OK, Karen. If you paid ANY attention to the byline you’d see this piece was written by one of aviation’s top 5 busiest and best living journalists who [unlike you] saw the abundant humor in this much-ado-about-nothing non-incident and wrote slightly tongue in cheek [also unlike you who wrote more foot in mouth].
Do these people REALLY expect that every landing area that might be used by a helicopter be “government approved”? I fly helicopters–the advantage of a helicopter is that “the whole world is a potential landing area.” In this case, there was no traffic, no congestion, no parked cars. The helicopter pilot undoubtably surveyed the landing area for obstructions and wires. The operation was conducted safely.
The helicopter pilot conceivably COULD be charged with trespass–but it’s unlikely, since they welcome walk in and drive in customers. I didn’t see any note saying the BUSINESS complained. Whose ox is being gored here? Not the business owner–only an "over-enthusiastic cop or town council in a rural community that seems to want to assert “control.”
It brings up a big point for VTOL manned and unmanned aircraft–are we supposed to get “government permission” to operate on “non-designated landing areas?” There is a parallel here–SEAPLANES obviously take off and land on water–are we to get “prior permission” from the government or surrounding landowners before operating on water?
Growing up in the 50s–a common comment was “There ain’t no law against it!” We seem to have lost that feeling of freedom–it is now “I’ll have to check with the government agencies to see if that is approved.”
The landing probably wasn’t the smartest thing the pilot could have done, but this sounds a little like the Canadian version of Barney Fife.
True, you can tell I’m a fixed wing guy. Helicopters is 500’ over a built up area, unless taking off or landing.
This is happening less and less due to economic constraints (heli’s are expensive), and if someone has not seen something like that before, well it must be illegal. 
Canada is full of Barney Fife’s, they teach the police to charge everyone with everything and let the courts figure it out (see what sticks). This way they don’t have to think, or even be that familiar with the law. Now they enforce “the spirit of the law”.
“NIP it IN THE BUD!” (laugh)
I’m surprised this happened in Saskatchewan. People there are pretty straightforward people. I spend a lot of time hunting and fishing there (at least up until the LAST YEAR!")–if you think we have a dislike for Washington politics, they have an almost HATRED for Ottawa. In Canada, Provinces CAN seceed (remember, Quebec came within 6/10s of one percent not that many years ago–other Provinces asked “why didn’t WE get a vote on Quebec Secession?”–laugh).
I’ve landed my Enstrom in fields near towns in Minnesota and Iowa often to pick up or drop off people–what’s the difference between that and patronizing a burger joint or other business?
If THIS kind of “NIMBY” (“Not In MY Back Yard”) thinking is the norm, there won’t BE any helicopters–or VTOL “flying cars.”
Cartman cop, “You will respect my authority!”
Now you know why South Park makes fun of Canada… “you will respect my authority!….
Off-airport operations is not the question.
Besides, wouldn’t training/practice for off-airport operations - which most helicopter operations are in my region of the world, include consideration of blowing things around, ingesting small bits into the engine, and not endangering people on the ground?
Thanks but “Keith, it’s 1000′ feet above the highest obstacle in a built up area” does not make sense for heliports, which probably are vetted as I describe for Helijet. (Who operate ambulance helicopters besides commuter runs.) Key is staying clear of obstacles, such as the hospitals I mentioned which are structures well above the helipad. Minima will apply of course, based on obstructions.
Which station where?
I’d want to know what vetting they’ve done.
In Seattle one TV station’s helicopter used a helipad on the roof of the station. My impression is they went back to the station for breaks. Tragically one day it fell onto the street as something went wrong just as it was lifting off.
You are exaggerating the context.
Keep in mind junk was blown around by the landing.
Keep in mind this is a single engine helicopter.
And BTW, when did you interview the pilot to be so sure?
False in several ways, including that in BC police cannot lay charges - only prosecutors.
Uh “I’ve landed my Enstrom in fields near towns in Minnesota and Iowa often to pick up or drop off people–what’s the difference between that and patronizing a burger joint or other business?” the difference is proximity to buildings and people plus blowing junk around."
That’s why I mentioned it as being unwise, though I doubt anyone on the ground was actually in danger and the debris that was blown around was probably exaggerated to some degree.
Landing on non-airfields by helicopters–it’s what helicopters DO!
You seem to know nothing about helicopter ops. Buildings? Have you looked at the helistops in most major cities? Wall Street in NY? Rooftop operations? Sao Paulo Brazil is one of the busiest helicopter places in the world, due to traffic congestion on urban crime–every large building has a heliport.
“Blowing junk around”. The article mentions “dust and debris”. Dust was obviously not a problem–nor was debris–no reports of it affecting the helicopter–“no harm, no foul.”
“Keep in mind that this is a single-engine helicopter.” I guess that means that cities should ALSO try to regulate “single engine airplanes.” Perhaps you should ask your city council to prohibit them (and don’t forget gliders and balloons!" (sarcasm)
The takeaway–THERE WAS NO DAMAGE–NO ACCIDENT–NOBODY HURT–ALL WITHIN THE LAW–yet you feel that YOU should be the arbiter of what the law SHOULD read?
More like “Monty Python”–excoriating the British government with the non-existent “Ministry of Silly Walks”–lampooning over-reaching government edicts.
Nobody was hurt. LOOK at the photo–nobody around, no cars, certainly no “debris”. Nobody in danger (the Mayor was quoted as “the parking lot was empty.”) Contrary to the claim of “debris”–that wasn’t in the article–it mentioned only “dirt and dust.” (What NEXT–charging the Dairy Queen operator for having a “dirty and dusty” parking lot?)
So a single “County Mountie” brings charges based on HIS OPINION that it was “dangerous”–when the facts say otherwise? Would his opinion have changed if it was a medical helicopter, law enforcement, or “government” helicopter? If this were to stand, we will have to get rid of all civil helicopters–they will cease to have any utility–if an airplane would do the job, one would use an airplane.
Perhaps the NIMBY complainer should move a little FARTHER north in Canada, to an island in the middle of the lake–with no dock so he couldn’t be bothered–and a big sign that says NO HELICOPTERS OR FLOAT PLANES. (no mention of how he or she would get there, or get supplies or medical care.)
Other media clearly say debris was blown around.
You FAIL piloting requirements by looking only at a photo of the ground after the landing or departure, not during the landing.
This was not an emergency, I believe police would be restricting the landing are if it were, to keep speeding bicyclists out for example.
I am quite familiar with helicopters and aviation, you are just a ranter. Shame.
You FAIL aviating by changing context and by an ‘it flew in it will fly out’ type of comment.
You switch context from the environment of this incident to everything anywhere. I repeat that it was near buildings and people for no good reason.
You aren’t worth more words that “Get off it!”
“ You FAIL piloting requirements by looking only at a photo of the ground after the landing or departure, not during the landing.”
I’m looking at the same photo you are—no “debris” that you mention visible. How is it that YOU see the “debris” when it isn’t available for anyone else to see? Nobody used that word—you made it up. Do you have “superpowers”? Do YOU have photos not available to the rest of us?
Do you really believe that landing a helicopter without “permission” from the police is “dangerous”?
You say you are “familiar with helicopters”—that is a far reach from being a helicopter PILOT. PLEASE enlighten us with your special knowledge of these supposedly “dangerous” and unwritten laws—and your helicopter experience. —so those of us that DO own and operate helicopters can be aware of these unwritten laws and we can start disassembling these dangerous machines. (Or, you could just hide in your basement to avoid this apparent “terror”.). Some people spend their entire lives living in fear of events that don’t happen.