Pubdate: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Suzanne Fournier, The Province 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek