Plane Forced Down Near Bush Ranch

Fox News ^ | 04 Feb 06 | AP

[stm]

WACO, Texas — Two fighter jets forced a small plane to land after the pilot flew too close to President Bush's ranch in central Texas while he was spending the weekend there

[stm]

WACO could have meant "What A Cook-Out" had this guy gotten fragged by those jets.

[USNBandit]

Plane Forced Down Near Bush Ranch

Nice misleading headline.

[CindyDawg]

He was interviewed and sent on his way. He probably didn't know the president was back home. I didn't.

[CedarDave]

Cindy Sheehan dragging a "Get Out Now" banner??

[McLynnan]

I live in the area, and the fighters scared the *#$& out of me last night. Not your usual sound from the night sky around here.

[Don Corleone]

Incompetant idiot. The restricted areas are NOTAM'd well in advance and pilots are required to check them before flight. Fine him a couple of thou and I'll bet he checks 'em next time.

[Southack]

"He was interviewed and sent on his way. He probably didn't know the president was back home. I didn't."

By federal law, all pilots have to check the Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) prior to each flight. Those NOTAMS inform you to, among other things, stay away from a Presidential area as the President moves around.

Some pilots are too lazy to follow the law; other pilots are too cheap to buy a GPS that shows them if they are on or off course.

Thus, the types of pilots being forced to land are generally not the sort of pilots that need our sympathy.

[CindyDawg]

Oh well. Sometimes we lazy and cheap people need sympathy too:')

[kingu]

Incompetant idiot. The restricted areas are NOTAM'd well in advance and pilots are required to check them before flight. Fine him a couple of thou and I'll bet he checks 'em next time.

It would be nice if the FAA would create a set of utilities like NOTAM Tracker that would work with multiple devices, including pocketpcs and GPS units. They could pay for the cost of development from the fines they issue to pilots and reduce the number of incursions like this one.

Then again, I'd like to see the US Forestry Service and the BLM also develop the same types of utilities for off-roaders and hikers. As it is, finding some of these releases is hit or miss at best.

[REDWOOD99]

Are they sure it was a plane and not a MOONBAT?

[El Gato]

Two fighter jets forced a small plane to land after the pilot flew too close to President Bush's ranch in central Texas while he was spending the weekend there

Wonder if they had to clean out the aircraft after they landed at Waco? Having an F-15 show up on your wing, and another at your six, makes a very effective sphincter relaxer both the anal and bladder ones.

[El Gato]

I live in the area, and the fighters scared the *#$& out of me last night. Not your usual sound from the night sky around here.

Hmm wonder what time it was. I heard some afterburner type jet noise about 7 PM, maybe a little earlier? Wasn't really paying attention to the time. I was FReeping. But I was really close to the airfield. :)

[JOE43270]

"The Second Amendment is the Reset Button of the U.S. Constitution"

I agree with you 100% on that statement. Also those guys with their hands on the throttles did and excellent job. God Bless you.

[deport]

Didn't something similar happen after 911 out in that area, maybe close to the ranch. Seems a local took his plane out of the barn for a fly around. He was led back to the ground by a fighter jet or two. Maybe someone else remembers the incident.

[onyx]

Exactly.

[Noumenon]

"Thus, the types of pilots being forced to land are generally not the sort of pilots that need our sympathy."

Roger that. Those NOTAMS actually mean something.

[stubernx98]

I get weekly updates for my GPS & Charts, unfortunately the TFR's are not on the charts. Then there are the moving ones that follow the politicians around and for special events like the Super Bowel(The Air force says the are going to shoot down anyone busting that one).

Frankly the TFR's and most of the ADIZI (air defense zones) are a total waste. Most GA aircraft would be in the TFR and at the key point before anyone could act, and then they could do very little damage. Now if you are worried about gas or biological stuff. Give me a Little wind and a small tanker truck.

The best answer is what GWB is doing with intel, electronic surveillance and HUMIT. They are welcome to listen in on my communications.

[El Gato]

Didn't something similar happen after 911 out in that area, maybe close to the ranch. Seems a local took his plane out of the barn for a fly around. He was led back to the ground by a fighter jet or two

At least once since 911. In one case the F-16s escorted the offender out of the no fly zone, and he was met at his destination by police, somewhere down around San Antonio, Seguin or maybe New Bruanfalls, I forget but I know it was at least 18 months ago, because I was still in SA at that time. And now I'm in Killeen, near Ft. Hood, where the fighters deploy to when Bush at the Ranch. (West Ft. Hood was once a SAC base. The runway is now used jointly by the military and scheduled airlines.). I live a couple of miles from the north end of the runway.

[dk/coro]

I agree about the quality of life in the Waco area.

Many years ago, I used Connelly as a refueling stop for my students on our cross country flights out of NAS Pensacola.

Always a delight to visit with my Waco chums; truly gracious Texans.