"Pilots Complain About Cheney's Airspace"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed flight restrictions over Dick Cheney's new Maryland home, angering private pilots who say they can't fly overhead even when the vice president isn't around.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association spokesman Chris Dancy said Tuesday the FAA only imposes restrictions at Cheney's Jackson Hole, Wyo., home when he's there. He questioned the need to have the restrictions in place at all times over a home in Maryland, which has much more air traffic.

Cheney's new home is on the Chesapeake Bay in St. Michaels, Md., about 30 miles east of Washington. The restricted airspace has a radius of one nautical mile and was established Nov. 22.

The vice president's official residence is on the grounds of the Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, part of the region covered by airspace restrictions that were put in place after the Sept. 11 attacks.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20051130/D8E6FC5O0.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Maybe they're worried that pilots will fly small planes over Dick's house

and drop bags of flaming dog poo on it.

[benburch]

2. Something there they do not want SEEN. nt

[MercutioATC]

4. Naw, just a security thing.

Granted, it's a bullshit security thing, but it's nothing more than that.

[ixion]

3. all on the taxpayer dime, no less

:grr:

[MercutioATC]

5. Not that much cost associated with it...just listing it as a restricted

area and maybe printing it on the new maps.

[ixion]

7. hmmm... I think you would have to monitor and patrol the airspace

more than just mark it on a chart.

Just my opinion.

[MercutioATC]

8. Nope, civilian ATC does that automatically...no cost involved.

We keep planes out of restricted airspace all of the time (most of them just file flight plans that avoid it anyway).

If a pilot is flying VFR and chooses not to communicate with ATC, we still see his radar target and notify whomever needs to be notified.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Maybe it's because Cheney is planning to be there full time soon.

If his house is on the water there will be marine restrictions too. I know fishermen in the Kennebunkport area who are very unhappy when W visits the folks.

[Peace Patriot]

9. Didn't protect our nation's capitol, not even the Pentagon, on 9/11.

Hidden away in his bunker somewhere, while the Air Force and NORAD stood down. Let Rumsfeld draw all NORAD decisons into his hands three months before, and then go AWOL during the crucial hour, with no one held accountable. Failed to protect the people of the United States. Ignored all warnings.

Now wants HIS airspace protected.

...for an estate purchased with money stolen from the American people, in no-bid contracts to a company that is still paying him at least $100,000 a year--a company that lay in ruins from his leadership, but that is now fat with billions from the Iraq war and other disasters.

I say we ought to put protection of Cheney's air space to a vote. (Paper ballots only.)

[zbdent]

10. Maybe they should complain about this to George Voinovich

he has plenty of perspective on violating the airspace regarding (vice) presidential restrictions . . .