Bord to decide on chopper pilot’s permission to land
Council planners have called in An Bord Pleanála to determine whether a resident needs planning permission to come and go from his Adare home in his helicopter.
Does landing and taking off in a helicopter at one’s home require planning permission? That’s the question for An Bord Pleanála.
Noel Kearney, who owns Singland Motors in Limerick, has a helicopter at his home in The Paddocks, Knockanes, Adare.
But a local resident has complained to the council about Mr Kearney’s use of his home for taking off and landing his helicopter.
Council head of planning Jimmy Feane said an objection had been lodged but they have never had to adjudicate on a similar case and have called in An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Feane said: “There is provision in the legislation for An Bord Pleanála to adjudicate on whether a particular activity constitutes a development which requires planning permission.
“The final arbiter is An Bord Pleanála. We have referred this matter and they will decide if landing a helicopter does or does not constitute a development needing planning permission. We want clarity on the issue.
“There have been cases in other parts of the country, but none the same as this.”
An objection, he said, had been lodged on the grounds of disturbance and noise.
Mr Kearney said: “The question is, do you have to have planning permission to land a helicopter anywhere?”
Mr Kearney said he had a full pilot’s licence and had been using his home as a base for the helicopter for about four years without any problem.
“Somebody has objected. Due process will take place,” he said.
He uses his helicopter mainly for leisure and family flights, and on occasion to get to business meetings to save time. But he does not use it on a commercial basis.
He said: “This situation is a new phenomenon. I have a full licence, a clean bill of health from the Irish Aviation Authority and I abide by all the rules.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
