MOUNTIES CLAMP LID ON CHOPPER OWNER'S IDENTITY

Aviation Community Curious About Machines Dumped On Reserve

The company that sold one of two helicopters found ditched on the
Penticton Indian reserve and probably used for drug smuggling says it
had a range that would take it well beyond the Canada-U.S. border and
back.

"We do know who we sold it to but the RCMP have asked us not to make
that information public," said Sam Chivers, operations manager at
Alpine Helicopters in Kelowna.

Chivers said the refurbished Bell Jet Ranger, built about 1975, was
sold last June for between $200,000 and $300,000. A new one costs
almost $1 million.

The buyer has three months to register ownership of the
helicopter.

Chivers said the helicopter burns jet fuel and is capable of flying
without refuelling for 2 1/2 hours, covering about 400 kilometres.

The remote site on the Penticton reserve where it was found is about
95 km from the border.

Chivers said flying across the border for a drug drop, without
notifying customs or filing a flight plan, is risky "because there's
radar and if you get too high it will pick you up and you could get
shot down by U.S. Homeland Security."

Chivers said the aviation community is abuzz with "intense curiosity"
about who ditched the chopper, and a Bell 47, on the reserve.

The Bell 47, sold by Coastland Helicopters of Richmond on Oct. 20, was
advertised online as a "Bell 47J2 turbocharged, hot and high
performance, recent complete refurb" with "new leather upholstery,"
asking price $85,000.

Gerry Kearney of Coastland did not return phone calls from The
Province.

RCMP Border Integrity Unit Const. Alex Borden said the ditching of the
two choppers is "suspicious" and police are investigating whether the
aircraft were used to fly marijuana south and hard drugs north.

"It's fair to say the two helicopters weren't taking people out to go
whale-watching in Okanagan Lake," said Penticton police Chief Stewart
Phillip. "We're putting drug-traffickers on notice that we will seize
their aircraft if they try to use reserve lands."

He said Transport Canada has removed its "notice of detention" from
the choppers.

Rod Nelson of Transport Canada said if police can't prove the aircraft
were used for criminal activity, the pilot or owner would likely face
fines of less than $1,000 for failing to file a flight plan or
register a sale.

The Bell Jet Ranger was seen landing last Thursday by two woodcutters
who said a man jumped out with a large duffel bag and ran to a nearby
logging road.

The Bell 47 is believed to have landed soon after.