Helicopters can land anywhere – with landowner's permission, says CAAM

PETALING JAYA: Helicopters are allowed to land anywhere – as long as they obtain the landowner's permission, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

A CAAM spokesman said that they are seeking information from the pilot of the helicopter which was captured on video landing in an open area in Section U11, Shah Alam, Selangor, believed to send a student to a private school.

"Legally, the helicopter can land anywhere in an open area but the pilot must obtain permission from the landowner.

"So now, we have to find out from the pilot to see if he obtained permission from the landowner or otherwise, as well as the flight plan. If he did not get permission, he was not allowed to land," Majoriti reported.

The spokesperson also said permission to land from the owner could be obtained in many ways as long as it can be proven.

So far, he said CAAM had not received any official report from the police or a complainant.

However, the spokesman said that CAAM had started a preliminary examination based on available information, which is the flight date.

"From CAAM's side, we only check from a technical point of view – whether the helicopter has a valid licence and use of the airspace," he said.

The helicopter landing near a housing area near Jalan U11/11D, Bukit Bandaraya Seksyen U11 became a sensation on April 17.

The video, which was recorded by a local resident, shows a young boy being dropped off at a private school located in Setia Eco Park.