Glide Omarama could be grounded permanently amid Civil Aviation Authority demands for it to change the way its operations are certified.
A statement posted on social media yesterday by managing director Gavin Wills said the company "had experienced unexpected re-licensing issues with the Civil Aviation Authority" and as a result, had made the decision to cease all operations from yesterday "for the foreseeable future".
"It is unlikely we will be reopening," the post said.
Mr Wills could not be contacted for comment.
An earlier post, on March 6, explained the company had been told it was required by the CAA under its rules to "re-certify its operations" from being a recreational aviation organisation to an organisation conducting adventure aviation, and to "re-licence" its pilots and instructors accordingly.
He said the process was expected to take several months to complete and an initial decision had been made to suspend all operations from April 15.
However, the company had since confirmed it had grounded its fleet and was no longer taking bookings.
Authority spokesman Blake Crayton-Brown said Glide Omarama, based at Omarama Airfield, was informed by the authority last year that it would need to become certified as an adventure aviation operation in order to continue offering its passenger glider flights.
"Glide Omarama had been offering paid glider flights which were described as ‘trial flights’, but it is the authority’s view that many of the flights on offer were adventure aviation flights, rather than the type of trial flights which would be available at gliding clubs elsewhere in the country.
"Under Part 115 of the civil aviation rules, adventure aviation operations are required to be certificated before they can offer recreational flights to paying passengers, including flights in gliders.
"This rule was first introduced in November 2011 to regulate the adventure aviation industry, and require operators to be certificated in much the same way as air transport operators.
"In order to gain certification, operators need to satisfy the director of civil aviation that they have appropriate management systems, structures and operating procedures in place to ensure compliance with the relevant safety standards.
"They also need to demonstrate that their employees are appropriately qualified and trained, and that their equipment is appropriate for the task and properly maintained."
Mr Crayton-Brown said the authority would "continue to work constructively" with Glide Omarama on the issue.
