Pilot arrested - alleged flying in restricted airspace
 

SPRINGDALE, Utah

A helicopter pilot was arrested Wednesday evening on charges of flying in restricted airspace after he flew through Springdale and Zion National Park.

Springdale Police Chief Kurt Wright said the pilot, Robin Benuti, 27, St. George, was detained by St. George Police after he landed the helicopter at the St. George airport. Benuti is a flight instructor and commercial pilot.

Wright said Benuti and two passengers landed the helicopter in Springdale at approximately 5:30 p.m. across from the Majestic View Lodge, 2400 Zion Park Boulevard. There, the helicopter picked up a passenger and took off, making a loop around Springdale and entering Zion Park boundaries.

Wright said he and Canyon District Ranger Brent McGinn waited where the helicopter picked up its passenger and in about 45 minutes, the helicopter returned.

"We were waiting for the helicopter to return. As it did, it flew over the canyon again, made the approach to land, saw us and took off," Wright said.

The pilot dropped off the passenger, a Springdale resident who was not identified, in the Anazasi Plateau subdivision and flew off heading west.

Wright said he notified Hurricane and St. George police departments of the tail number on the helicopter. The helicopter was spotted by Hurricane Police heading west towards St. George. Once it had landed at the airport, the pilot and two passengers, one possibly a student, were detained by St. George police.

Wright said the pilot was transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility and was held without bail pending an arraignment. :eek:

"What Benuti is facing is flying in restricted airspace -- both in the park and in Springdale. We have several witnesses throughout the canyon including photographs of the aircraft," Wright said.

Flying or landing an aircraft in Springdale is prohibited, by ordinance, unless approved by Springdale Police.

Wright said this is the first time someone has been arrested for flying in the restricted airspace over Springdale and Zion National Park

Oh Boy, Hot News.........Crime is on the rise. Sounds like some Cop with a badge too big for his Uneeeform. Wonder if the Chief lets him take Bullets when He goes patrolling.
I dont have a Sectional Handy but would love for someone to fill us in as to what it says about that area. Certainly an FAA problem but I also wonder where this will go with the "Law West of the Pecos"

Just for comparison....

I fly an armed BK-117 while patrolling a very senstive site in South Carolina. The airspace overhead the site I patrol is not "Restricted" in any way. The VFR Sectional Map contains a mere note.....which "requests pilots to maintain 2000 feet MSL or higher over the site for National Security Reasons".

As long as you maintain the minimum safe height per FAR 91, 121, or 135 depending upon what kind of operation you fly for....you are legal to overfly our site. Generally, in a helicopter....that means 300 feet AGL when away from structures and people on the ground.

Now compare that to the National Parks.....and does one not just have to wonder what the heck is going on here?

Can you imagine the trouble that guy would be in if he had two or three of his wives with him at the time? He would be headed to prison for 15 years for the wives alone!

SASless
"I fly an armed BK-117 while patrolling a very senstive site in South Carolina."
Difference being is that you are trained to evalute or recognize a threat.
These J/Os are just envious of someone having a helicopter. Good shot about the wives. Utah has more than its fair share of Religious Inbreds. More commonly known as Utards.

doesnt that well known actor bart simpson come from springfield

FAR 91.119 (d)

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....

AIM 7-4-6 (b)

Pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above the surface of the following: National Parks, Monuments....

Don't have a sectional of that area, either. However, if he was flying below 2000 AGL over that National Park, you can stick a fork in him because he is DONE. AC 91-36 defines that area as noise sensitive, and flight is prohibited below 2000 AGL. Even though the AIM says "pilots are requested," the Advisory Circular for VFR flight is a bit more specific. There are other Federal statutes I'm sure they'll use against him, too.