Will Serve Two Months And Lose Pilot's License For Five Years

A helicopter pilot who pleaded guilty last August to reckless flying charges has been sentenced to serve two months in prison, and will lose flying privileges for five years.

Ronald John Davis reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, who dropped charges of child abuse and flying while under the influence. Davis was sentenced to a year in prison for reckless flying, with 10 of the 12 months jail time suspended, the Virginian-Pilot said.

As ANN previously reported, Davis was seen flying erratically at the 2007 Suffolk Peanut Fest, where he was giving rides. A family who just finished a flight with Davis told police they smelled alcohol onboard the helicopter, WAVY-10 reported.

Rick Jackson, chairman of the Suffolk Airport Commission, told the Virginian-Pilot newspaper Davis' helicopter flew approximately 20-30 feet over parked cars... performing maneuvers Jackson called dangerously acrobatic.

Davis, the operator of Good Time Helicopters in Naples, FL, was arrested by police for flying under the influence. The pilot allegedly failed a field sobriety test, and later blew a 0.116 BAC -- nearly three times the legal limit for pilots.

FMI: www.faa.gov