The Huey in Capetown (including Huey down)
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The article from todays Cape Times:
Huey and cry over low-flying choppers
By Leanne Raymond
Residents on Woodbridge Island have joined an outcry over the Huey helicopters, saying they are too noisy, fly "dangerously" low, and should not be flying at all as they are under Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grounding orders.
But Gary van der Merwe, owner of Marine and Helicopter Services and the Huey Extreme Club, said the Hueys were safe and kept to regulated heights.
"I had a court order setting aside the CAA's grounding order," he said.
The CAA's senior legal manager, Ntheri Magoai, said although Van der Merwe had a court order setting aside a 2003 grounding order, another had since been issued and continued to stand.
People living on Woodbridge Island, in Milnerton, and at Sunset Beach, many of whom did not want to be named, said the Hueys were "extremely loud" and flew low over their properties, invading their privacy.
One man said he was so disturbed by the Hueys flying close to his house that he had put his house on the market and planned to move off the island.
Van der Merwe, however, insisted the Hueys didn't bother Woodbridge Island residents. "I live there myself. I don't even know when (a Huey) has gone past," he said.
Phillip Baker, a kitesurfing instructor, said: "The Huey has been far too close to me while kiting, leaving no margin for error."
Richard Rundle, a Woodbridge Island Trustee for environment, said the Hueys' noise might have a negative effect on wildlife, especially whales, dolphins and birds. He emphasised that these creatures were leaving the area.
"(Van der Merwe) is providing a cheap thrill to paying customers, but he is taking advantage of our safety and peace and quiet," he said.
Paul Robinson, also of Woodbridge Island, said: "Sometimes you can't see the Huey's rotors behind the dune in front of us, it is flying so low. Passengers hanging out of doors, with binoculars and cameras, give us no privacy.
"The noise is unbelievable." Another kitesurfer, who asked not to be named, said a Huey had flown low over him.
"I have seen one or two guys dive their kites to avoid the Huey, instead of the Huey avoiding them."
Magoai said Van der Merwe had successfully defended his company against an attempt in the Cape High Court to ban the Huey from taking off from the V&A Waterfront.
But the court's decision in his favour was overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals in September.
In November, the Constitutional Court ruled that Van der Merwe could have applied to have the CCA's second grounding order reviewed and set aside, as he had done with the first one, but he had chosen not to.
It ruled that, because of the grounding order, the V&A Waterfront was within its rights to ban the Hueys from operating from there as the lease said operators had to comply with the CAA's laws.
Magoai said: "Regardless of that ruling the Hueys continue flying. The CAA has asked Western Cape police commissioner Mzwandile Petros's office to enforce the ruling."
Rodney de Kock, Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, confirmed his office was handling the case and would decide whether to prosecute.
Van der Merwe said: "This is the third time this case has been sent to the public prosecutor. If they decide to prosecute we will sue them for malicious prosecution."
By Leanne Raymond
Residents on Woodbridge Island have joined an outcry over the Huey helicopters, saying they are too noisy, fly "dangerously" low, and should not be flying at all as they are under Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grounding orders.
But Gary van der Merwe, owner of Marine and Helicopter Services and the Huey Extreme Club, said the Hueys were safe and kept to regulated heights.
"I had a court order setting aside the CAA's grounding order," he said.
The CAA's senior legal manager, Ntheri Magoai, said although Van der Merwe had a court order setting aside a 2003 grounding order, another had since been issued and continued to stand.
People living on Woodbridge Island, in Milnerton, and at Sunset Beach, many of whom did not want to be named, said the Hueys were "extremely loud" and flew low over their properties, invading their privacy.
One man said he was so disturbed by the Hueys flying close to his house that he had put his house on the market and planned to move off the island.
Van der Merwe, however, insisted the Hueys didn't bother Woodbridge Island residents. "I live there myself. I don't even know when (a Huey) has gone past," he said.
Phillip Baker, a kitesurfing instructor, said: "The Huey has been far too close to me while kiting, leaving no margin for error."
Richard Rundle, a Woodbridge Island Trustee for environment, said the Hueys' noise might have a negative effect on wildlife, especially whales, dolphins and birds. He emphasised that these creatures were leaving the area.
"(Van der Merwe) is providing a cheap thrill to paying customers, but he is taking advantage of our safety and peace and quiet," he said.
Paul Robinson, also of Woodbridge Island, said: "Sometimes you can't see the Huey's rotors behind the dune in front of us, it is flying so low. Passengers hanging out of doors, with binoculars and cameras, give us no privacy.
"The noise is unbelievable." Another kitesurfer, who asked not to be named, said a Huey had flown low over him.
"I have seen one or two guys dive their kites to avoid the Huey, instead of the Huey avoiding them."
Magoai said Van der Merwe had successfully defended his company against an attempt in the Cape High Court to ban the Huey from taking off from the V&A Waterfront.
But the court's decision in his favour was overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals in September.
In November, the Constitutional Court ruled that Van der Merwe could have applied to have the CCA's second grounding order reviewed and set aside, as he had done with the first one, but he had chosen not to.
It ruled that, because of the grounding order, the V&A Waterfront was within its rights to ban the Hueys from operating from there as the lease said operators had to comply with the CAA's laws.
Magoai said: "Regardless of that ruling the Hueys continue flying. The CAA has asked Western Cape police commissioner Mzwandile Petros's office to enforce the ruling."
Rodney de Kock, Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, confirmed his office was handling the case and would decide whether to prosecute.
Van der Merwe said: "This is the third time this case has been sent to the public prosecutor. If they decide to prosecute we will sue them for malicious prosecution."
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Reality is that Woodbridge area falls under Ysterplaat AFB.
The common practise for all helicopters is to call the tower who will tell you to fly at a given altitude. This is more often than not 1000 ft or below and if they have incoming traffic 500 ft or below.
Must helicopter operators tell the tower "no sorry we will anoy the residents"?
The Oryx flying circuits every day at low altitude also gets seen by residents as the Huey because its also green!!
The common practise for all helicopters is to call the tower who will tell you to fly at a given altitude. This is more often than not 1000 ft or below and if they have incoming traffic 500 ft or below.
Must helicopter operators tell the tower "no sorry we will anoy the residents"?
The Oryx flying circuits every day at low altitude also gets seen by residents as the Huey because its also green!!
Gatvol
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Good Comments KK, when did you get pilots license? Last I heard you didnt even have a Mechanics license..........
You and Shaun are the only two at Helibase that continue to "fight for food" at helibase.
Hey the Huey sounds different than the Oryx, folks know the difference...
I think if I were a betting person I would lay responsibility for any commotion on the Huey, not becuse of the noise but because of the attitude and practices of the owner, his flagrant nose in the air to the Public in general. Im sure the miltary is much more disciplined, dont lay this off on them.
You and Shaun are the only two at Helibase that continue to "fight for food" at helibase.
Hey the Huey sounds different than the Oryx, folks know the difference...
I think if I were a betting person I would lay responsibility for any commotion on the Huey, not becuse of the noise but because of the attitude and practices of the owner, his flagrant nose in the air to the Public in general. Im sure the miltary is much more disciplined, dont lay this off on them.
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Originally Posted by Kennel Keeper
The Oryx flying circuits every day at low altitude also gets seen by residents as the Huey because its also green!!
Must check for colour blindness
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Originally Posted by Kennel Keeper
...This is more often than not 1000 ft or below and if they have incoming traffic 500 ft or below.
Must helicopter operators tell the tower "no sorry we will anoy the residents"?
Must helicopter operators tell the tower "no sorry we will anoy the residents"?
The Oryx flying circuits every day at low altitude also gets seen by residents as the Huey because its also green!
Ontop of all that, you are allowed to go below the minimum heights over built up area's for takeoffs and landings. Not for flying low along the coast.
27F
Gatvol
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Based on the lack of posting, it must be that all who have been operating "illegally" are in Jail, Helibase Hueys have finally been scrapped by the CAA, SWFA has their Huey back in the same condition as it was shipped and Waterfront Operators are now the Law Abiding folks that they should be?? Am I wrong??
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Huey
Bert
No, they're still at it. Up until this weekend the were coming over my house at about a grand, the HASA routing recommendation through the Southern Suburbs "Constantia areas" is 2000 ft. My office is in Obs and obviously they like to do a R E A L L Y L O N G low approach to Helibase as the come over my factory each evening around 6pm at 500 ft max, and I'm about 3 kms as the crow flies from Helibase
No, they're still at it. Up until this weekend the were coming over my house at about a grand, the HASA routing recommendation through the Southern Suburbs "Constantia areas" is 2000 ft. My office is in Obs and obviously they like to do a R E A L L Y L O N G low approach to Helibase as the come over my factory each evening around 6pm at 500 ft max, and I'm about 3 kms as the crow flies from Helibase
Gatvol
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Sort of figured, that things had not changed. G Man is still stuffing the mattress with Tourist Dollars...... Thats what life is all about.....
