Pipeline Pilot Didn't Know About Restrictions

When you're flying along, doing your job and suddenly notice an F-16 and a couple of Blackhawks off your wing, with the pilots looking at you real hard, that's a bad thing, right? That's just what happened to an aviator from Underwood Aerial Patrol in Bloomingburg (OH). 

Secret Service: "Wrong Place, Wrong Time"

President Bush was in Philadelphia Thursday to announce the first distribution of government checks under his Child Credit Act. Some 25-million families will each receive up to $400 per child from Uncle Sam. The president was traveling in motorcade along I-95 from the airport to the check processing center when the unnamed pilot flew right overhead. What the pilot apparently didn't know was that a Temporary Flight Restriction had been issued, extending 30 miles in all directions from the center of Philadelphia. He flew along the Delaware River and crossed over the motorcade at approximately 800 ft. AGL, according to the FAA.

When the pilot didn't respond to ATC, a city police helicopter was sent to intercept him. A USAF F-16 joined the party and the pilot was forced to land his Cessna 172 at the Camden County Airport in Winslow Township (NJ).  His aircraft was met by some 30 local and federal law officers with guns drawn. The pilot was handcuffed and sat down for a little chat with federal agents.

That Was Just The Beginning

For the next two and a half hours, the Secret Service says the pilot was grilled about his intentions and whether he knew there was a TFR in place. The upshot? Federal agents decided the pipeline pilot was clean.

"He had no idea the President was in Philadelphia or that he was near a motorcade route," Secret Service spokesman James Borasi said. "He meant no ill will, malice or threat at all. It was a matter of wrong place, wrong time."

AOPA Chimes In

"It cannot have helped matters that the NOTAM establishing the temporary flight restriction (TFR) was not issued until late the night before, or that the effective time was extended that very morning," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Here was a businessman conducting a legitimate flight and he didn’t get the word."

Boyer sounded a little like Cool Hand Luke when he added, "What we have here is a failure to communicate. The FAA waited so long to get the word out about the TFR that it was bound to cause problems."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ustreas.gov/usss, FAA Special NOTAMS List