Pilots active around Gulf oil spill
June 17, 2010, 03:13 am
Hundreds of pilots of all types have been busy over the Gulf of Mexico in recent weeks amid efforts to monitor the disastrous oil spill that has fouled the region.
In fact, the mix of heavy aircraft and general safety concerns has resulted in federal oversight of flight activity over the affected zone.
An announcement this week from the Federal Aviation Administration said that the agency has approved all requests to fly over the area, amounting to a total of 176. For now, flights are required to stay above 3,000 feet, although there are efforts underway to give news organizations the opportunity to obtain footage from lower altitudes.
"The reason for these requirements is safety, pure and simple. So far, there have been a number of reported near misses over the Gulf due to heavy traffic and pilots flying above the oil spill to give their passengers a closer look," stated the recent FAA announcement.
The FAA also indicated that it is filing a pilot deviation against the operator of a helicopter that violated the flight restriction last Sunday by flying reporters well below 3,000 feet while also forcing the Border Patrol to divert nearby air traffic from the area.
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