Lacked Authorization To Land Near "Green Gables" House

Arrest warrants have been issued for a pair of pilots who landed their helicopters on Parks Canada property last fall without proper authorization -- then didn't show up for their court date.

Prince Edward Island provincial court judge, Nancy Orr, issued the warrants Monday for the pilots who landed their helicopters on park property, near the walkway to the house made famous in the Lucy Maud Montgomery book "Anne of Green Gables," according the CBC News.

Pilots Francois Brossard and Michel Verdier reportedly landed their helos in a picnic area being utilized by park visitors. Parks Canada officials complained they had no advance warning of the landings.

Helicopters can land on park property with written authorization, said Park Warden Ed Robert. The fine for an unauthorized landing is $500.

"Of course there's no crowd control, and we had close to 500 visitors, or over 500 visitors there that day. And it's a real public safety concern having helicopters land without any crowd control. The tail rotors are lethal as well as the blades," said Robert.

Park officials allowed both helicopters to later take off, and cordoned off the area so they could do so safely.

The pilots had entered a 'not guilty' plea to the charge of illegally landing an aircraft on national park property.

FMI: www.pc.gc.ca