Wing-Walking Biz Grounded by FAA Action | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Sat, Mar 30, 2024

Wing-Walking Biz Grounded by FAA Action

Emergency Revocation Order Ends Thrill Flights

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revoked the pilot license of Mike Mason, owner and operator of the Mason Wing Walking Academy in Sequim, Washington, effectively shutting down his controversial wing-walking business. 

The FAA cited a breach of safety rules as the reason for their decision. In its Letter of Emergency Revocation of March 18, 2024, the FAA stated that "[The FAA] Administrator has determined that an emergency exits related to safety in air commerce and that the immediate action to revoke your Airline Transport Pilot certificate is required."Mason stated that an FAA inspector had OK'd the wing walking flights back in 2012.

The FAA pointed out that Maon's passengers did not wear parachutes, yet they were tethered o the airframe, and deployment of a chute would likely have killed the passenger and brought down the airplane.

The Mason Wing Walking Academy had been in operation for 12 years, offering thrill-seekers the opportunity to walk on the wings of a 1940 Stearman biplane while it performed aerobatic feats, charging over $1,000 for the experience. Mason conducted the flights from the private Blue Ribbon Farms airport near Sequim and public airports around the Olympic Penninsula. However, the business faced property owner complaints at Blue Ribbon Farms and a lawsuit as wells as an FAA investigation that forced it to move its home-based operations. Mason also operated out of the Santa Paula, CA airport during the winter months.

The FAA's decision to revoke Mason's pilot license effectively shuts down the wing-walking flights. According to the FAA, Mason Wing Walking allowed paying customers to walk on the wings of the Stearman biplane while in flight, violating safety regulations. The FAA decided that the wing walking flights, which included aerobatic maneuvers while the passenger was outside the cabin seat, "were careless or reckless so as to endanger the life or property of another."

Rural residents southwest of the town of Sequim also sent in complaints of noise generated by the flights, which were typically conducted at 3,500 feet AGL.

FMI: http://www.faa.gov

Advertisement

More News

KidVenture Educational Activities Lineup At EAA AirVenture 2025

Youth Explore With Hands-On Builds, RC Airplanes, Flight Sims, Much More KidVenture is located just north of the EAA Aviation Museum, at Pioneer Airport, and has arranged a myriad >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.07.25)

“About nine decades ago, Amelia Earhart was recruited to Purdue, and the university president later worked with her to prepare an aircraft for her historic flight around the >[...]

Airborne 07.07.25: Sully v Bedford, RAF Vandalism, Discovery Moving?

Also: New Amelia Search, B737 Flap Falls Off, SUN ‘n FUN Unveiling, F-16 Record Captain Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 155 people by safely landing an A320 in the Hu>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.08.25)

"It is critically important for North American flight safety that Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations are avoided. All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to >[...]

Airborne-NextGen 07.08.25: Joby in Dubai, Army Electra, Archer iin Abu Dhabi

Also: Hackers v Aviation, Discovery Moving?, Gogo Galileo HDX, EVE to Costa Rica Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne tri>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC