Island.

The chopper, valued at $350,000, was scheduled to leave for the US on board the MV Oleander yesterday.

But shipping bosses warned the helicopter's owners that the voyage may not have been safe because of rough seas.

They were worried that a giant crane, already loaded onto the MV Oleander , may have destroyed the aircraft if it toppled over during gales.

Co-owner Michael Smatt said he was still "exploring all the avenues'' to keep the helicopter in Bermuda and added that he was still looking for a rescue package. But he said the Airport-based JetRanger would still leave its home if no deal could be struck.

Negotiations with Police, Customs, Fisheries, Tourism and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre failed to produce a contract for the chopper last year.

And the 120 mph aircraft is still pencilled in as an exhibit for the Helicopter Association's three-day international convention in California next month.

Mr. Smatt, who runs Bermuda Helicopters but stopped commercial flights on October 31, is hoping a last-minute contract will meet $60,000 of the aircraft's annual costs.

Otherwise, he said the helicopter would be booked on an MV Oleander voyage in the next few weeks.

He added: "We are doing our best to keep this invaluable aircraft in Bermuda.

"But as things stand, the helicopter will be leaving the Island very soon.

"We were actually advised that it may not have been a good idea to sail this week.

"It seems such a pity that, after having various search and rescue aircraft here on the Island for over 50 years, Bermuda deems this service unnecessary and has elected to allow this unique resource to leave.

"Hopefully, Bermuda will somehow differ from the rest of the world and will not have someone lost at sea.'' The JetRanger was due to sail for Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, and go on permanent display in the Air Trade Centre showroom in Bristol, Tennessee.

Robert Lewis, Vice President of Container Ship Management which handles the MV Oleander , said the helicopter would be packaged onto the ship as soon as the owners were ready to move it.

But he said the risk was too high to allow the chopper to sail this week.

"We didn't want the helicopter and the crane in the garage deck at the same time,'' added Mr. Lewis.

"Storms can come at sea without notice and we just didn't want the two pieces of cargo travelling in the same confined space. We will probably move the helicopter within the next few weeks.'' Senior Police officers have already backed moves to keep the helicopter in Bermuda, saying it could be used for marine searches or drugbusting missions.

Oil industry experts have also said they would need a helicopter in case of a major spill off Bermuda.

And tourism officials have used the helicopter for aerial photography in marketing plans for the Island.

But Tourism Minister David Dodwell said Government could not launch a rescue package because different departments only wanted to use the helicopter "when the need arises''.