Hollywood actor Gerard Butler could be at the centre of an investigation over his video of helicopter flying techniques in the Northern Territory

http://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/hollywood-actor-gerard-butler-could-be-at-the-centre-of-an-investigation-over-his-video-of-helicopter-flying-techniques-in-the-northern-territory/story-fnk0b1gl-1227001851711

Hollywood actor Gerard Butler could be at the centre of an investigation over his video of helicopter flying techniques in the Northern Territory

By CONOR BYRNE
NT News
July 26, 2014 12:00AM


HOLLYWOOD actor Gerard Butler could be at the centre of an Australian aviation investigation after his video of helicopter flying techniques in the Northern Territory was aired on US TV.

Butler was on a two-day tour in the Top End while filming his next movie in Australia.

But he was also filming things which grabbed the attention of authorities.

While fishing on a sandbar - an unidentified black Robinson helicopter can be seen flying toward Butler and others, then aiming its rotor toward the men unnecessarily - spinning above their heads for several seconds before landing meters away.

And he showed the footage in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, now online.

“This stuff is evidence he’s insane,” Butler told the show.

“This is how we were flying about.”

Kimmel said: “This is not a guy you should be hanging around with in general”.

And Butler has it all on tape.

“I spent a lot of time (filming) on my phone,” he said.

“We didn’t even upload the best bit of this where we were spinning around at 70 miles per hour and him in the chopper right above us.”

The trip also included a fan boat ride with “Big Macca”.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has been examining the interview - which can be seen on YouTube.

Spokesman Peter Gibson said: “CASA is reviewing the video of the helicopter flying near the fishing party shown on the YouTube clip.”

“CASA always takes any information or evidence about potential unsafe flying seriously and takes the appropriate actions.”

The star of 300, How to Train Your Dragon, and Olympus has Fallen stressed an investigation had not been started, and no breaches had been officially identified.

Butler praised Big Macca for cleaning his wounds when he cut his leg on coral.

Kimmel asked with whom he went on this trip around the Territory.

“This guy is quite a famous adventurer in Australia,” he said.

“I don’t want to say his name. Because it was ... There was a lot of stuff I couldn’t put on this video. This is the tame stuff.”

http://blog.wenn.com/all-news/gerard-butlers-helicopter-footage-sparks-aviation-review/

Gerard Butler’s Helicopter Footage Sparks Aviation Review

Gerard Butler has sparked a review by aviation authorities in Australia after he shared a clip of a friend performing stunts in a helicopter on TV.
The Scottish actor has been Down Under filming a new movie, and he shared footage of his experiences in the country during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show in June.
The clip, which was also uploaded to YouTube.com, shows Butler and his friends on a fishing trip as a helicopter comes in low and performs a dangerous-looking stunt close to the ground.
The actor refused to reveal the pilot’s name over fears he might get in trouble, telling Kimmel, “This stuff is evidence he’s insane. This is how we were flying about… We didn’t even upload the best bit of this…This guy is quite a famous adventurer in Australia. I don’t want to say his name. Because it was… There was a lot of stuff I couldn’t put on this video. This is the tame stuff.”
It has now emerged that bosses at Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have obtained the footage and are reviewing it.
CASA spokesman Peter Gibson says, “The registration of the helicopter is unclear from the video but we are looking into it… CASA is reviewing the video of the helicopter flying near the fishing party shown on the YouTube clip. CASA always takes any information or evidence about potential unsafe flying seriously and takes the appropriate actions.”
An official investigation into the stunt has yet to be launched.