Pilots Confused About Dates, No Charges Filed
It's a simple mistake, but one that won't be forgotten any time
soon by a couple of pilots in the northeast.
A pilot in New Hampshire, whom police are refusing to identify,
took off from the Laconia Municipal Airport in Laconia, NH Friday
afternoon to get his plane inspected at Skyhaven Airport in
Rochester.
During his flight, the pilot got a bit too close to a restricted
area put in place due to the summit in Kennebunkport, ME between
President Bush and Russian President Vladmir Putin this
weekend.
Federal Aviation Administration and the US Secret Service
officials ordered the pilot to land at Skyhaven Airport where he
was detained by local police for questioning.
The pilot reportedly thought the temporary flight restrictions
had expired, according to the Dover Democrat. The TFR, NOTAM FDC 7/6031, was in
effect from Thursday through Monday.
"He was flying into Skyhaven and didn't remember that Bush and
Putin were in Kennebunkport," Capt. Paul Callaghan said. "This
happens at least once a year, pilots forget it's restricted
airspace. Last year we had two cases where planes were flying over
and the FAA asked them to land."
As the pilot landed, a military helicopter flew over the
airfield, but did not land. After questioning, the pilot was
allowed to fly back to Laconia.
But that wasn't the first TFR breach that day in that
particular area.
Earlier that morning, in Sanford, ME, the pilot of another small
aircraft also got the TFR dates confused when he and a passenger
took off for a pleasure flight.
About 9 am, Boston FAA officials notified the Sanford Police
Department a single engine aircraft had flown into restricted
airspace.
Military aircraft, including a Black Hawk helicopter, approached
the aircraft, but officials at Sanford Regional Airport, were able
to communicate with the pilot and advise him to land.
"These are just a couple of guys who made a mistake," Sanford
Police Major Gordon Littlefield said. "I'm sure this has been a day
they'll remember for a long time
SFM Airport Manager, Evan McDougal, said such mistakes are
frequent when a TFR is issued.
"It happens every time there's a temporary flight restriction,"
he said. "There's always a pilot or two. That pilot should not have
been in that air space."
The names of the pilots or the lone passenger have not been
released and no charges have been filed.
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.29.25): Waypoint
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