15 April 2025
Remember the old TV advertising slogan, P-p-pick up a Penguin? Well, revised advice: Don’t. At least, not a real one.*
A South African commercial pilot has been criticised by the South African Civil Aviation Authority for allowing a passenger in the Robinson R44 helicopter to bring a live penguin on board in a cardboard box.
Earlier this year, the Robinson R44 Raven II carrying the pilot and three passengers was conducting a routine aerial survey over Bird Island, just off South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
Once the survey was complete, a specialist aboard the flight made an unusual request: could they bring a penguin back to the mainland for examination? The pilot agreed.
The penguin was placed in a cardboard box and nestled on the lap of the front-left passenger. During lift-off, and while hovering at approximately 15 feet agl, the box, containing the penguin, slipped from the passenger’s hands and slid across the cockpit.
The crashed Robinson R44. Photo: By the pilot
Unfortunately, the penguin box wedged itself against the helicopter’s cyclic pitch control, forcing it to the far right. The pilot lost control, and moments later, the helicopter impacted the ground on its starboard side, roughly 20 metres from the point of lift-off.
Despite the rotor blades striking the ground and the airframe sustaining substantial damage, all on board – including the penguin — emerged unscathed.
The SA CAA said operators should reinforce adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to ensure that no animals are transported on-board aircraft unless permitted by the AOC and SOP.
