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http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,204049,00.html?
'It's like being in a movie'
Some office workers thrilled by NDP copters, others say they're too close for comfort
June 05, 2009
GOING LOW: A Chinook flying by Suntec City. Another Chinook spotted by The Concourse along Beach Road. PICTURES: KUA CHEE SIONG
IMAGINE helicopters flying past your window at work, as close as 15m, or a basketball-court-width, away.
This was what Mr Jude Danker, 35, an operations planner, experienced at noon yesterday in his office at The Gateway along Beach Road.
'I sit near the window. Suddenly I saw an Apache helicopter fly past my window, close enough for me to see the pilot's face,' said Mr Danker.
'My colleagues and I could hear the blades spinning and the motor and engine sounds were very loud because they were so close.'
Mr Danker said two Apaches and one Chinook flew past his window at least five times within an hour.
His office is on the 19th floor and the helicopters were at eye level.
Apaches are attack helicopters, while Chinooks are mainly used for transport.
He said: 'The helicopters flew past us, went towards Suntec City, made a turn and then flew past the Flyer. It circled like that several times.
'I thought it was an anti-terrorist drill.'
Mr Danker and his colleagues kept their eyes fixed on the helicopters as they zoomed past them.
He said: 'About 10 of us stood up to watch the helicopters, while another 10 went to the windows to observe the action up close.
'It felt a bit like being in a movie.'
When contacted, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said that the helicopters were part of the National Day Parade rehearsal.
While those in Mr Danker's department were thrilled with the sighting, some were unsettled by the sight of helicopters flying so close to the buildings.
Ms Caitrina Michaels, 32, an architect working in the area, said: 'I was having my lunch (at the open space between the twin towers of The Gateway) and the next thing I knew, there was a loud whirring sound and a shadow fell over me.'
When The New Paper arrived at The Gateway at about 1pm, two Apaches and two Chinooks were seen flying past, one after the other.
Hair ruffled
Office workers who were having lunch or talking on handphones had their hair ruffled by the down draft as the helicopters flew by.
One lady hurriedly took out a mirror and a comb to put her hair back in place.
Mr Freddy Lim, 29, an architecture coordinator working on the 23rd floor of The Gateway, said this was the first time he had seen such a thing.
'They started flying only today just before noon and I heard the sound of engines before I saw the helicopters fly by below me,' said Mr Lim.
Others whose offices were on the lower floors in the buildings in the area were oblivious to what was happening above.
Ms Dominique Tan, 33, a tour consultant, works on the second floor of The Plaza Singapore, which is next to The Gateway.
She said: 'I heard loud engine noises and when I looked out the building, I saw the shadows of helicopters.
'I thought it was rehearsal for the National Day Parade and didn't think twice about it.'
But amid the action, some remained unfazed.
Mr Raymond Tombokan, 30, an architect working in The Gateway, said: 'I'm not bothered by the helicopters, as long as they do not drop anything on me, I don't think it matters.'
Pearly Tan, newsroom intern
'It's like being in a movie'
Some office workers thrilled by NDP copters, others say they're too close for comfort
June 05, 2009
GOING LOW: A Chinook flying by Suntec City. Another Chinook spotted by The Concourse along Beach Road. PICTURES: KUA CHEE SIONG
IMAGINE helicopters flying past your window at work, as close as 15m, or a basketball-court-width, away.
This was what Mr Jude Danker, 35, an operations planner, experienced at noon yesterday in his office at The Gateway along Beach Road.
'I sit near the window. Suddenly I saw an Apache helicopter fly past my window, close enough for me to see the pilot's face,' said Mr Danker.
'My colleagues and I could hear the blades spinning and the motor and engine sounds were very loud because they were so close.'
Mr Danker said two Apaches and one Chinook flew past his window at least five times within an hour.
His office is on the 19th floor and the helicopters were at eye level.
Apaches are attack helicopters, while Chinooks are mainly used for transport.
He said: 'The helicopters flew past us, went towards Suntec City, made a turn and then flew past the Flyer. It circled like that several times.
'I thought it was an anti-terrorist drill.'
Mr Danker and his colleagues kept their eyes fixed on the helicopters as they zoomed past them.
He said: 'About 10 of us stood up to watch the helicopters, while another 10 went to the windows to observe the action up close.
'It felt a bit like being in a movie.'
When contacted, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said that the helicopters were part of the National Day Parade rehearsal.
While those in Mr Danker's department were thrilled with the sighting, some were unsettled by the sight of helicopters flying so close to the buildings.
Ms Caitrina Michaels, 32, an architect working in the area, said: 'I was having my lunch (at the open space between the twin towers of The Gateway) and the next thing I knew, there was a loud whirring sound and a shadow fell over me.'
When The New Paper arrived at The Gateway at about 1pm, two Apaches and two Chinooks were seen flying past, one after the other.
Hair ruffled
Office workers who were having lunch or talking on handphones had their hair ruffled by the down draft as the helicopters flew by.
One lady hurriedly took out a mirror and a comb to put her hair back in place.
Mr Freddy Lim, 29, an architecture coordinator working on the 23rd floor of The Gateway, said this was the first time he had seen such a thing.
'They started flying only today just before noon and I heard the sound of engines before I saw the helicopters fly by below me,' said Mr Lim.
Others whose offices were on the lower floors in the buildings in the area were oblivious to what was happening above.
Ms Dominique Tan, 33, a tour consultant, works on the second floor of The Plaza Singapore, which is next to The Gateway.
She said: 'I heard loud engine noises and when I looked out the building, I saw the shadows of helicopters.
'I thought it was rehearsal for the National Day Parade and didn't think twice about it.'
But amid the action, some remained unfazed.
Mr Raymond Tombokan, 30, an architect working in The Gateway, said: 'I'm not bothered by the helicopters, as long as they do not drop anything on me, I don't think it matters.'
Pearly Tan, newsroom intern
