Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KAA) to Cancel Licences for Pilots Who Allow People to Hang on Helicopters

Pilots who allow people to hang on their helicopters in flight, face imminent censure after the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) moved to reign on the trend.

According to KCAA Director General Mr Gilbert Kibe, the authority will cancel the licences of pilots who allow people to hang on the helicopters they are flying.

“Members of the public have been seen approaching aircraft as they land or take off, unaware of the dangers they expose themselves to,” stated Kibe.

The Director General stated that KCAA had become concerned with the rising cases of people hanging on choppers endangering their lives and of those on board.

He noted that cases of pilots flouting the standard operating procedures and regulations on aviation had increased and had to stop before it gets disastrous.

The director added that the authority will on Friday issue a circular on safety requirements that pilots have to ensure in tandem with the security apparatus on the ground to ensure public safety and flight security.

Kibe highlighted that among the measures that have been fronted include the prohibition of; hoisting of banners on aircraft without authority, flying aircraft with modified, concealed or contrasting marks, as well as lack of security on control of parked aircraft.

According to KCAA chairman, Mr Samuel Poghisio, dare-devil stunts of people hanging onto airborne helicopters and going viral online was not heroism.

Poghisio warned that the danger of pulling such stunts was inconceivable as it put lives at risk unnecessarily and cautioned members of the public to keep off the lure of clinging to choppers.

The trend started after a Saleh Wanjala, nicknamed Bungoma's James Bond, hang on a chopper ferrying the remains of slain businessman Jacob Juma. The stunt has seen several copycats including one in Meru and Machakos.