Aircraft In Latest Airspace Violation Has A Record

The Cessna 172R that violated restricted airspace over Camp David last weekend has a history -- at least two previous incursions into places GA pilots shouldn't go.

The Frederick News-Post reports that aircraft first violated the Class B airspace surrounding Reagan National Airport on February 24th, 2003. Not only did the pilot fail to obtain a valid transponder code, according to the FAA, he wasn't even talking to ATC as he entered, then left the Class B space around Reagan National.

The second incursion involving that same Cessna 172R (file photo of type, below) happened November 16th, 2003 -- this time, in the northern part of the ADIZ surrounding Washington, DC. The FAA says the pilot strayed about 1.5 miles inside the restricted zone before turning north and landing at Frederick Municipal Airport, where he was contacted by the National Capital Region Coordination Center, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

The FAA report stated the pilot, whose name wasn't released, "insisted that he had flown numerous times out of (Frederick) on the same route, and was positive that he had not violated the air defense identification zone," according to the News-Post.

As ANN reported Monday, the aircraft apparently violated restricted airspace around Camp David at 2330 on Saturday -- as President Bush was spending the holiday weekend at the mountain retreat. The pilot was intercepted by two F-16 fighters and forced to land back at Frederick. There, the man and woman on board the Cessna were Security officials (you think they'd have a permanent lounge at Frederick, given the recent rash of incursions) and later released without being charged.

The aircraft itself is registered to a Frederick-based company called Airworthy Aviation and is reportedly operated by Frederick Aviation.

The ADIZ continues to frustrate DC-area pilots and their advocates. "The ADIZ has been a disaster affecting pilots and slowly smothering the businesses that employ people in the national capital region," said AOPA Senior Vice President Andy Cebula.

FMI: www.faa.gov