varigb707 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1217 posts, RR: 1 Posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 11449 times:
Well, that's another one for the books. Pilot flying over his own house sees a thief in action, then called police. That was awesome.
""He observed a silver truck with white camper in his driveway and lowered his altitude to get a closer look," the Charlotte County Sheriff's office said in a news release. "He saw a man looking into the windows of his home then attach his red trailer and pull out of his driveway."
MountainFlyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 363 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 10594 times:
Quoting PHX787 (Reply 1): but how did this pilot get clearance to chase this guy from the air?
Unless he's inside of a tower controlled airspace, he doesn't need clearance if he was VFR. I didn't seem to find a location, but unless he lived pretty close to a tower controlled airport (within 5 miles), he would likely be outside or underneath any tower controlled airspace and free to fly where needed. Judging by the wording in the article, that seems to be the case. Beyond that, unless he was in a "congested area" his only limitation is that he remain at least 500 ft. above the surface or from any obstacle.
Even if he was in a congested area, the limitation is 1,000 ft. The article says he followed the vehicle pulling a trailer. It's quite easy to see a vehicle from even 1,000 ft; even better at 500 ft.
Long story short, as long as he was following FARs, he could follow the guy wherever he wanted, no "clearance" needed.
asctty From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2008, 70 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 9481 times:
I am sure there would be a report if he wasn't following FARs. Regardless, what a pure shot of luck for the guy! Nice to see a good news story about general aviation for a change
capri From Morocco, joined Sep 2003, 280 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 7311 times:
The thief was released on bail for $2500 despite finding lots of loaded weapons with him, after what's been happening in USA lately, I wonder what kind of law these people have?
"i may not know everything, but i try to know a bit of everything"
soon7x7 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 2796 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6325 times:
Quoting capri (Reply 4): I wonder what kind of law these people have?
Think the story to be funny..."Local door to door gun salesman chased off private property by land owners low flying plane". We have laws that protect people such as this to continue to act like idiots so we can laugh everyday. You gotta love it.
On the other hand, my son recently vacationing in Paris and Spain with his girlfriend was surrounded, harassed and robbed by eight thugs. The eight were from Morocco. " I wonder what kind of law these people have"?
capri From Morocco, joined Sep 2003, 280 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5817 times:
Quoting capri (Reply 4): On the other hand, my son recently vacationing in Paris and Spain with his girlfriend was surrounded, harassed and robbed by eight thugs. The eight were from Morocco. " I wonder what kind of law these people have"?
Too much freedom!!!!!
"i may not know everything, but i try to know a bit of everything"
Like Morrocan youth in Belgium. Although it's forbidden now, they sstill spark up the city with fireworks before and after New Year... many people in hospitals nowadays
Got both LO 788 frames already, next SN BRU-VCE-BRU
Dazed767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 5447 posts, RR: 53 Reply 10, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 4113 times:
Can't find the article now, but I seem to recall another pilot a few years back caught a guy breaking into his house/property?
Rara From Germany, joined Jan 2007, 1823 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2511 times:
Quoting soon7x7 (Reply 5): On the other hand, my son recently vacationing in Paris and Spain with his girlfriend was surrounded, harassed and robbed by eight thugs. The eight were from Morocco. " I wonder what kind of law these people have"?
Nice come-back. "Well somebody from your country did something wrong, so you must be wrong."
Anyway, great story. I find it amazing that he had to land his airplane before being able to contact police about it. It's sort of lucky that the thief didn't escape after all..
Samson was a biblical tough guy, but his dad Samsonite was even more of a hard case.
Well, lets analyze this a bit. Lets take the pilot of the aircraft that flew over his home and detected a thief robbing his property.
First of all to own your own airplane is a privilege, not a right. To have a pilots license is a privilege, not a right. Both cost a lot to acquire. So does owning your own home/property. You must then be able to afford the time to enjoy all, the fruits of your labors, so to speak. This does not come easy, certainly does not come from robbing houses. I'll bet this pilot either completed his schooling, worked hard to afford all...or...didn't finish school but decided to start up a business of his own and Bingo!...he was successful. Either way, he flies his own aircraft, (assuming he did not rent it) but so what, a lifestyle he probably dreamed of and attained it.
If you call that "Too Much Freedom"...I truly feel sorry for you. You don't know what your missing. Oh and the Guns?...well Freedom does have a price...some want what you own and feel entitled to it. (just like my sons experience). That is why we have guns. To protect our families and property.
I'm sure you have travelled globally, maybe, maybe not but if you have I'll bet you "enjoyed the Freedom"...
skywaymanaz From United States of America, joined May 2012, 147 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1368 times:
Article I read on this quotes the pilot as saying he dropped down to 300'. That would catch my eye if I was an FAA inspector. Maybe he was misquoted, or will claim he was misquoted. It would be a shame to see the pilot/homeowner getting in trouble here because I'm saddened to see the crook make such a low bail with firerams in his vehicle. I have little confidence he'll get more then a slap on the wrist.
"Powerless to protect you, not punish you. Earned my treat today." -Chief Wiggum Springfield PD from The Simpsons
jfklganyc From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2642 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1348 times:
Quoting skywaymanaz (Reply 13): Article I read on this quotes the pilot as saying he dropped down to 300'. That would catch my eye if I was an FAA inspector. Maybe he was misquoted, or will claim he was misquoted. It would be a shame to see the pilot/homeowner getting in trouble here because I'm saddened to see the crook make such a low bail with firerams in his vehicle. I have little confidence he'll get more then a slap on the wrist.
Pilot will be fine. Nobody is touching a high profile case like this with a 10 foot pole.
MountainFlyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 363 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1127 times:
Quoting skywaymanaz (Reply 13): Article I read on this quotes the pilot as saying he dropped down to 300'. That would catch my eye if I was an FAA inspector. Maybe he was misquoted, or will claim he was misquoted. It would be a shame to see the pilot/homeowner getting in trouble here because I'm saddened to see the crook make such a low bail with firerams in his vehicle. I have little confidence he'll get more then a slap on the wrist.
Quoting jfklganyc (Reply 14): Pilot will be fine. Nobody is touching a high profile case like this with a 10 foot pole.
Dropping down to 300' isn't necessarily illegal. Again, I'm not familiar with the location, but in rural areas the only requirement is that the aircraft remain 500' (not necessarily vertical) away from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure, and high enough that should an engine fail, the aircraft could make a landing that would not harm anyone or any thing on the surface.
Regardless, I agree with jfk, they aren't going to touch this one. Even if they did, they likely have no way of proving it, and the pilots' word is likely not proof either since, unless he had a radar altimeter on board, it would be very difficult to be sure of his AGL altitude anyway.
Dazed767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 5447 posts, RR: 53 Reply 16, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1008 times:
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1217 posts, 
From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4936 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2008, 70 posts, 
From Morocco, joined Sep 2003, 280 posts, 
From Indonesia, joined Jun 2005, 1102 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Sep 2004, 2299 posts, 
, 5447 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2007, 1823 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
