A private matter, says pilots' boss

The employer of two Queenstown pilots whose drink-driving charges were withdrawn this week after police failed to establish who was driving will not be taking any disciplinary action.

Cameron Milford Hoyle, 23, and Phillip Parker, 24, along with a third pilot, Canadian Ian Edward Beatty, 28, were all charged with the same drink-driving offence, following an alleged dangerous driving incident on March 30.

All three men registered excess breath-alcohol levels, but each denied being the driver and offered different accounts of the incident to police.

Police withdrew the charges against Mr Hoyle and Mr Parker on Monday in the Queenstown District Court, citing lack of evidence.

Mr Beatty had the charge withdrawn in Invercargill District Court on Friday.

Milford Sounds Scenic Flights chief executive Mark Quickfall said he had discussed the matter with his employees, Hoyle and Parker, but would not be taking any further action.

"It's a private matter for them, it happened outside work and has no impact on their ability to do their jobs," he said.

"In light of the fact the police couldn't determine who was driving the vehicle - or even which vehicle was supposed to be driven - an employer would be on shaky ground indeed if he wanted to make an issue of it."

Both men were exemplary employees and responsible pilots, Mr Quickfall said.

The company, which employed 30 pilots, had "a zero tolerance" policy toward alcohol and drug use on the job, he said.

"Our safety protocols are even more rigorous than those required by law.

"If anyone turned up to work under the influence, that would be treated very seriously," Mr Quickfall said.

- NZPA