Some Think He Should Lose Flying Privileges For The Staged Stunt

It was one of those things that probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Eight Canadians who had gone by helicopter in search of the perfect frozen lake for a hockey game wound up as part of a controversy after the pilot of one of the aircraft skidded his helo across the ice through a group of skaters.

Of course, the whole thing was captured on video and posted to YouTube.

In the video, which Canadian Television reports was captured by GoPro cameras mounted on a landing skid of one of the four aircraft used to transport the players to the lake, shows the helo gliding across the ice as hockey players appear to skate out of the way and then skate under the aircraft as it lifts off from the lake.

Websites began reposting the video with titles like "insane pilot slides helicopter through game of hockey." But pilot Bradley Friesen insists that's not at all the case.  Friesen, has been flying helicopters for about 20 years, according to the report. He said the stunt was carefully staged and safety briefings were conducted prior to the flight.

CTV reports that one of the skaters was Sancho Gelb, one of the owners of B.C. Helicopter School, who backed up Friesen is saying that many precautions were taken.

Transport Canada is investigating the incident to determine if any rules were broken, and also to assure that Friesen had filming permits and other paperwork. The pilot said if anything comes of the investigation, he'll accept it.

(Image captured from YouTube video)

FMI: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/menu.htm, Watch the Video http://youtu.be/wlCg56K08hE