessary danger to any other person or to any property.

          1. Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1) or subsection (2) is liable on conviction,—

          2. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding $10,000; or
            1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

              1. The provisions of this section shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any regulations or rules made under this Act.

              Notes
              • Section 44(3): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
              • Section 44(3)(b): amended, on , by section 41 of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 75).