Local
Black Hawk landing near Bermuda and Pebble followed crowded-airport weekend, pilot says
Pilot Dave Sparks says he landed in a fenced dirt lot near Bermuda Road and Pebble Road after getting permission from the property owner and Las Vegas air traffic control. Clark County says a special-use permit is required for helicopter landings in residential areas.
A Black Hawk helicopter that drew attention after landing in a south valley neighborhood last week was there for a visit with a nearby friend, pilot Dave Sparks said.
Sparks said a local aviation convention had filled area airports. He and his friend sought a safe place to land and settled on a fenced, multi-acre dirt lot near Bermuda Road and Pebble Road, he said.
Sparks said he received approval from the property owner and Las Vegas tower air traffic control. Because homes surround the lot, he said, he changed his approach to the landing. He estimated there were about four takeoffs and landings over three days.
Clark County said a special-use permit is required to land in a residential area. The Federal Aviation Administration said the operation was covered by its short-term approval, according to information provided by the agencies.
The accounts describe separate approvals: the pilot cited permission from the property owner and air traffic control, while county officials pointed to the local permit requirement. The available information does not specify whether a county special-use permit was obtained.