Quickly, I couldn’t care less if Tiger Woods wins or loses this weekend; truth be told, I’m pulling for Phil Mickelson at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Now, the biggest story to come out of the PGA Tournament this weekend comes not from the gallery or the greens, but from the not-so-friendly-skies overhead.
Seems a single-engine Cessna airplane, towing a banner badmouthing Tiger, was grounded by the FAA from flying over the course. Citing mechanical problems of the aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration jumped into action to save those on the ground. Thank goodness the “watch dog” investigators sprang into action in the air over Augusta. Whoooo, that was close. We are so fortunate to have dodged a bullet.
According to a report at the Toledo Blade website, “We cannot allow an aircraft even with minor mechanical discrepancies to fly over hundreds of people. That is not prudent,” said Kathleen Bergen, communications manager of the FAA’s southern region base in Atlanta. The FAA? The Federal Aviation Administration? Our Federal Aviation Administration? The U.S. FAA “cannot allow an aircraft even with minor mechanical discrepancies to fly” over the course? Forget that the very same FAA gave this very pilot a one way permit to fly the very same plane back to Ohio. Apparently it’s OK to fly a malfunctioning plane over the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Imagine how many passenger airlines are flying in our skies every hour of every day with “minor mechanical discrepancies.” You have got to be kidding me. If the FAA grounded all planes tomorrow morning due to “minor mechanical discrepancies” there wouldn’t be a single passenger in the air. Amtrak would be loving it!
You don’t care for a plane towing a sign slamming a your favorite super star? Tough Luck. Move to Venezuela. Party with your pal Sean Penn.
I always knew the PGA had some pull, I just never thought it had the juice to get a governmental agency to violate someone’s First Amendment rights. They no more have the authority to restrict airspace than they do to restrict free speech.
Comments
And the plane was kept on the ground Saturday due to a “tag” on a seatbelt. I smell an overzealous air traffic controller acting on someone else’s behalf – infringing on free speech on your dime.
Contact the Congressional Transportation Committee members and demand the FAA Office of Inspector General investigate this one, or contact the FAA OIG directly using the contact info below:
Call 1-800-424-9071 (toll free).
E-mail to hotline@oig.dot.gov or use online complaint form:
http://www.oig.dot.gov/dot-oig-hotline-complaint-form
Congressional oversight contacts:
James L. Oberstar, Minnesota, Chairman
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4472
Fax: (202) 226-1270