Wed, Jun 23, 2010
Misdemeanor Convictions May Cost Rigs 60 Days In Jail
Pilot David Riggs, who lost his
pilot certificate last year over what officials described as a
"buzz job" of the Santa Monica Pier in California, was sentenced
Monday by a California Superior Court to 60 days in jail, 36 months
probation, and a $900 fine in connection with the incident. He must
also perform 60 days community service cleaning up Santa Monica
Beach.
Riggs was convicted of willfully and unlawfully operating an
aircraft in a manner that endangered the lives and property of
others.
The Kansas City Business Journal reports that it wasn't the
stiffest penalty the judge could have handed down. He could have
been sentenced to six months and a $1,000 fine.
Riggs was charged with flying too low over the Santa Monica pier
at over 250 knots in a Czech-built Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros as
part of a stunt to promote an unfinished movie, as well as
performing low-level aerobatics over a populated area. A second
pilot, Skip Holm, was also part of the formation, and a third
airplane was towing a banner promoting the movie. A story in the LA
Times reported that Riggs said there was no danger because the
aircraft were well maintained and flown by a skilled pilot. He also
contended that some witnesses were unclear on whether it was he or
Holm who was flying the plane which performed the maneuvers.
L-39 Three View
The stunt, which occurred in November 2008, was an effort to
generate a different kind of "buzz" for a movie called "Kerosene
Cowboys." The FAA almost immediately revoked Riggs' pilot
certificate, but on March 17th of last year, an administrative law
judge modified that revocation order to a 210 day suspension, and
it was recently reinstated.
In an e-mail exchanged forwarded to ANN, Riggs said that the
case was less about him and more about an attempt to ban jets from
Santa Monica Airport (KSMO), a fact he says was cited at least
three times in open court. He also states that he feels he is a
"fall guy" for "the fact that the FAA has been kicking the city of
SM for years." There is also some concern among pilots who operate
out of KSMO that the city's ability to successfully prosecute Riggs
on civil criminal charges for an aviation-related incident may set
a precedent for future prosecutions nationwide.
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