Saw this story today, and it really grated my nerves against law enforcement.

 

http://m.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2013/130110secret-no-fly-zone.html

 

Basically:

 

- the pilot flew over a small power plant at around 1,500 MSL near a lake looking for a thermal

- plant workers claimed he was just a couple hundred feet over the building and called the police

- police tried commandeering the nearest airport and mentioned "shooting him down" if the glider didn't land

- police didnt properly mirandize (sp?) him and denied him a phone call so other pilot friends didnt wonder why he didnt return to his home field

- he stayed locked in a cell overnight with 10+ inmates without even knowing the charges

- he was finally told he overflew a no fly zone even though the Charlotte sectionals don't display anything preventing flight above the power plant. This was also backed up by the FAA

- the case was thrown out in court on the condition that the 70 year old glider pilot didnt take legal action against the law enforcement dept. that unlawfully detained him

 

Seriously? Trigger happy cops were ready to shoot down a harmless glider with a 70 year old guy inside?

Some law enforcement departments are a complete joke, like the one from this story.

I would have sued the pants off the city.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone...typing errors imminent

A glider disturbing the peace? That's a new one on me...

 

On a more serious note, I'm sure he can take action against unlawful detention if he was indeed unlawfully detained. Doesn't make sense to me... :huh:

 

Regards,

Ró.

Not the first time I've heard about US cops doing something really stupid, really makes me respect our good well trained police forces in here Finland. Of course there sure are many good polices in the US too, but based on these events it seems like standards do vary a lot.

Well if he followed directions by not flying around high security areas (power plants, dams, etc.) Doesn't matter the size of the aircraft you still have to follow the rules. Also, trying to find a thermal in a smoke stack is not the best idea. The police have to look at all angles in our litigious country. It sounds like they did just fine because their other option would be detaining him for an act of terrorism that would probably really ###### off that guy.

 

Here is the excerpt from the Aeronautical Information Manual about flying through plumes and National Security Areas, which most power plants are:

 

3-5-7. National Security Areas

National Security Areas consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established at locations where there is a requirement for increased security and safety of ground facilities. Pilots are requested to voluntarily avoid flying through the depicted NSA. When it is necessary to provide a greater level of security and safety, flight in NSAs may be temporarily prohibited by regulation under the provisions of 14 CFR Section 99.7. Regulatory prohibitions will be issued by System Operations, System Operations Airspace and AIM Office, Airspace and Rules, and disseminated via NOTAM. Inquiries about NSAs should be directed to Airspace and Rules.

 

7-5-15. Avoid Flight in the Vicinity of Thermal Plumes (Smoke Stacks and Cooling Towers)

a. Flight Hazards Exist Around Thermal Plumes. Thermal plumes are defined as visible or invisible emissions from power plants, industrial production facilities, or other industrial systems that release large amounts of vertically directed unstable gases. High temperature exhaust plumes may cause significant air disturbances such as turbulence and vertical shear. Other identified potential hazards include, but are not necessarily limited to, reduced visibility, oxygen depletion, engine particulate contamination, exposure to gaseous oxides, and/or icing. Results of encountering a plume may include airframe damage, aircraft upset, and/or engine damage/failure. These hazards are most critical during low altitude flight, especially during takeoff and landing.

b. When able, a pilot should fly upwind of possible thermal plumes. When a plume is visible via smoke or a condensation cloud, remain clear and realize a plume may have both visible and invisible characteristics. Exhaust stacks without visible plumes may still be in full operation, and airspace in the vicinity should be treated with caution. As with mountain wave turbulence or clear air turbulence, an invisible plume may be encountered unexpectedly. Cooling towers, power plant stacks, exhaust fans, and other similar structures are depicted in FIG 7-5-2. Whether plumes are visible or invisible, the total extent of their unstable air is difficult to ascertain. FAA studies are underway to further characterize the effects of thermal plumes as exhaust effluents. Until the results of these studies are known and possible changes to rules and policy are identified and/or published, pilots are encouraged to exercise caution when flying in the vicinity of thermal plumes. Pilots are encouraged to reference the Airport/Facility Directory where amplifying notes may caution pilots and identify the location of structure(s) emitting thermal plumes.

