In reply, the operators show some common sense
Table Mountain flight restrictions 'superfluous'
August 26, 2004
Helicopter companies that take tourists on sightseeing trips say draft legislation to increase the height restriction for flights over Table Mountain National Park will not affect them as they have not been doing such flights for the past three years.
Draft legislation before parliament limits the height at which an aircraft may fly over the park or other protected areas to 2 500ft above the highest point. This would mean pilots would have to fly at a minimum altitude of 6 000ft over Table Mountain.
Shaun Pautz, of Helicopter and Marine Services, said yesterday there had been legislation in place for several years whereby pilots had to fly 1 500ft above the highest point on Table Mountain, which was 3 500ft.
This meant the pilot was flying in controlled airspace, for which he needed to file a flight plan with air traffic control. "It's such a mission to do that that none of the operators bother to fly in controlled airspace.
"So this new legislation that adds another 1 000ft to make the limit 6 000ft won't really affect us, because we no longer fly over the park anyway," Pautz said, mentioning that they flew over the sea instead.
Another helicopter tour operator, who did not want to be named, agreed with Pautz.
"No one does that particular route anymore (over the national park). We fly around at coast level over the ocean, usually at about 2 500ft," he said, adding that civil aviation legislation required that they stay within gliding distance of land.