Another copter missing
on Big Isle

It was last heard from
about 11:30 a.m. yesterday

By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

HILO -- Helicopters coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard were searching the east slope of Mauna Kea this morning for a tour helicopter missing since noon yesterday.

The blue-and-white Kenai Helicopters aircraft was last heard from in a radio transmission about 11:30 a.m. yesterday, a county Fire Department spokesman said. It was not carrying passengers.

A Fire Department rescue helicopter, one from the Coast Guard and one from Kenai began the search at 6 a.m. today, the Coast Guard said.

The pilot of the missing Kenai chopper had originally intended to fly from Kona through the Saddle Road area to Hilo, the Fire Department spokesman said. However, military activity at Pohakuloa Training Area prevented that, and it is believed the pilot then detoured northward around Mauna Kea.

But Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tom Rea said even that is uncertain.

The pilot, whose last name only has been released -- Sugiyama -- contacted another pilot in Waimea during the flight, Rea said.

Since radio communication has to be line of sight, that would preclude the possibility that the Kenai aircraft was directly south of Mauna Kea in the Saddle area.