FAA says pilot should have known about restricted air space
SEATTLE -- The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot who breached restricted air space during President Barack Obama's visit to Seattle on Tuesday had been given ample notice about the restriction.
Lee Daily and his girlfriend were flying home to Sammamish from Lake Chelan when they breached restricted air space, prompting two F-15s to scramble from Portland.
Daily's girlfriend said the pilot simply made a mistake. But the FAA says it posted a notice about the no-fly zone well before Daily took off on Tuesday. And if he didn't know about it, he should have known about it, the FAA said.
Thee FAA issues notices for pilots almost daily. The pilots are not required to read these notices, officials said, but checking them is a routine taught in flight school that becomes second nature for most pilots.
Daily's mistake also led to a near catastrophe in Pierce County where thousands called 911 after hearing the sonic booms, effectively jamming the emergency response system.
Officials said 28 out of the 30 phone lines dispatchers typically use died, and no emergency calls could get through for a half hour. The collapse of the 911 system is now under investigation.
Daily did not want to comment on this story due to the pending investigation by the FAA. His plane has been grounded for the duration.
Lee Daily and his girlfriend were flying home to Sammamish from Lake Chelan when they breached restricted air space, prompting two F-15s to scramble from Portland.
Daily's girlfriend said the pilot simply made a mistake. But the FAA says it posted a notice about the no-fly zone well before Daily took off on Tuesday. And if he didn't know about it, he should have known about it, the FAA said.
Thee FAA issues notices for pilots almost daily. The pilots are not required to read these notices, officials said, but checking them is a routine taught in flight school that becomes second nature for most pilots.
Daily's mistake also led to a near catastrophe in Pierce County where thousands called 911 after hearing the sonic booms, effectively jamming the emergency response system.
Officials said 28 out of the 30 phone lines dispatchers typically use died, and no emergency calls could get through for a half hour. The collapse of the 911 system is now under investigation.
Daily did not want to comment on this story due to the pending investigation by the FAA. His plane has been grounded for the duration.
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