Plumes

 

I would have avoided a nuclear power plant if I'd known there was one nearby. The pilot may not have known, the pics we saw didn't make it obvious it was a nuclear plant, and there was no indication on his charts that the area was restricted. I'd prefer to avoid a conventional power plant as well.

 

Given the nature of sailplanes, a thermal plume might be a desirable place to fly if you can't find any other lift. Power planes don't like strong thermals and turbulence, but that's the element in which a sailplane lives. The air coming out of the nuclear plant had better be fairly clean... but I'd still avoid it myself even if it wasn't restricted in any way; no sense taking chances. You'd be amazed how much lift you can get from a grass fire, for example.

 

The actions of the law enforcement, as reported, are a bit questionable.

 

Hook

The pilot may not have known, the pics we saw didn't make it obvious it was a nuclear plant, and there was no indication on his charts that the area was restricted.

 

Looks pretty clear to me. A large structure with cooling towers along a water source, not many other industrial areas are allowed to operate this close to a river besides power plants.

 

Given the nature of sailplanes, a thermal plume might be a desirable place to fly if you can't find any other lift. Power planes don't like strong thermals and turbulence, but that's the element in which a sailplane lives. The air coming out of the nuclear plant had better be fairly clean... but I'd still avoid it myself even if it wasn't restricted in any way; no sense taking chances. You'd be amazed how much lift you can get from a grass fire, for example.

 

Yeah it is a last ditch place to get lift but if you are a glider pilot you should always be in a proper position to make it to a safe landing area. Using a power plant for lift would be horrible planning on the pilots part.

 

The actions of the law enforcement, as reported, are a bit questionable.

You have to look at it from their point of view. Operating an aircraft in area with higher security is looked at as a possible terrorism. When they arrested him and didn't allow a phone call this could have been to try to stop him from contacting a terrorist group. Even though it is highly unlikely a 70 year old white male is a terrorist, it is a lot better to conduct it that way just in case he is.

Happened to be working when a low flying helicopter was buzzing a lake full of kids and adults swimming. My sergeant was adamant the pilot disturbed the peace and was as excited as these officers.

 

It ended up being some sight seeing heli with a family inside. Why they were clipping the lake, I don't know, but in that case that was unacceptable. Pilot ended up not getting charged but he was grilled by our detective division.

 

It was kind of fun though finally getting to "run" an aircraft through the system. Haha

I think the police acted appropriately. To be honest when the police receive a report of an aircraft flying over a nuclear power plant like that, they are not in a position to think about it because they don't know it was a 70 year old glider pilot out on a recreational flight or some other crazy trying for a sensational suicide attempt or something. Their job is to secure the situation.

 

 

I agree with Chris, using a nuclear power plant as a thermal like that is extremely questionable, so let this be a lesson to anyone else that tries this.

I would have avoided a nuclear power plant if I'd known there was one nearby. The pilot may not have known, the pics we saw didn't make it obvious it was a nuclear plant, and there was no indication on his charts that the area was restricted. I'd prefer to avoid a conventional power plant as well.

 

but I'd still avoid it myself even if it wasn't restricted in any way; no sense taking chances.

 

Typically glider pilots (typically) are very familiar with the local area they're flying in. I have flown into Pageland, which is very close to this glider port mentioned, only a handful of times and I'm still aware of the plant (We have quite a few nuclear plants in North/South Carolina).

 

Not to mention this NOTAM most pilots should be familiar with:

 

FDC 4/0811 FDC ...SPECIAL NOTICE...

THIS IS A RESTATEMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ADVISORY NOTICE.

IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE,

PILOTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID THE AIRSPACE ABOVE, OR IN

PROXIMITY TO SUCH SITES AS POWER PLANTS (NUCLEAR, HYDRO-ELECTRIC, OR

COAL), DAMS, REFINERIES, INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES, MILITARY FACILITIES

AND OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES. PILOTS SHOULD NOT CIRCLE AS TO LOITER

IN THE VICINITY OVER THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES.

 

This NOTAM originally introduced itself in the wake of 9/11. It's been reissued and active ever since. I find it surprising someone would loiter/low pass over a nuclear plant this day and age.

