Speedo
FOUNDER
TN
Today's Chicago Tribune ran a brief article about an IL Clipper pilot who landed on a golf course fairway in northwest suburban Chicago. It was not an emergency: he was dropping his son off for a tennis lesson. The plane was equipped with skis and the fairway was snow-covered.
The Lake County state's attorney charged the pilot with reckless conduct and endangering the life or health of a child.
I have many thoughts about this: this may not have been particularly reckless or dangerous - there are plenty of places in suburban Chicago that look like they'd make good landing strips (although I don't think the pilot could have avoided overflying some residential neighborhoods while making his landing approach); the pilot appears to have approached the landing conservatively - he made two passes before landing; I'd like to see AOPA file an amicus brief; I'd like to see the State's Attorney get acquainted with safe off-airport ops.
I hate to read about situations like this, because I think it will lead to more limitations in what we can do with our planes.
Eric
The Lake County state's attorney charged the pilot with reckless conduct and endangering the life or health of a child.
I have many thoughts about this: this may not have been particularly reckless or dangerous - there are plenty of places in suburban Chicago that look like they'd make good landing strips (although I don't think the pilot could have avoided overflying some residential neighborhoods while making his landing approach); the pilot appears to have approached the landing conservatively - he made two passes before landing; I'd like to see AOPA file an amicus brief; I'd like to see the State's Attorney get acquainted with safe off-airport ops.
I hate to read about situations like this, because I think it will lead to more limitations in what we can do with our planes.
Eric