---

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."

---

---

---

---

---

---

The Oryx flying circuits every day at low altitude also gets seen by residents as the Huey because its also green!

---