KUALA LUMPUR:The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has barred My Heli Club from conducting any training flights for a period of six months effective today, following two accidents involving its three helicopters.

CAAM chief executive officer Chester Voo in a statement today said the CAAM had temporarily suspended the Certificate of Approval for Approved Training Organisation under Regulation 67 of Civil Aviation Regulations 2016 issued to My Heli Club for six months.

“A notice of suspension has been issued out with immediate effect,” he said.

The temporary suspension came in a wake of two accidents involving three helicopters operated by My Heli Club in Taman Melawati, Selangor, on Nov 8 last year and in Pulau Indah, Klang, Selangor, on Jan 1 this year.

“While the Club is still allowed to carry out private flights, it is barred from conducting any training flights during this time,” Voo said.

On Nov 8, two Guimbal Cabri G2 (G2CA) type helicopters 9M-HCA and 9MHCB with two occupants each, which were believed to be conducting flight training collided mid-air in Taman Melawati area.

One of the aircraft crashed, claiming the lives of former Royal Malaysian Navy officer Mohamed Sabri Baharom, 56, and businessman Mohd Irfan Fikri Mohamed Rawi, 41.

Former Malaysia Airlines Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, 66, and his passenger, Tan Chai Eian, 51, survived after their chopper made an emergency landing in a nearby area.

On Jan 1, two men were slightly injured after their light helicopter crashed in a vacant plot of land in the Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) in Pulau Indah.

Voo said CAAM was currently in the midst of conducting a regulatory investigation over the accidents involving the helicopters operated by My Heli Club.

“This careful action is done in fair execution of Malaysian regulations and most importantly in the interest of the safety of all club members and the public,” he added.

--BERNAMA