Army heli takes a breather in field at Delville Park

GEORGE NEWS - Learners of Delville Park Primary School were pleasantly surprised when an army helicopter made a precautionary landing in a field opposite their school on Monday 8 April. The action happened around 14:00, as the children were packing their books at the end of the school day, leaving for their homes.

The helicopter was travelling from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Cape Town when the thick mist in the George airspace meddled with their planned flight. Two flight captains and a passenger - all army officials - were travelling in the helicopter.

George Traffic officer Joey Muller and a law enforcement officer, Verona Botha, were quick to reach the scene. Air traffic controller Gavin Reed, who happened to be in the area, also stopped to have a closer look. "It was definitely the safest option they decided on," said Reed.

"One can't mess around with the weather. Even though they are flying under special visual flight rules, the flight's safety is still the captain's responsibility."

Reed noted that it was not an emergency landing, because there was no problem with the helicopter. "One should rather call it a precautionary landing," he said. "If anything, the crew need to be commended for preventing harm to the helicopter and persons or property on the ground."

George Traffic officer Joey Muller and a law enforcement officer, Verona Botha, were also on the scene. Photo: Michelle Pienaar