BY ASHLEY GEELAN
Yesterday, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O’s controversial KIIS FM radio show was approved at the last minute to hold a divisive “ball drop” stunt from a helicopter today at the Elsternwick Park Tennis Club.
The competition took place just after 8am this morning. 100 people ran onto the court to grab 200 flying foam balls.
Before the stunt, Sandilands was talking about “dropping balls” and “sucking dicks” live on air.
The Elsternwick Park Tennis Club – (a KIIS FM advertiser) – and KIIS FM received dozens of complaints from locals with many fearing members of the public could sustain serious injuries.
Elsternwick resident Lucy Ellen told the Herald Sun it was a “lawsuit waiting to happen”.
“I am majorly concerned that it might hurt an elderly person,” she said.
“It’s literally a lawsuit waiting to happen … if a person’s property gets damaged by the careless act from a ball,” Ms Ellen said.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approved the flight – and the stunt – at 6:35pm yesterday.
“The application to conduct the event has been approved after the operator demonstrated it could meet the aviation safety requirements,” a CASA spokesperson told VicNews.
On Wednesday, January 22, CASA said it was reviewing the application.
“We’re reviewing an application from the helicopter operator to conduct the event but no decision has been made at this stage. Safety is the priority in all CASA decisions,” a CASA spokesperson said.
It is believed that the permit was not applied for until the last minute as journalists had contacted CASA, KIIS FM and the Elsternwick Park Tennis Club seeking information. If approved sooner, the aircraft operator and callsign (VH-HFN) would be publicly available information.
“There are strict regulations around dropping things from aircraft, particularly in populous areas or over public gatherings,” a CASA spokesperson told VicNews on Friday, January 17.
The online group “Mad F…ing Witches” has been campaigning against Kyle and Jackie O for some time with advertisers including Aldi, BWS, Dan Murphy’s and Clean Up Australia, among many other companies, that have withdrawn their advertising from Kyle & Jackie O Show due to their on-air behaviour.
The stunt was conducted by a 2008 Robinson CO R44 II Rotorcraft (helicopter) with the registration VH-HFN. It started the ball drop stunt by departing Moorabbin Airport (MBW/YMMB) at 7:31am and over-flying the tennis club.
The helicopter landed safely at Moorabbin Airport at 8:27am and is owned and operated by E.R. Heli Charter Pty Ltd.
The Kyle and Jackie O show in Melbourne suffered a massive ratings slump last year.
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