Said He Needed To Pick Up A Set Of Keys

A helicopter pilot has been fined $7,300 (5,000 Euros) for landing on the roof of an Irish supermarket in July of 2007 because he needed to pick up a set of keys. Along with the fine, 50-year-old Sean O’Brien was given a 6 month suspended sentence, providing he does not operate an aircraft.

O'Brien, who hold a U.S. pilot's license, said he was operating based on "completely different" flight instruction which he had received in Florida. “You are telling me in Florida there are no regulations in relation to landing a helicopter on top of a supermarket?” asked Judge David Anderson. O'Brien said he had studied Irish regulations, but had been unable to afford to attend a ground school.

O'Brien admitted he should not have descended below 1,500 feet in a populated area, and described his actions as "dangerous" given the lack of a designated LZ on the shopping center roof.

Judge Anderson said O'Brien showed "no grasp whatsoever" of Irish aviation regulations. “Common sense, that is where he has difficulty,” he said.

O'Brien was convicted of "dangerous and negligent" use of a helicopter. There are still nine other charges outstanding, which Judge Anderson has under advisement.

FMI: www.iaa.ie