Small Aircraft Buzzing Houses - anybody else experiencing this?

VRWC_Member428 | VRWC_Memberr428

[VRWC_Member428]

This is not a news article yet because I haven't decided wether or not I should give the video to ABC yet.

We live in the outskirts of Spokane, WA. Houses here and there on 10 acre parcels.

For three days in a row (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) a small private aircraft has been flying around our area circling around, and even buzzing a house! The aircraft is a small red single-engine plane, with no visible markings. (There appears to be small numbers on the tail, but they are nowhere near the FAA required 12" size) When it buzzed the house, it couldn't have been more than 20 feet from the top of the house. The aircraft was always flying low, probably never climbing more than 1000 feet above ground level. On Saturday, I got a couple minutes worth of video, including video of the plane buzzing the house.

The fact that there has been a warning put out regarding possible terrorist attacks by way of private planes has really heightened our suspicion. Call the FBI, right?

The FBI gave us the run-around!

We called the FBI on Sunday. They told us to call the Spokane Airport Police. The Spokane Airport Police told us to call Airport Operations. Airport Operations told us to call FAA Flight Standards when they open on Tuesday.

So if you're remaining viligant, the FBI does NOT want to hear from you!

I checked up the FAA regulations today. The plane was in violation of at leats two rules:

Sec. 91.119

Minimum safe altitudes: General.

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.

Sec. 45.29

Size of marks.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, each operator of an aircraft shall display marks on the aircraft meeting the size requirements of this section.
(b) Height. Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this part, the nationality and registration marks must be of equal height and on--
(1) Fixed-wing aircraft, must be at least 12 inches high, except that:
(i) An aircraft displaying marks at least 2 inches high before November 1, 1981 and an aircraft manufactured after November 2, 1981, but before January 1, 1983, may display those marks until the aircraft is repainted or the marks are repainted, restored, or changed;
(ii) Marks at least 3 inches high may be displayed on a glider;
(iii) Marks at least 3 inches high may be displayed on an aircraft for which an experimental certificate has been issued under Sec. 21.191(d) or 21.191(g) for operating as an exhibition aircraft or as an amateur-built aircraft when the maximum cruising speed of the aircraft does not exceed 180 knots CAS; and
(iv) Marks may be displayed on an exhibition, antique, or other aircraft in accordance with Sec. 45.22.
(2) Airships, spherical balloons, and nonspherical balloons, must be at least 3 inches high; and
(3) Rotorcraft, must be at least 12 inches high, except that rotorcraft displaying before April 18, 1983, marks required by Sec. 45.29(b)(3) in effect on April 17, 1983, and rotorcraft manufactured on or after April 18, 1983, but before December 31, 1983, may display those marks until the aircraft is repainted or the marks are repainted, restored, or changed.
(c) Width. Characters must be two-thirds as wide as they are high, except the number "1", which must be one-sixth as wide as it is high, and the letters "M" and "W" which may be as wide as they are high.
(d) Thickness. Characters must be formed by solid lines one-sixth as thick as the character is high.
(e) Spacing. The space between each character may not be less than one-fourth of the character width.
(f) If either one of the surfaces authorized for displaying required marks under Sec. 45.25 is large enough for display of marks meeting the size requirements of this section and the other is not, full-size marks shall be placed on the larger surface. If neither surface is large enough for full- size marks, marks as large as practicable shall be displayed on the larger of the two surfaces. If any surface authorized to be marked by Sec. 45.27 is not large enough for full-size marks, marks as large as practicable shall be placed on the largest of the authorized surfaces.
(g) Uniformity. The marks required by this part for fixed-wing aircraft must have the same height, width, thickness, and spacing on both sides of the aircraft.
(h) After March 7, 1988, each operator of an aircraft penetrating an ADIZ or DEWIZ shall display on that aircraft temporary or permanent nationality and registration marks at least 12 inches high.

I fear that this is an example of why we will suffer further attacks. When you see something suspicious, you get the run-around.

I'm hoping the plane comes back today. I want to get more video of it. But if not, I'm considering wether or not I should give the local news channels my video and my story. I figure if the FBI doesn't want to investigate it now, perhaps they'll look into it once the entire country sees this video.

Probably, this guy isn't a terrorist, but rather an idiot out joy-riding. But even so, he needs to be fined or have his license revoked for rekless flying.

Think about it. If you saw somebody driving reclessly on the road, you can call the police, and they'll catch the guy as soon as they can find him. BUT, if you see somebody FLYING reklessly in an AIRPLANE, you have to wait till some beaurecratic office opens on Tuesday to do anything about it! (Considering they don't tell us to go somewhere else)

Does anybody else out there have any comments or suggestions on what we should do about this?

