by YouBlowDeadBear » Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:30 pm
The airspace over BRC is NOT controlled in the way that you think. There is NO air traffic control below 10,000 feet as there is no reliable radar coverage below that altitude. Although it would be perfectly legal to fly over BRC (As long as it's over 1000' AGL [Above Ground Level]), it's HIGHLY unadvised due to the normally busy skies in the area. It's doubtful that the pilot had his license pulled but there could potentially be "administrative action" taken by the FAA as there are indeed reps of the FAA there (On a sidenote, the airport got an official designator this year; NV88 & the FAA has high praise for the way the airport is run.). The reason being that "each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight." This includes yourself, your aircraft, weather, route of flight, and potential hazards enroute. I don't know if there was a NOTAM (Notice To Airmen) posted for BM this year, but the guidelines for flying around BRC are no closely guarded secret and the pilot was flying in the reverse direction of the general pattern for viewing the city... But again, they are not regulations, just BM airport guidelines.
I didn't notice any other aircraft flying around at the time but I would chock most of that up to the unfavorable flying conditions at the time- Which amazed me that this guy would try to pull a huge banner like that in a little Robinson R-22 during wind and dust like that. Balls of steel or a head full of shit? You decide.
"That's going to go in there?!?!?!"
"Meat hug."