This was in our local news. http://www.courier-journal.com/artic...news|text|Home Basically the story (if you don't want to read it) says that the FAA has stopped the use of ultra-lights to lead whooping cranes on their migration because light sport pilots are not allowed to fly for compensation. There's a whole story at the site, but I'm not going to print all of it. I just think that even under Obama the FAA has better things to do than be totally stupid like this!!
maybe if the cranes were equipped with ADS-B? voice recorders?
Then they just use commercial pilots. Plenty of those around judging by the number of volunteer commercial pilots there are not only for the organization I fly with but also for things like Angel Flights, etc. I don't see the problem with the group voluntarily grounding their pilots (which is what the article says happened, not that the FAA grounded them officially) until they make sure they are abiding by the law. Given that US Fish and Wildlife is backing them up, it should be resolved fairly quickly. No harm, no foul.
...and then someone would gripe about that. Face it, no matter what the FAA does, people are going to find a way to get their panties in a knot over it. Hell, people gripe about the LSA option even though it keeps a large number of folks flying who wouldn't otherwise be (and in some cases probably shouldn't be).the FAA has better things to do than be totally stupid like this!!
Why do you bring Obama into this and slag him? If you think this president or any former one is involved in the daily minutia of bureaucratic decision making by government departments or agencies, you are seriously misguided or misinformed or mistaken and urgently need to take a course in elementary civics or Poli Sci 100.Originally Posted by jobti
I just think that even under Obama the FAA has better things to do than be totally stupid like this!!
This is just another example of a government agency justifying their "raison d'etre". And yes, their action appears to be ridiculous, silly and a waste of time for the migratory organization doing good work to help the cranes.
Course correction, guys ... This story offers plenty to talk about without getting into presidential politics. Besides, for the next 11+ months in particular, we're all going to be inundated with that stuff from every direction. We don't need to get into it here.
Hal Bryan
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Vintage 714005 | Warbirds 553527
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EAA—The Spirit of Aviation
No intervention required here, Hal. Wasn't remotely getting into presidential or any other politics. Just trying to educate and inform Mr. Jobti!!
Last edited by Floatsflyer; 01-05-2012 at 05:30 PM.
Does anyone know if the sport pilots were being compensated or were their expenses just being covered? If their gas and travel expenses were covered, I don't understand why that should be an issue or problem. If they are making a profit in some way, that would be an entirely different story all together. Does anyone know?
Are the flights done with true ultralight vehicles?
" Face it, no matter what the FAA does, people are going to find a way to get their panties in a knot over it. "
Usually with good reason. Nice to be afraid of a government agency. Remember they aren't happy until you aren't happy.....
According to Avweb, this is *not* due to FAA action: "The ultralight aircraft-led annual pilgrimage of whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida has voluntarily suspended operations after a pilot raised concerns that the flights may run afoul of federal regulations. " Sounds like the FAA was leaving them alone, but the organization stopped operations after they, themselves, decided they were in violation.
What they're doing is technically against the rules, and by stopping themselves, they better position themselves to get some sort of FAA waiver.
Ron Wanttaja
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