All the Roosters on the fence who crowed over what was going to happen, were just that.....Roosters on the fence.
Sort of tell SA Avaition operators that they can throw away the rules, maybe its just that that has been happening for sometime and only this situation is publicized.
I know the word is out for the Aviation community in the States, Beware of doing business in SA.
All the Roosters on the fence who crowed over what was going to happen, were just that.....Roosters on the fence.
Sort of tell SA Avaition operators that they can throw away the rules, maybe its just that that has been happening for sometime and only this situation is publicized.
I know the word is out for the Aviation community in the States, Beware of doing business in SA.
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Cockadoodlefrickindoo Bert,
Judging by all your posts on this thread i would have to say that you are the Chief Rooster who has crowd loudest about everything from the guy who sweeps the hangar floor to black smoking holes in the ground.
All the rumours, hear-say and speculation is just chicken feed!
Now get back to your coop and scratch in the sand like all good hens do....
Cheers all and safe flying..cluck cluck
Ps. VIVA AFRIKAANS and bring back the Campfire please.
Judging by all your posts on this thread i would have to say that you are the Chief Rooster who has crowd loudest about everything from the guy who sweeps the hangar floor to black smoking holes in the ground.
All the rumours, hear-say and speculation is just chicken feed!
Now get back to your coop and scratch in the sand like all good hens do....
Cheers all and safe flying..cluck cluck
Ps. VIVA AFRIKAANS and bring back the Campfire please.
Gatvol
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LH
Funny, I didnt think it would take much to get your head bobbing......
Actually if you read the post, its not a message for you but all the others who were talking about the operation and what the CAA etc were going to do.....But again the words had over three to four letters per word.....back to the comics......
Funny, I didnt think it would take much to get your head bobbing......
Actually if you read the post, its not a message for you but all the others who were talking about the operation and what the CAA etc were going to do.....But again the words had over three to four letters per word.....back to the comics......
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One flew over the Cuckoo's nest
Bert
The Huey just went over my office on one of it's L................ong approaches for Helibase +- 800ft Fri -15:40 SA time
Forum is really getting boring without Guns and the rest
The Huey just went over my office on one of it's L................ong approaches for Helibase +- 800ft Fri -15:40 SA time
Forum is really getting boring without Guns and the rest
Maybe it is a good time to start a "Huey" pool since Cricket has lost its appeal to gamblers.
What you think...case of Castle to the poster who gets the crash date with a side bet on how many tourists get wiped in the process?
You up for it Bert?
What you think...case of Castle to the poster who gets the crash date with a side bet on how many tourists get wiped in the process?
You up for it Bert?
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Huey Pool
SAS it's already had 3 "forced/precautionary/whatever they decide to keep it flying" landings, one in Blaauberg, one at Cape Town International and I'm not sure where the other was.
Bert it's 30c here today, 33 in town, Huey just went over in case you were intereseted
Bert it's 30c here today, 33 in town, Huey just went over in case you were intereseted
Gatvol
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We laugh with you as you are running unopposed by the CAA etc...Enjoy it, make a lot of money.......
In the States its called "CCE." Continuing Criminal Enterprise..... Difference being that if there were to be an accident and its obvious that the operation was in contravention of existing rules/regulations, charges would go from manslaughter to murder, should there be a fatality.......
Good Luck
In the States its called "CCE." Continuing Criminal Enterprise..... Difference being that if there were to be an accident and its obvious that the operation was in contravention of existing rules/regulations, charges would go from manslaughter to murder, should there be a fatality.......
Good Luck
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You Okes Crack Me Up!!
Howzit Burt (et al), see you and your PC Pilot bunch of 'Tannies met nat penties' are still hard at it!
Just like Bold n Beautiful, it takes only bout 17 seconds to get up to speed after a while away from your belovd PPrune. You okes havnt changed your tune one iota. I was hoping for something new.............FAT CHANCE!!!
Gonna go find something interesting to read
Extreme flight still a gas, even after bout 20 of them.
Safe polling all.
Just like Bold n Beautiful, it takes only bout 17 seconds to get up to speed after a while away from your belovd PPrune. You okes havnt changed your tune one iota. I was hoping for something new.............FAT CHANCE!!!
Gonna go find something interesting to read
Extreme flight still a gas, even after bout 20 of them.
Safe polling all.