Two Private Planes Violate Bush Air Space

[UpInArms]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&e=6&u=/ap/20041024/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_aircraft

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Two small private aircraft violated restricted air space Saturday over two of President Bush (news - web sites)'s campaign rallies in central Florida, authorities said.

In both incidents, fighter jets escorted the planes to nearby airfields.

<snip>

A small aircraft flew too close to Bush's rally at Ty Cobb Field in Lakeland and was led to Gilbert Field in Winter Haven, Secret Service spokesman Tom Mazur said. Later, in Melbourne, an F-15 escorted a plane to Merritt Island Airport near Cocoa Beach, said Greg Martin, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) in Washington.

In Lakeland, pilot Richard Hart, a Winter Haven business owner, was escorted to the ground after he mistakenly violated the restricted airspace, said Col. Grady Judd, Polk County sheriff's spokesman.

...more...

[prodigal_green]

1. Maybe his rally

violated their flight paths.

Gawd, this guy is a fucking inconvenience wherever he goes.

[xultar]

2. Why do they need to report this, first of all the air space has been

increased due to 9/11, second, most small planes aren't used to flying under these rules, third, why cause attention to it. Seems to me the more they report on it the easier it is for something like this to happen thus, inviting the terra-ists to do it for real.

[samtob]

7. The FAA will not accept a plea

of ignorance.

They have always had restricted air space for the president (in transit etc.

When I heard of these two planes I asked my hubby (pilot) if these guys were subjected to body cavity searches, bright light interrogations etc. lol Of course I knew they weren't, but he stated they are more than likely in deep $hit, and will get penalized by the FAA.

The towers that communicate with the pilots (even small private planes) notify these pilots of the restricted air space, these guys were just being stupid. I can see how it would be confusing up in the air, but then, I am not a pilot, and licensed pilots cannot plead ignorance to the FAA.

I am sure the only reason it was a story at all, was due to the fact they scrambled military planes to escort these planes. Otherwise, I don't think we would have heard about it.

[Almost_there]

14. This happens more frequently than we know about..

There have been a number of stories about small planes violating restricted air space, it happened immediately following 9-11 here in NY and people lost their licenses to fly. It is the absolute responsibility of the pilot to file a flight plan and know where any restrictions are. If its a simple mistake, the pilots are often fined a relatively small amount (I've seen $500) and suspended for 30 days. The reason is pretty clear, when you're in a plane, you are basically flying a missle with a bird's eye view of your target. I don't think this is a big deal, its barely newsworthy, aside from the fact that we had to spend tax dollars on some figher jock's fuel, probably on afterburner the whole way, killing a few geese while he's at it.

The FAA doesn't mess around, if this was serious enough, and is deemed that way, these guys may as well sell their planes for all the flying they might do in the future. I just can't fault the air force for demanding them out of air space. The same right has been given to all previous presidents and must be given in the future. Is it that tough to adhere to some rules like this?

~Almost

[saskatoon]

12. Do what for real?

you mean harm Bush! oh my god wouldn't that be horrible, makes one shiver to even THINK of it.

[robbedvoter]

3. Bush's air space? he got air space now? What is it - a black hole?

[neomonkey]

4. That would be the space between his ears

[Benhurst]

5. It's not nice to disturb The Great One. n/t

[louis-t]

6. Did they make the pilots sign

loyalty oaths?

[indepat]

8. Gee, what a shame our jets could not have escorted hijacked airplanes

away from our national landmarks back in ought one.

[Village Idiot]

9. Interesting that they could scramble

the fighters necessary to counter the threat in some Floridian backwater, but could not do it on 9/11 in the most supervised and scrutinied airspace in North America...speaks volumes.

[MercutioATC]

16. The jets are already "scrambled"

Presidential restricted airspace is patrolled by fighters continuously while it's active. Tankers are in the air to refuel them periodically.

Nothing was "scrambled" to intecept these planes.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

10. Too bad

the planes didn't violate HIM.
:evilgrin:

[Sara Beverley]

11. If this can happen as often as it does, the only reason the "terrorists"

haven't hit us from the air again is because they haven't wanted to.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. Or there are no terrorists... just CIA drones.

[mmonk]

15. His rallies do attract flies

Too bad we didn't have scrambled escorts on 9/11.

[RamboLiberal]

17. Anyone check to see if these pilots got a payoff from Rove

Seems to me it just added to the AWOL photo op Rove was pulling off!

:tinfoilhat: