Is Four Years Jail-Time For Copping A Citation, Enough?

Remember Daniel Wolcott? The pilot who earned the distinction of being listed as one of ANN's annual Aero-Bozos is going to spend (more) time in the slammer.

Nearly two and a half years after stealing a Citation for a multi-state joyride, the pilot has been sentenced to serve another year and a half in jail, to complete a four year sentence (having been giving credit for the time he has served, thus far, in Georgia and Florida jails).

Daniel Andrew Wolcott was originally jailed, facing federal charges (in addition to the six state charges) after he stole a $7 million Citation VII from a Florida airport in October of 2005 and flew the bizjet to Georgia's Gwinnett County Field. There; the (then) 22-year-old met five friends (who apparently had no idea Wolcott had commandeered the jet illicitly) and took them on a joyride over the Peach State, before landing back at the closed airfield and then abandoning the aircraft. The five passengers -- identified as Nathaniel Lewis Baker, Michael Coffey, James Corbett, Ian Andrew Smith and Mark Zwak -- told officials Wolcott called them and told them to be at the Georgia airport early Sunday to meet him and go flying.

He then caught a commercial flight back to Florida, going about his business as a charter pilot before being caught.

Wolcott, who wasn't rated to fly the Citation, was described in media reports as "a talented and gifted pilot." Still, this little stunt has ensured that he won't be seen in an airplane cockpit again for a long, long time (or giving aviation any more black eyes...).

FMI: www.gwinnettcountyairport.com, www.pinnacleairservice.com