Helicopter joyflights approved

RICHARD PAYNE

A relieved Kiama businessman has admitted his company will have to be on its best behaviour in the next 12 months, after Shellharbour City Council voted last week to allow Touchdown Helicopters to conduct joy flights and charter operations out of Albion Park Regional Airport. Under an amended recommendation, Touchdown will not be able to fly before 10am on Sundays or on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day, while the venture will also be forced to undergo two reviews within the first 12 months of operation to ensure the imposed conditions are being adhered to. Given that the majority of councillors had strong reservations about the application, and a small section of the community had also expressed doubts about the proposal, Touchdown Helicopters director Brett Kiteley said he was delighted when he finally received the go-ahead to run local joy flights. “I think a lot of the residents’ concerns stem from the fact that the other helicopter at Albion Park can be quite noisy, which will not be the case with our operation and our new, quieter Bell 206B3 Jetranger helicopter,” Mr Kiteley said. “The plan at the moment is to run joy flights south to Kiama or north up as far as the Sea Cliff Bridge or even the Sydney Harbour Bridge if that’s where the people want to go. “We researched skydiving down here, and that has been going really well. “Tourism on the South Coast has really come along in the past five years, so we are certainly very confident this venture can be a success.” With permission to use a hangar at Albion Park Regional Airport and a chief pilot already appointed, Mr Kiteley said it was now a matter of applying for an Aircraft Operating Certificate before being allowed to fly commercially. Hopeful of gaining the certificate in the near future, the Kiama resident is looking to start joy flights by early February next year. “We have formulated our business plan and things are beginning to happen, so it is certainly an exciting period,” he said. “We understand sections of the community have concerns about our business, but I can assure you that we are certainly looking to fit in with the local residents and make this venture work.” Meanwhile, the Illawarra Community and Environment Connection have called on the council to rescind the motion to allow Touchdown Helicopters to use Albion Park Regional Airport. They say the new venture will deliver serious noise and safety concerns to local residents.