Why this helicopter pilot made a quick stop at Rouse Hill McDonald’s for his own version of takeaway

WOULD you have fries with that or would you just fly with that?

The pilot getting back to his helicopter after picking up his McDonalds meal at Rouse Hill. Picture: Channel 9

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WOULD you have fries with that or would you just fly with that?

For an unknown pilot, who landed at close to the Rouse Hill McDonald’s restaurant just to pick up cheeseburgers and chips, it was more fly than fries on Saturday afternoon.

The incident, which had diners and staff at the McDonald’s and nearby Red Rooster restaurants stunned, is now being investigated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to see if it breached safety regulations and put people at risk.

Using a helicopter for a Maccas meal is not too far fetched for some. Picture: Channel 9

According to McDonald’s staff who did not want to be identified, this is not the first time it has happened and the pilot had called in the order before he landed.

“He ordered cheeseburgers and fries,” a staffer said. McDonald’s head office has clamped down on the restaurant staff from speaking to the media.

The man landed his green chopper on the small patch of grass between McDonald’s and Red Rooster around 4.20pm, ran inside, picked up his order before returning to his chopper and flying off as other diners watched incredulously. However, not before he took a picture of the chopper.

This is where the chopper landed. Picture: Lawrence Machado

A Rouse Hill resident thought the chopper was RAAF one on exercises.

“We all saw it doing a U-turn near the dog park at Rouse Hill,” she said.

“It was very low and because it was such a dark green I thought it was a helicopter from Richmond doing training exercises.”

The grass area near McDonald's restaurant at Rouse Hill where the helicopter landed. Picture: Lawrence Machado

CASA’s media spokesman Peter Gibson told the Rouse Hill Times they are reviewing the video footage but said he didn’t know who the pilot was.

“It’s too early to say if any penalties will be imposed and we have not made any judgments yet,” Mr Gibson said.

“The rules are that if you are not landing at an airport, you have to get permission from the landowner and it has to be safe and free from obstacles and not put the public at risk.

“Yes, it’s unusual but whether it was illegal we don’t know yet. You don’t need a huge space to land a helicopter.”

Fines and a possible suspension of the license could be imposed if the pilot is found guilty.