[VRWC_Member428]

Is anybody else around the country experiencing the same problem as of late???

[WellsFargo94]

I like the local news idea myself. That or hire a plane to fly a banner saying "FBI SUCKS"! That might get their attention, especially if that makes it on the local news.

[TiaS]

To get their attention, you might tell them you live pretty close to Hanford, or you might tell them there is biological/chemical weapons depot on a reservation just over the border.

[jlogajan]

Is it an ultralight? Different rules.

[Southack]

How small was the plane? Ultralights are generally considered exempt from those regulations, for instance. Did it have a fully enclosed cockpit? Could you see landing gear?

Regardless, five will get you twenty that a quick trip to the nearest general aviation airport will show you that little red plane parked out on the tarmac where you can go read the N number on the fuselage, and from there look up the owner via the internet...

[Draakan]

This occures all the time in the South. Usually spraying for all types of insects. Could be a law enforcement plane looking for dope or a survey plane of some sort. Maybe a mapping or photo aircraft. I agree that you must be vigilant, but do you think that OBL has it out for you personally and not.........say..........a large target?

[jlogajan]

"The FAA definition of an ultralight is found in FAR Part 103.1. The provisions are as follows: an ultralight is a single seat recreational "vehicle," which weighs less than 254 pounds "empty weight," carries 5 gallons of fuel or less, and is capable of flying as slow as 24 knots and no faster than 55 knots. That, basically, is the definition of a powered "ultralight" in a nutshell. (At the present time, we’re only talking about powered ultralights. However, Part 103 also governs unpowered ultralights, such as hang gliders.)"

"Now comes the details. First of all, notice that the FAA refers to an ultralight as a "vehicle," rather than as an "aircraft." The reason, it’s presumed, is so there’s no doubt that the other FAR provisions governing aircraft do NOT apply to Part 103 ultralights."

[Diddle E. Squat]

Rent 'North By Northwest'.

Seriously, go to the media with your story, its ridiculous how the beauracracy continues to slouch and slumber.

[CyberAnt]

The only thing I've experienced today is a lot more helicopters over my house. I live on the regular police route - and it is also the route for emergency helos to the Children's Hospital. However, today they were a lot more frequent and a lot lower than usual.

I live on the edge of Mission Valley just northeast of downtown San Diego. Just east of me is the stadium where we have the Chargers and the Padres. However, I thought the Padres were still out of town - I don't follow them closely enough to know when they're here. But, when the stadium is in use, there are usually more helicopters.

It kind of made me nervous, but for the last couple of hours I haven't heard any more. We have a large muslim community here and I know that makes us a possible target.

[Mensius]

I may have seen that guy today at 10:30am. Didn't figure anything was amiss. He looked as if he was just enjoying the sights, didn't get too close? Perhaps a half mile with an altitude of 1000ft???

I'm at the South edge of Hangman Valley. Hope it helps or eases your mind...

[prisoner6]

Don't worry. It's probably just the Free Republic Air Force buzzing Gary Condit's hideout.

prisoner6

[petuniasevan]

Some years back, when I lived in Northern California, something similar happened.
We thought little of it; I wouldn't even remember but some guy came around the neighborhood
a week later selling aerial photos of the homes on the block. Weird!

[alnick]

Call the FBI again. Maybe you'll get someone else.

[Eska]

This is kinda funny. Living in Alaska, cubs right over your cabin all the time; no big deal. On sunny days, people luv to fly up the valley right above the trees. If you could see the moose,mnts & glaciers; you'd understand why. Alot of the time, they are neighbors who land at their house.

Ya know the feds have been working at putting these guys out of business for years through regulation. Kinda sad to see the feds make owning your own cub unaffordable. They hate a man with a cub; only thing they hate more is a man with a gun with a cub.

I guess they somewhat frown upon planes buzzing houses, but the locals don't get too upset about it; nobody shooting at them with ar's yet.

Remember back in Sept when they restricted traffic. I saw quite a few locals still flying around here. They just weren't caught.

[Lazamataz]

I have personally been targetted by Osama bin Laden at least twelve times today.

The latest example of his relentless skullduggery is that my Amex card snapped in two in my wallet.

The bastard.

[HiTech RedNeck]

While you're busy getting some amusement from the bureaucracy's nonresponse to the issue, get some binoculars and read the numbers. I doubt, however, that the FBI is going to care unless he's spilling or spraying something.

[Gracchus]

CONTRAILS!