Pilots detained after violating president's airspace

[question everything]

8/30/2005

Pilots detained after violating president's airspace

Light planes cross president's airspace
Ben Baeder, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Air Force jets on Monday chased two small airplanes out of restricted airspace during the president's visit to Rancho Cucamonga, forcing them to land at area airports, authorities said.

"We did some things to get their attention, including in one case, dispensing flares," said Michael Kucharek, a spokesman for North American Aerospace Defense Command. "We had a fighter jet fly in front of him and drop the flares."

The roar of jets could be heard throughout the San Gabriel Valley as one of the pilots was chased off by F-16 Fighting Falcons. The man was piloting a Sunset Sport airplane and was forced to land at El Monte Airport at about 4 p.m, according to the El Monte Police Department and NORAD.

(snip)

The Federal Aviation Administration routinely puts out notices to notify pilots of restricted areas, FAA spokesman Donn Walker said. A notice released Monday morning notified those planning to fly small, privately owned aircraft to stay at least 10 miles away from Rancho Cucamonga, Walker said. Another part of the advisory told pilots to stay 10 miles away from Ontario International Airport, where the president's plane landed, Walker said.

(snip)

http://www2.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_2984550

Ben Baeder can be reached at [phone], Ext. 2703, or by e-mail at [e-mail].

[benburch]

1. Some people fly VFR without radios.

How would they ever know what political airspace they were violating???

[Mithras61]

3. I'm not a pilot, so pardon my asking...

Even using VFR, shouldn't you be checking posted FAA notices before you go up?

[benburch]

4. Probably...

But take the case of some person from the back country with an airstrip and a Piper Cub...

Every week, if the sky looks good he flies into town to transact business. He probably does not even check the weather first. And he's been doing this for years.

Today, however, he is suddenly a criminal.

[Mithras61]

5. I see your point!

:)

[SpiralHawk]

2. "All your airspace are belong to us." - Bushco

not to mention the airwaves

[MemphisTiger]

6. Unless you're a good republican donor

like those two jackwads that did this very thing over Washington this year. Oh I forgot, they had their license suspended by the FAA. If it was a member of MoveOn.org they would be held as a person of interest.

[napi21]

7. I must admit, I didn't realize they created NEW restricted airspace

based upon where the Shrub is at any given time! I've known about DC and TX for a long time, but this is just plain nuts!

What in the world do they do when he's in downtown Chicago, New York, or Stlanta? You CAN'T restrict the entire airspace over a large city for hours!

[Mairead]

9. " You CAN'T restrict the entire airspace over a large city for hours!"

Oh yes you can. Just look at the outrageous restrictions BushCo has placed, even outside the US: 'Don't look out your windows or you could get shot'?!

[ima_sinnic]

8. fuck you, you stinking waste of cells! I suppose you think the sun

is "yours" too, you arrogant piece of scum.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

10. "Bush's airspace?" The pilots were between his ears? eom

[maseman]

11. A flight instructor here...

Restricting airspace around Presidents have been going on for many years. 20 years ago a rookie or old school pilot might not know a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) alert for a specific area exists temporarily. But today it is either a simple log into a website and check or a simple toll-free phone call. There is NO excuse by a remotely competent pilot to not know what is going on in a given airspace.

Most major sporting events also have restricted airspace during the games now also.