FAA Revokes License of D.C. 'Alert' Pilot

AP ^ | 5/23/5

[SmithL]

He said that he didn't see that coming, but then, he also didn't see the Washington Monument coming, either.

[Bogey78O]

It's expected he didn't see it coming. He obviously can't handle VFR at all.

I expected it to happen.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The FAA sure took it's time. But, then again, this is "the government protecting us" we're talking about.

[Dog Gone]

He's lucky they used flares instead of cannons to turn him around.

This guy is too dumb to fly.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'm surprised he was licensed to fly PERIOD.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Though hundreds of people have mistakenly flown into Washington's restricted airspace, this was believed to be the first such revocation.

Any reason for the difference? Publicity? Comments by Senators? CYA syndrome? Pilot had wrong political affiliation? Pilot smarted off the the board?

[Pondman88]

All part of the grand Rove plot to spike W's approval ratings.

Or something like that, according to DU....

[Paleo Conservative]

He doesn't sound like an alert pilot.

[KarlInOhio]

Maybe the other pilots responded to radio warnings.

[AppyPappy]

He's flying VFR and he can't see Washington.

Sure.

[ZGuy]

no action would be taken against Sheaffer's student

The pilot was a flight instructor!!?!?!

[July 4th]

The FAA sure took it's time. But, then again, this is "the government protecting us" we're talking about.

For a federal agency, this is probably a record time for a revocation.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Could be. I was just curious.

[theFIRMbss]

>The pilot was a flight instructor!!?!?!

In the modern world
teachers for some reason don't
always inspire awe . . .

[Glenn]

>>The pilot was a flight instructor!!?!?!

i took lessons from 3 instructors. one died ferrying a plane from england. one died spinning a piper cub (how hard is that?) the third died of natural causes.

[TheDon]

LOL!

[Common Tator]

Though hundreds of people have mistakenly flown into Washington's restricted airspace,

Pilots even when flying even under Visual Flight Rules are supposed to keep their radio turned on.

This idiot did not.

The usual thing that happens when a Pilot ventures into the space, is he gets a call on the radio. The pilot then appologizes for his mistake turns back on course out of the restricted space and nothing else happens. The plane gets maybe a quarter or half mile into the restricted space before turning back to its proper course.

This pilot did not have his radio on, and, as a result, did not answer radio calls from the controllers. When the plane does not respond to radio calls ,the Controllers are under orders to scrambled the Jets. But the Cessna 152 just kept on comming. At first he did not even respond to the jets.

The Student finally saw what was happening, turned the plane back and flew to an airport where he landed landed.

[GOP_1900AD]

Anyone who cannot see the obvious fact that they are starting to fly straight toward DC, on a day as clear as a bell, with warnings coming in over the squawk box, is an idiot.

[kitkat]

***Maybe the other pilots responded to radio warnings.***

One report said that the pilot froze when they fired flares at his plane. The student had to take over. That seems like a good reason to take his license away.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Ok