 

At any rate, shooting down a low flying glider because of proximity to a plant would be downright idiotic. It wouldn't do much (if any) damage anyway.

Saw this story today, and it really grated my nerves against law enforcement.

 

http://m.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2013/130110secret-no-fly-zone.html

 

Basically:

 

- the pilot flew over a small power plant at around 1,500 MSL near a lake looking for a thermal

- plant workers claimed he was just a couple hundred feet over the building and called the police

- police tried commandeering the nearest airport and mentioned "shooting him down" if the glider didn't land

- police didnt properly mirandize (sp?) him and denied him a phone call so other pilot friends didnt wonder why he didnt return to his home field

- he stayed locked in a cell overnight with 10+ inmates without even knowing the charges

- he was finally told he overflew a no fly zone even though the Charlotte sectionals don't display anything preventing flight above the power plant. This was also backed up by the FAA

- the case was thrown out in court on the condition that the 70 year old glider pilot didnt take legal action against the law enforcement dept. that unlawfully detained him

 

Seriously? Trigger happy cops were ready to shoot down a harmless glider with a 70 year old guy inside?

Some law enforcement departments are a complete joke, like the one from this story.

I would have sued the pants off the city.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone...typing errors imminent

 

Welcome to 2013!

So "TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE" now means never? I guess it's easier to interpret it as "never" than to take the proper step of going through an environmental assessment and NOPRM to create an actual, legal, restricted airspace. This poor guy is probably on a dozen terrorist watch lists now. The AOPA article says local law enforcement have no authority to tell any pilot to land.

 

scott s.

.

Further, nowhere except in this thread is there any mention of him trying to find lift in the smokestack plume. He was running out of altitude needed to get back to his home airport, he thought he might find some lift on the opposite side of a nearby lake, the shortest distance between him and the lift was over the power plant and there was nothing on the chart designating it as a restricted area. Their offer to dismiss all charges if he agreed not to pursue a case against the local police should tell any reasonable person that there was something wrong with the way the police handled the incident. They were ready to "shoot him down", yet as Scott mentioned, local police do not even have the authority to force an aircraft to land.

 

Personally I'd have gone for the jugular.

A lot of people don't understand how sailplanes work, and why they do what they do. It's a totally different mindset than flying a powered craft. A copy of DiscusX and a registered CumulusX and a bunch of outside reading, plus 25 hours in the cockpit will tell you pretty much everything you need to know.

 

For example, how many non-glider-pilots know why he was flying near the lake? I mean, how could a LAKE possibly produce thermals? Unfortunately, this particular effect isn't simulated in CumulusX.

 

It would have been better to avoid overflying the power plant, but at 1500 feet and descending, in conditions where thermals are rare, one doesn't always have a choice. That's the kind of thing that 25 hours will teach you.

 

Hook

It would have been better to avoid overflying the power plant, but at 1500 feet and descending, in conditions where thermals are rare, one doesn't always have a choice. That's the kind of thing that 25 hours will teach you.

 

It is a Catch 22 isn't it for that pilot to make a split second decision like that, also the authorities on the ground having to make decisions as well because they have never had to deal with something like this before.

 

You bet every active glider pilot in the USA has been talking about this one now. The police may have overreacted but I wasn't there to see it.

I would have avoided a nuclear power plant if I'd known there was one nearby. The pilot may not have known, the pics we saw didn't make it obvious it was a nuclear plant, and there was no indication on his charts that the area was restricted. I'd prefer to avoid a conventional power plant as well.

 

Given the nature of sailplanes, a thermal plume might be a desirable place to fly if you can't find any other lift. Power planes don't like strong thermals and turbulence, but that's the element in which a sailplane lives. The air coming out of the nuclear plant had better be fairly clean... but I'd still avoid it myself even if it wasn't restricted in any way; no sense taking chances. You'd be amazed how much lift you can get from a grass fire, for example.

 

The actions of the law enforcement, as reported, are a bit questionable.

 

Hook

 

Unless the power-plant is seriously malfunctioning the air coming off any kind of fire with less than perfect combustion is going to be worse for your health than that coming out of a nuclear power-plant. It would quite possibly contain more radioactivity too.