KEY POINTS:
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) inspectors are monitoring flights to the flotilla of icebergs off the Otago Peninsula as air operators take advantage of a windfall tourism opportunity.
Many southern commercial aviation companies are ferrying tourists to and from the icebergs and charging passengers up to $500 a seat for a glimpse of the Antarctic rogues that are rarely seen off New Zealand shores.
Business has been brisk over the last week, with small airlines and helicopter companies inundated with inquiries from passengers keen to view the icebergs.
But despite the extra air traffic offshore, the CAA says it has few concerns and operators appear to be following the rules.
Commercial flight operators certified to fly within New Zealand's domestic aviation region may fly to the icebergs if they stay within 185km of the coast. Aircraft must be fully equipped with lifejackets, liferafts and safety equipment.
CAA spokesman Bill Sommer told NZPA today the increased number of offshore flights was "nowhere near the same amount of traffic between Queenstown and Wanaka every day".
Mr Sommer said several companies appeared to be "jumping on the bandwagon" but the skies over the icebergs were not becoming overcrowded and the Airways Corporation, which provides radar coverage throughout the country, was "unlikely to set up iceberg control".
"There's not really all that many (flying to the icebergs) and I think they'd be lucky to see one another down there, there's so few," he said.
CAA had no real concerns as the companies offering the sightseeing trips were all commercial operators.
"They're aware of all their responsibilities under the rules and as far as we can see they're sticking to them," Mr Sommer said. "It's a bit of a novelty at the moment."
However, CAA flight operations inspectors were already in Otago for routine spot checks and were "keeping an eye on the situation".
Mr Sommer said while the iceberg flights were operating in uncontrolled air space, it was no different to aviation companies flying in New Zealand's remote backblocks.
The CAA made regular spot checks throughout the aviation industry "to ensure air operators are doing what they're supposed to".
- NZPA
