As two helicopters have covered the Island during the past weeks carrying photographers, mystery surrounds who complained about one to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to try to restrict who could fly.

Bermuda Helicopters Michael Smatt and photographer Roland Skinner both received DCA permission to bring in helicopters from the United States for aerial photography.

But on June 21, the DCA wrote to Mr. Smatt and told him he could only take up Bermuda Professional Photographic Association (BPPA) members - there are six - although the letter got the group's name wrong.

Five days later, Mr. Smatt, who has taken a number of cameramen up, received another DCA letter stating professional photographers were those who could "demonstrate that they maintain premises from which they can carry on the business of selling photographs taken by them".

However, the BPPA say no one from their organisation has admitted making a complaint to the DCA nor has it contacted them for advice.

BPPA member Marshall DeCouto said the definition of a professional photographer in the DCA letter - someone who sells their work from a shop - was absurd because it would only cover two photographers in Bermuda: Mr. Skinner and Ian MacDonald-Smith.

Mr. Skinner toldThe Royal Gazette he had not complained to the DCA about Mr. Smatt's operation.

And Acting Director of Civil Aviation Donald Gray, who wrote the letters to Mr. Smatt, added to the mystery by refusing to disclose who complained.

Nor would he say who gave him the information that photographers should belong to the BPPA and must also sell photographs from their own premises to be eligible.

Mr. DeCouto told The Royal Gazette he was puzzled that no one will admit to making a complaint and that the DCA will not disclose the information.

His organisation now plans to write to the DCA to say that other professional photographers who are not members - such as Press photographers - should be allowed to fly in the helicopters for work.

"Someone has been giving the DCA information and has not been owning up to it. No one from DCA has called us to get advice in this matter and we are being represented in this letter without our opinion being asked," he told The Royal Gazette.

"The fact that someone wants to remain silent speaks volumes. It's all a bit grey that someone is not owning up to it.

"I have no idea how anyone could come up with that definition of a professional photographer because it excludes everyone with the exception of Ian MacDonald-Smith and Roland Skinner.

"Ian has been off the Island for weeks and won't be back until October.

"That's not a definition of a professional photographer, it's way off base.

"Just because I don't sell my pictures from a shop doesn't mean I am not a professional photographer.

"We support what the letter is trying to do, but we feel that to say it is only members of the BPPA excludes other photographers, like the Press and others who don't feel they need to be part of our association."

Mr. Skinner, who has a contract to take aerial pictures for Government and is also doing some work for his own portfolio, said: "It certainly wasn't us (who complained).

"It doesn't matter to us who flies.

"It doesn't make any difference to me what Mike does or who he takes up.

"I don't have time for the petty nonsense about who's flying and who can't."

Mr. Skinner said he did not know if he applied to bring in the helicopter first or whether it was Mr. Smatt, but he did say he did not think the two should be here at the same time.

Mr. Smatt said: "I am concerned about the source of this information.

"I wonder who contacted the DCA and what their motive was because the BPPA say they know nothing about it.

"Who provided the DCA with that information?

"I see the DCA as a regulatory authority, not an organisation responsible for defining which photographers are carried and which organisation they belong to.

"I am concerned that Bermuda's photographic needs are being restricted."