Vancouver residents woken up early Tuesday by helicopters circling — one carrying a car

Some of Vancouver’s residents were woken up early on Tuesday morning by the sound of helicopters circling in the air.

People living in the West End took to social media around 6 a.m. to ask what was going on when it was noted that one of the helicopters was carrying a car.

Reports indicate that there was a film shoot taking place as one helicopter was shooting the car dangling from a 50-foot longline under the other helicopter.

Transport Canada said it was contacted by Black Tusk Helicopter Inc. about this project with a request for a flight below the altitude described in Canadian Aviation Regulation 602.14(2).

When this type of request is made, that’s when Transport Canada becomes involved.

An authorization was issued “for the purpose of operating a helicopter carrying a Class B external load at altitudes below 1000’ within a built-up area. The authorization includes safety conditions such as:  weather conditions, flight crew qualifications, aircraft specifications, minimum altitudes, and area of operation,” Transport Canada told Global News in a statement.

Transport Canada said in built-up areas, such as Vancouver’s West End, aircraft must remain a minimum of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle unless taking off or landing. In areas that are not considered built-up, aircraft may not be operated at a distance less than 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle or structure, unless taking off or landing.

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Filming permits are issued and approved by the municipality.

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The City of Vancouver told Global News its film and special events team is notified when there are helicopter operations occurring, however when it comes to flights occurring over water, it is not in the city’s jurisdiction to issue permits for the flight and that falls to Transport Canada.

In this case, the city said the helicopter company contacted their staff as a courtesy and said the flight path was described as being between YVR and the mouth of English Bay, and that the pilot did not expect to be close enough that sound would be noticed by residents on land.

“Unfortunately the flight path and sound impacts this morning did not match what was described to staff and regrettably caused a lot of disruption to residents of the area,” the city said in a statement. “Our staff were not notified of the change in flight path by either the company or Transport Canada.”

“Staff are following up with Transport Canada to ensure there is better communication in the future.”