Well the FAA issued their solution to the issue from a couple weeks ago
FAA revokes pilot's certificate
The FAA has revoked Hayden "Jim" Sheaffer's private pilot certificate for violating on May 11 the heavily restricted airspace over the nation's capital. The errant pilot's actions caused an international stir.
In the eight-page emergency revocation, the FAA found that Sheaffer failed to properly prepare for the flight, lost situational awareness throughout the flight, penetrated multiple layers of restricted and prohibited airspace, didn't respond properly to intercepting aircraft, and failed to take physical control of the airplane from an inexperienced passenger.
"Your operation of civil aircraft N5826G under these circumstances demonstrates either a complete disregard or lack of understanding of basic requirements for the safe operation of aircraft," the letter said. "These failures establish that you lack the qualifications necessary to hold an airman certificate."
Sheaffer was ordered to immediately surrender his certificate to the FAA. He will not be permitted to fly for a minimum of one year. He can then apply for a new certificate provided he passes a written and practical test. He has the right to make an immediate appeal to the NTSB. The FAA decided not to take action against the passenger on the Cessna 150, student pilot Troy Martin.
Sheaffer has hired an attorney, Mark T. McDermott, a principal in the Washington, D.C., law firm of Joseph, McDermott and Reiner, to represent him. In a written statement, Sheaffer claimed that he prepared for the flight properly by checking weather and temporary flight restrictions and conducted a thorough preflight.
"In an effort to be extra careful, and wishing to avoid the restricted area of Camp David during our flight, we over compensated by taking a more than anticipated southerly route, which consequently caused us to infringe upon the Washington, D.C., restricted zones," said part of the statement.
The emergency revocation represents the most severe penalty the FAA can levy on a pilot. "This action we're taking reflects the seriousness of the incident," FAA spokesman Greg Martin told AOPA in an interview Monday.
The charges represent the culmination of an FAA investigation that included its own interviews as well as information from other law enforcement agencies. Martin and Sheaffer were questioned immediately after the May 11 incident. Martin was re-interviewed late last week.
The FAA listed Sheaffer's actions by each regulation he violated:
FAR 61.57(a). Acted as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying a passenger without having made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days.
FAR 91.103. As pilot in command, failed to familiarize himself with all available information concerning that flight.
FAR 91.13(a). Operated an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
FAR 91.131(a)(1). Operated an aircraft within Class B airspace without receiving an ATC clearance or establishing and maintaining two-way radio communication with the ATC facility controlling that airspace.
FARs 73.83 and 91.133(a). Entered a prohibited area without having the permission of the using or controlling agency to do so.
FAR 91.139(c). Operated an aircraft within the designated airspace defined by an issued notam without complying with the authorizations, terms, and conditions prescribed in the regulation covered by the notam.
FAR 99.7. Operated the aircraft in an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) without complying with special security instructions issued by the administrator in the interest of national security and that are consistent with appropriate agreements between the FAA and the Department of Defense.
He was stupid. He's paying the price. End of story. They'll be looking at him very closely if he tries to get his license back in a year. His only flying in future will be as a passenger in a jetliner. Unless he's on that list too.
well he had not met his currency requirements and his student should be dumped too because he had not conducted a proper preflight if that is the case. Students are required to get a Student Pilot Cert
this got me to thinking... if a civillian can wander into "heavily restricted" airspace unhindered, what's to sto a kamakaze bugger from doing it?
Ifin I remember right, he was in shooting range of the F - 18's and they were awaiting the go ahead to smoke him......
But you are correct, fighter cover should be in air 24/7 and anyone that gets close to the no fly area should be visited before they reach the no fly....seeing a pair of F - 18's flanking anyone should give pause......
The problem I see with this is that the cessna is an aluminum airframe and flys ar 90 knots max --- I think that is stall speed on one of those jets and I bet the rockets would pass through and through --- seems to me an old SNJ or a P51 would be a better local intercept with those 475 hp P&W's they should be able to handle about anything that hits the airspace.
Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C.
Posts: 3,788
Listening to the local news radio station on the way to work this morning they were interviewing some mid level muckity muck with the FAA. He made to intersting but contradictory statements. Statement number one, the F-16 pilots could clearly see into the Cessana cockpit and both men were looking at maps, were gesturing and appeared to be lost. Statement number two, military ground controllers were literally 15 seconds away form ordering the fighters to shoot down the intruder, as a high threat, before the pilots responded to the fighters. Apparently the goverment is now going to station helicopters inside Washington somwhere so they can lift off and intercept slow moving aircraft and get right up next to them with a large follow me sign and escort them to one of several local airparks.
National security is getting to the point that I often wonder if anyone is watching the back door and the guy with the small stuff?
We publically display our security surveillance for all the world to see and, to me, it becomes one helluva training film for the idiots dreaming up unique ways to wipe our butts off the earth.
Do we really think that the terrorists are NOT looking for other weaknesses other than the skies?
I realize we can't drop our guard but, c'mon....I can darn near see the AZ/Mexican border from here! There ain't no one watching that!
__________________
"It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me
First of all: The asshat should have to reimburse the government for all the money that was spent as a result of his little escapade.
Second: The Cessna was intercepted by an ICE helicopter and Citation jet before the fighters arrived. Neither ICE aircraft had the ability nor authority to shoot down the Cessna. They should look into giving LEO aircraft the ability to at least fire upon threats (as I suspect BATF already can!).
Finally: I wonder if Army Apaches or Marine Cobras could be used for CAPs against small/low flying planes.
__________________
"Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun." - Ash
![Sniper[MI]'s Avatar](http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/customavatars/avatar690_2.gif){kind=avatar}
