Agency Grants One-Time Permission While Larger Issue Is
Resolved
Operation Migration (OM) has caught a break from the FAA, which
yesterday afternoon announced it will allow this year's migration
of young whooping cranes to continue behind an LSA trike flown by
paid employees of the charity. But it's a one-time waiver due to
the circumstance, not a precedent-setting ruling which might have
created precedent for the use of Light Sport Aircraft in the
future.
As the organization explained on its website last week, "The
issue in question is whether or not OM’s pilots are flying
'for hire,' or, for the furtherance of a non-profit...The FAA has
begun the process of evaluating a waiver to OM, exempting its
pilots and aircraft from that rule.
"OM has always maintained that its pilots are hired for a wide
range of non-flying skills and duties, and that they volunteer
their time as pilots. In 2010, the FAA Flight Service District
Office (FSDO) in Milwaukee investigated the status of OM’s
flight operations and accepted OM’s explanation. We were told
by the FSDO director that no further action would be taken.' Based
on that ruling, we began the 2011 season.
"In November a Letter of Investigation was sent to each pilot.
After discussions with the FAA in December, Operation Migration
voluntarily ceased any flying while the matter is resolved. We
hoped that would happen during the Christmas break, but it is
taking longer than anticipated."
Whooping Cranes nearly became extinct in the 20th century, with
only 15 thought to exist in 1941. Chicks were bred in captivity,
but there were not enough adult birds to show them the annual
migration route. The flyway OM is trying to reestablish runs from
central Wisconsin to central Florida. During the stand-down, the
young migrating cranes have been sheltered in northern Alabama. The
Washington Post reports more than 1,400 people added their names to
an online petition in support of OM. The species is still
endangered, with just over 100 known to exist.
Regarding the delay's effects on the imprinting of the flyway on
the chicks, OM's Joe Duff says, "The only problem is getting them
to follow us again but so far that has not been an issue."
OM Director David Sakrison says of the FAA's decision, "We
appreciate the agency’s efforts on our behalf, and we thank
everyone...for the overwhelming outpouring of support on behalf of
Whooping cranes and Operation Migration."