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Former commercial hang-gliding pilot John Roderick Smith, of Dunedin, was convicted and fined a total of $4750 by Judge John Strettel in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.

CAA counsel Phil Shamy said it was "quite clear" Smith was passionate about the sport, but his offending was serious - particularly the last incident, when he knew he was already facing three criminal charges.

Judge Strettel told Smith the issue before the court was not his ability, passion or standing in the hang-gliding community, "but the simple fact that you didn't hold a licence to fly".