RAINIER Arangies, owner of the controversial Bell UH-1 helicopter with United States Army markings, yesterday scored a victory in his fight against the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA).
The Tsumeb businessman heard in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday that he may now use the helicopter for commercial flights again.On March 7, Acting Judge Kobus Miller ruled that Arangies may fly the ‘Huey’, but only for recreational purposes.His fight started on February 6 when the helicopter was grounded after President Hifikepunye Pohamba saw the aircraft at Tsumeb and was reportedly ‘perturbed’ by its military markings from the Vietnam War era.Yesterday, the case postponed to Thursday, April 19 for the parties to try and finalise a settlement.Who should foot the bill for yesterday will be determined at a later stage, Acting Judge Miller ruled.On March 7, the parties agreed that the words ‘United States Army’ on the side of the helicopter must be covered up, along with a registration number and horse-head cavalry insignia on the aircraft’s tail and a yellow circle painted on the helicopter’s cabin door, before the grounding of the aircraft will be lifted.According to Arangies, those markings have been completely removed.The only original markings to remain on the aircraft are a US Cavalry crossed-swords emblem and the number 91 on its nose.Arangies admits that the ‘United States Army’ marking might be a contravention of the Civil Aviation Regulations, it is stated in an affidavit.However, he disputes that the grounding of the helicopter, which he bought at a cost of about N$12 million, is a penalty provided for in the regulations.In terms of the regulations anyone who contravenes the rule on aircraft markings would be guilty of an offence and should be dealt with in a criminal court, and not by the Directorate of Civil Aviation itself, Arangies claims.
