Posted on 10/23/2004 2:43:45 PM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
Fighters Escort Two Small Planes Away From Bush Rally
POSTED: 3:48 pm EDT October 23, 2004 UPDATED: 5:31 pm EDT October 23, 2004
MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Federal authorities said Saturday two small private planes violated restricted air space over a campaign rally by President George W. Bush at a Melbourne baseball stadium.
Fighter jets escorted the plane to Merritt Island Airport near Cocoa Beach, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Secret Service has interviewed the pilot. FAA spokesman Greg Martin said further action is possible.
Reporters covering Bush's campaign event said the military jets drowned out Bush's words at Space Coast Stadium.
Earlier at a Lakeland event, a plane was escorted to an airport in nearby Winter Haven after it violated the president's airspace.
The activity in the sky repeatedly distracted the crowd from Bush's speechs.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Why are small planes even allowed to go anywhere near where the President is?
What is this, Sept 10th?
Demo-terrorists at it again?
They should have taken them out
Hmmmmm...is right. Are these events in the same pattern as the sign vandalism, voter intimidation, headquarters' break-ins?????
Those idiots are damn lucky they didn't get their butts shot down.
Who knew that John Sweeney and George Soros knew how to fly airplanes?
Talk to the air traffic controllers
I hear the ......PPP....coming as we speak.
>>>Why are small planes even allowed to go anywhere near where the President is?
They're not. The pilots were in violation of restricted air space.
That was just the AFL-CIO on vacation in FL.
I would be willing to bet these are just more democrat anarchist tactics. Throw the book at them.
"FAA spokesman Greg Martin said further action is possible. "
This sounds like it was more serious, than we may know.
I assume that airspace over such an event is restricted only temporarily, while the event is in progress, and not indicated on any map. Since I am not a pilot, can anybody tell me how private planes are supposed to know about these temporary restrictions?
Well, Jimmy-Jim-cricket - what will they think of next -
Great response by our guys though - nice to see - makes one feel they are on top of anything that might come this way -
just my opinion
C-Span showed the event on Tv. I was getting nervous, the jet roar was continous and for at least 5 minutes. A number of times the Secret Service was looking up nervously and moved out of position.
I think C-span will be re-running shortly.
VFR TFR's can be an SOB. Check the ATIS or call FSS. Otherwise your SOL with the FAA.
They are not allowed. But how do you stop them, except escort them or shoot them down.
There are temporary no-fly restrictions, of which pilots are notified, someone posted that on another thread.
Some pilots choose to disregard them.
After a couple of them would get shot down, maybe they would pay more attention.
Crop Duster Buzzes Bush Appearance in Florida
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1254568/posts
Here is the post, which posted the official restriction:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1254568/posts?page=51#51
I was born and raised in Winter Haven - home town ping.
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