Deadly Cessna 150

[MLS-12D]

Well, I guess most of us are aware of the panic that ensued yesterday (http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=137045), when a light aircraft was reported inbound for restricted airspace over Washnigton D.C.

As yes, the mighty Cessna: well known as preferred weapon of terrorists (http://reports.tbo.com/reports/bishop/), and patently capable of dealing a massive blow (well, a modest skid mark, but let's not split hairs) to the Capitol Building or the White House. :p And they have jeopardized the President's safety before! (http://www.mycountryrightorwrong.net/whitehouseairspaceviolated.htm)

Watch for further visa requirements and airspace restrictions. :(

P.S. I don't know, but it seems to me that the pilot's reported problems operating a fuel pump (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/capital_alert_pilots) are hardly evidence of navigational incompetence, or criminal intent, or anything.

[KCDW]

You have a point, but I guess Mr terrorist could unleash some sort of biological weapon from the air, even from a lowly 150...

[High Wing Drifter]

They could do that with a toy rocket! The no fly zone is fair enough, but a C150 that is interecepted and then compliently obeys and lands does not look much like a terrorist to me, nor (I hope) to any rational person.

[VisaGeeza]

No journo seems to have suggested that the pilot should have chosen 18,500ft as his transition altitude to remain clear!;) Seems the yanks should be colouring restricted airspace red or using laser lights around the perimeter of it to help avoid incursions:=

[Big Hilly]

VisaGeeza,

. . .using laser lights around the perimeter of it to help avoid incursions Truth is sometime stranger than fiction mate! SEE HERE!!! (http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/04/15/laser.warn/index.html) ;)

BH

[chopperpilot47]

Whilst I agree that a Cessna 150 is not a great weapon this stunt has done real harm to general aviation in the USA. The aircraft took off from S37 (Smoketown) on route to an airshow. The Washington ADIZ is in the way of a direct routing. It is on all the charts, it is massive and difficult to miss particularly in a slow airplane like a 150. Duats and AOPA as well as others will work out a route for you without infringing the largest TFR in the USA.

There really is no excuse for this bad airmanship. Navigation around the ADIZ or a VFR flightplan through it and contact with ATC would have avoided this mishap. Flight through this airspace is really easy, you get vectored around the place. All you have to do is fly the headings they give you.

As it is the pilot will lose his licence for a long time and many would say deservedly so. General aviation will again lose credibility and we will have to deal with uninformed criticism and further restrictions and overview none of which we need or deserve through the actions of a couple of careless pilots.

I think the actual or perceived risk is irrelevant. It is a no fly zone without a flight plan so stay out if you don't have one. A bad day for GA.

Chopperpilot 47

[LondonJ]

chopperpilot47 I think you're being a little harsh on him, everyone makes mistakes. In fixed wing we don't have the luxury of stopping and working out where we are. Yes it was a stupid error but we're only human.

[mstram]

LondonJ,

chopperpilot47 summarized the situation quite well.

"I think you're being a little harsh on him, everyone makes mistakes. "

1) They were flying with outdated charts

2) As cp47 said, it's the largest and most publicized TFR/ADIZ in the U.S. These two guys were truly "oblivious"

3)In fixed wing we don't have the luxury of stopping and working out where we are.

- A pilot can always orbit in place while they work out their position

- ATC is available almost everywhere in the U.S. for assistance

"Yes it was a stupid error but we're only human."

On a scale of 1-10 this was 100 on the stupid scale.

Mike

[VisaGeeza]

B.H. - The other cliche which comes to mind is "many a true word spoken in jest! Whatever next?

Just as an aside, the pilot probably never even took the time to call WX800BRIEF otherwise he would have been advised/reminded of the restricted area.

[RatherBeFlying]

Washington Post article -- registration may be required (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/13/AR2005051301570.html) Hayden "Jim" Sheaffer, 69, froze when he saw a Black Hawk helicopter appear near his right wing while flying toward the White House and had difficulty operating his small, single-engine aircraft, officials said yesterday. It took the valiant effort of Sheaffer's student-pilot companion, Troy D. Martin, who had only 30 logged hours of flight time, to take over the controls and land the plane at an airport in Frederick, officials said.

The FAA plans to take the most extreme action against a pilot since new airspace rules were put in place in 2003 and will revoke Sheaffer's pilot certificate, according to aviation officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the order had not been finalized. The FAA does not plan to take similar action against Martin, 36, because he is a student pilot and does not have a pilot certificate, sources said. Read up on those Intercept Procedures:)

[chopperpilot47]

LondonJ

Perhaps I am being a litle harsh. After all the ADIZ is only 2,000 square miles. Easy to fly into something so small. The pilot apparently did not feel the need to check the weather, flight briefing, notams or have a current chart, or talk to anyone. He also didn't know anything about interception procedures but apart from that he had a great flight until he was arrested!

Am I still too harsh?

Chopperpilot 47