A helicopter pilot has been convicted for running illegal scenic flights in Central Otago

The pilot operated paid flights around the Alexandra and Clyde area, without an Air Operator's Certificate or correct licence and was sentenced in the High Court in Dunedin in July.

Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Chief Executive, Dean Winter says in aviation tourism, passengers expect operators to meet standards of the law when they step onto an aircraft.

He says the pilot repeatedly disregarded the rules that has consequences.