Anger at US planes

United States Air Force F-16s flew close to a helicopter and three parachutists near Franz Josef and Fox glaciers with no warning they were coming. The incidents angered local pilots before the Warbirds Over Wanaka air show last month. No further action will be taken by the Civil Aviation Authority over the incidents. A spokeswoman said: “In both incidents the F-16 pilots were not in radio contact so other aircraft did not know they were in the area.” A New Zealand Defence Force spokesman said while the US Air Force pilots were in New Zealand at the invitation of the organisers of Warbirds Over Wanaka, the Royal New Zealand Air Force did provide a briefing on local flying procedures. “After the pilots were made aware of complaints about low flying, there were no further incidents.”